Tough draw for Fed-Ex? Bleacher Report insults Federer

Bleacher Report has implied that the men's singles draw will chew Federer up and leave him with nothing left for possible semi-final and final matches with Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic.  The lead of the recent article states, "with age working against Roger Federer, a challenging draw will wear him down and leave him unable to challenge the other elite players in the 2013 Australian Open."

They go on to say that possible early opponents Benoit Paire, Nikolay Davydenko and Milos Raonic respresent significant obstacles to Federer achieving an 18th grand slam championship in Melbourne.  What's so scary about Tsonga in the QF's of a major? Bollocks. 

Here is why it's unsound:  The article makes the assumption that all of these guys will get far enough to even play a match against Fed, which is unlikely.  Draws open up, retirements happen, etc. 

The next argument, that Federer couldn't get out of the early rounds of grand slams unscratched last year isn't entirely incorrect.  But that wasn't because he had tough draws or was losing his advantage.  It was because he played very poorly early in tournaments and was battling injuries.   He couldn't make straight-sets work of early-round challengers because of a lower-back problem.  He was fending off match points against Benneteu and using his racquet as a crutch against Malisse at Wimbledon and he won that tournament. Federer is likely to be healthy and refreshed after the offseason. 

The draw is pretty much irrelevant for Federer.  Fed's level of play will determine his success.

Federer's 2012 season was a qualified success.  Meaning that by any human standards it was an outstanding year, but by the standard Federer has set for himself, it wasn't

Another passage that should draw ciritcism: "However, the fact that Federer's season drew accolades and he only walked away with one major is both telling and a testament to his greatness. He just couldn't keep his high level of play rolling through the rigors of a Grand Slam."

This shows us what the writer must not have been watching last season.  Because if he was he would know that Federer didn't attain a high-level of tennis until the later rounds of the grands slams.  He didn't have a problem "keeping his high level of play rolling" he had a problem with getting it rolling altogether.  

But the most egregious insult to Federer comes when the author writes, "Federer would play Murray in the semis and Djokovic in the finals. That is a daunting task at any time, but impossible for Fed after the tough road to get there."  (Emphasis my own.)  I give the edge to Federer in a semi against Murray.  Djokovic would be tough but he is the heavy favorite.

(Another point:  Any draw without Rafa Nadal in it sets up a better opportunity for Federer to win.)