Rafael Nadal swiped his top ranking and his Wimbledon crown, Andy Murray stole his thunder when a number of bookmakers installed him as favourite for the Australian Open, but Roger Federer is still the man to beat when the first grand slam of the year kicks off on Monday.
The Swiss, who taught Murray a lesson in the final of the US Open in September 2008, is gunning for a record-equalling 14th grand slam singles crown in Australia and is exuding a confidence sufficient to chill the field.
"It comes down to playing well here, being fit and ready to go," the Swiss smiled on Sunday. "I feel the way I was hoping to feel just before the Australian Open. So I'm excited."
Last year Federer's preparations were destroyed by glandular fever and no match practice - this year things could hardly be more different after winning the Kooyong Classic warm-up this week.
"I was quite concerned going into last year's Australian Open just because I didn't have any matches whatsoever. I mean, I played a few points, a few sets here and there, but very careful.
Seeded second this year behind Nadal, Federer opens his campaign against Italy's Andreas Seppi on Monday night. Nadal starts against Belgium's Christophe Rochus and insists a lack of match practice and two months off recuperating from tendinitis in his knee should not affect his attempts to win his first Australian title.
Murray is the player on everyone's lips after a white-hot start to the season - in 2009 he has already beaten Nadal, Federer and Andy Roddick - and he faces Romania's Andrei Pavel as he begins his bid for a first grand slam crown.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic is seeded third and faces Italian qualifier Andre Stoppini on the opening day.
Women's top seed Jelena Jankovic goes seeking her first grand slam title with a match against Austria's Yvonne Meusburger. The Williams sisters take to the courts on Tuesday, second seed Serena playing China's Yuan Meng and Venus, seeded sixth, against Angelique Kerber.
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