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Roger Federer
rejects the idea that the balance of power in men’s tennis has tipped
towards Novak Djokovic after a 32-match winning run and believes he can
still beat Pete Sampras’s record for time spent as world number one.

The Swiss world
number three, who has a record 16 grand slam titles to his name, has
been left in the shade by Rafa Nadal for much of the past 12 months and
has now seen Djokovic supplant him as the Spaniard’s main rival.

However, Federer
feels he can reclaim his throne and move ahead of American great Sampras
who spent a total of 286 weeks as world number one to Federer’s current
285.

“It’s still
important for me to get back to being world number one,” Federer told
reporters in Italy ahead of his second round match against France’s
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Rome Masters. “I mentioned after Wimbledon it
was a goal of mine.

“It’s still very real and possible. I think I can do it if I win one of those grand slams.”

First in seven years

Serbia’s Djokovic
could become the first player other than Federer or Nadal to hold the
top ranking since 2004 if he wins the Rome Masters this week, but
Federer remains confident he can still challenge the top two.

“They (Djokovic and
Nadal) are playing better than me but I’m close to winning those
tournaments,” said Federer, who lost to Nadal in the semi-finals of the
Madrid Masters last week.

“It’s not as if I’m losing in the first or second rounds.

“I feel I’m playing
well myself. Apart from Novak not losing all year not much has changed
in the game. Everybody can play well on all surfaces these days.

“It doesn’t feel
more different apart from having three more questions to answer at a
press conference, but they deserve their press and it’s all good
stories.” While the 29-year-old did not watch Djokovic’s straight sets
defeat of Nadal in the Madrid final Sunday, he felt the Serb would have
it tougher in Rome and Paris.

“It was surprising
to see Rafa lose on clay but it was just one tournament,” he said. “It
was a quick clay court so he (Djokovic) had a better chance of beating
Rafa.” This year the Rome Masters, which for the first time in decades
features men and women in one tournament, takes place after the Madrid
Open.

“I think that’s a better schedule,” said Federer. “You don’t have to
go (to the French Open) from altitude. Rome is more similar to Paris
than Madrid so it’s easier to get off to a good start there.”