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Fit enough to win 18th Grand Slam: Federer

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Brisbane: Seventeen-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer shot down concerns about his suspect fitness, saying he is charged up to win an elusive 18th Major at this month’s Australian Open.

The 33-year-old has arrived here to play the season-opening tournament Brisbane International, starting Sunday, with no back spasms complaints that troubled him late in 2014.

He kept himself match-fit in the off-season coming down to India to play in the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) and also turned up for exhibition matches.

“It can happen to anyone’s back, those sort of spasms,” Federer, the Brisbane International’s top seed, was quoted as saying by news.com.au Saturday.

“You get over it quickly and thankfully before the Davis Cup final it started to get better. It was a long wait. I was lucky to make it.”

Federer lead Switzerland to their maiden Davis Cup triumph against France last year but crippling back spasms forced him to withdraw from the Association of Tennis Professional’s (ATP) Tour’s year-end final against Djokovic in late November.

But the right-hander downplayed questions on his fitness.

“I went to India (for the International Premier Tennis League exhibitions) and had a charity match on Dec 21, so I’ve been keeping quite busy. I didn’t have a big break,” the world No.2 said.

“I will have a break after the Australian Open. It feels like it’s ongoing and I have never really struggled at the Australian Open. I’m feeling good now and have had no hiccups in all the practice I have done. I’m very positive, the past few weeks.”

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Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia

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The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.

Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.

Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”

Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.

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