Roger Federer doesn't think he needs to be in any hurry to break Pete Sampras' grand slam record.

Zheng Jie, seeded 22, Peng Shuai and Yuan Meng will carry China's hopes in the women singles. Yuan will face Serena Williams of the United States in the first round. Yan Zi and Zheng will also team up in the women's doubles with compatriots Sun Tiantian and Chuang Jia-rong of Chinese Taipei.

Federer is bidding to equal the 14 major titles won by the retired American star by capturing the Australian Open.

The growing perception is that the 27-year-old Swiss will find it harder than any time in recent years to win a major, with Andy Murray joining Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic - all 22 or under - among the leading contenders to beat him.

"I want to do well, not only this year but many more years," Federer said yesterday, a day ahead of his first-round match with Italian Andreas Seppi. "I don't feel like this is my last chance to either win... or pick up a few slams more easily.

"They never come around easily. Let's not forget who I had to beat on the way."

Nadal is 22 and already has five majors - four straight at Roland Garros and the last at Wimbledon. He also snapped Federer's record 237-week reign atop the rankings last season.

No. 3 Djokovic and No. 4 Murray will both be 22 in May. Federer was closing in on his 22nd birthday when he won Wimbledon in 2003, the first of his 13 major titles.

Confident

Federer doesn't think age will start counting against him. He won three of the four majors in three of the last five seasons, twice finishing one match short of a season grand slam by losing the French Open final to Nadal. But he had to wait until the US Open to secure his first major of the last season. He's feeling more confident this year.

"They will be tough to win," he said. "But I know I got the game to do it."