Cautious Federer finally start to ponder his place in the game

By Bill Scott Jan 29, 2007, 11:18 GMT

Melbourne - With ten Grand Slam title achieved in the less than five full seasons, Roger Federer can now allow himself to dream about fulfilling a tennis destiny.

The Swiss claimed his tenth singles trophy at a major at the weekend in majestic style over fighting Chilean Fernando Gonzalez 7-5 (7-2), 6-4, 6-4.

With his season off to a storming start, the 25-year-old can now perhaps ponder his place in the game.

As usual, the question of whether can break his duck by claiming the French Open, the only honour missing from his curriculum, will be raised.

And Federer may be starting to formulate his answer.

'Last year was the first where I thought that if everything went perfectly well, I might have a chance.'

Added the Roland Garros finalist who lost in a fourth-set tiebreaker to Rafael Nadal on the Paris clay: 'But the French is so tough. I did give myself great chances, but Rafa is so tough on the surface.'

that loss to Nadal was one of only five suffered by Federer last season, when he went 92-5.

He will now start his slow build-up again to try and get over the hump, but will fist return to Switzerland for up to three weeks off and with plans for some skiing.

'I was disappointed at the French last year. But I'm improving every season on clay,' said the world number 1 who has a lock on that position for he foreseeable future.

'Maybe this year Rafa won't be in the final, but if he isn't maybe I can beat him.'

Federer's cautious side comes out when he talks about his fast- rising place in history.

His ten Grand Slam singles crowns put him on pace to break the all-time mark of 14 held by Pete Sampras.

'I told myself that as long as I was not halfway to Pete's total that I wouldn't talk about it. But it's been coming on with such big steps.

'I don't know how I did it in such a short period - at the start of 2003 I didn't have one,

'I'm going to try to keep it up and keep improving. To win this first event of the season for me is such a lift for the rest of the year.'

His next event is not scheduled until Dubai in late February, with the Masters series events in Indian Wells and Miami to follow in March.