New delhi: Roger Federer hopes to begin the 2006 season the same way he rang in the New Year last season. The defending champion will begin the new year with a defence of the $975,000 dollar Qatar Open which begins on Monday.
"I don't feel like it is the beginning of a new season. There is hardly any break between seasons," Federer said.
In the ATP season-opening event last season, the world No 1 won all 10 sets, including a 6-3, 6-1 hard-court victory over Croatian Ivan Ljubicic in the finals.
"I had a good run in 2004 and I was able to match it in 2005 too. Obviously I am aiming at a repeat of that in 2006 as well," he said.
"It's a huge priority for me to maintain the number one ranking during 2006."
He has been given a small boost in his bid to prevent a serious challenge from Rafael Nadal, because his nearest rival is not fit enough to compete in the first week of the new tour.
The 19-year-old French Open champion from Spain has withdrawn from the Chennai Open and has been replaced by Ljubicic.
Since being beaten in the Masters Cup final by David Nalbandian in the season-ending Masters Cup, Federer, who played in the Shanghai event despite an ankle injury, has been training hard with coach Tony Roche in Sydney.
He is drawn to meet Czech wild card Ivo Minar in the first round and faces a probable second-round clash with former champion Fabrice Santoro of France.
In the quarter-finals, Federer should face third-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet, who beat him at Monte Carlo last year, and could meet number six Olivier Rochus of Belgium in the semi-finals.
The bottom half of the draw is headed by world number five Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, who is expected to have an easy run until the semi-finals where his opponent could be fourth-seeded Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean.
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