Roger Federer seeded No. 7 at U.S. Open

Roger Federer has more Grand Slam tennis championships than anyone in history with his 17. He’s won the U.S. Open five times.

The 2013 Open begins Monday and Federer comes in seeded only seventh, his lowest since 2002, and has the unenviable assignment of maybe playing the No. 2 seed and eager Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals.

Federer spoke Saturday about that lowly seeding and his draw.

“The rankings fluctuate a lot,” he said, “especially if you don’t play so well. The important thing is that I concentrate on my game and that the passion is there, that I work the right way, that I’m prepared and then that I feel like I can win a tournament. The ranking is secondary.”

Federer, 32, said he was always an avid checker of the rankings. He’s losing that desire though. “It was more exciting when the ranking was going up,” he said. “The older you get, the less you pay attention to it. But clearly I want to move up from here.”

Federer and Nadal have played against each other 31 times in their careers but never at the U.S. Open.

“I think that’s an exciting draw, really, with Rafa nearby,” Federer said. “I hope, from my side, I can make it there. That’s my focus. You always expect the other guy to make it so, for me, I don’t want to think too far ahead.

“But when I come here I don’t just look at trying to make the quarters. I’m clearly trying to win the tournament.”

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