DUBAI, Feb 26: Roger Federer, holder of three of the four Grand Slam titles, will be subjected to even closer scrutiny than usual next week when he rejoins the tour for the first time since regaining the Australian Open title a month ago.

Federer’s triumph in Melbourne was accompanied by a remarkable accolade from Rod Laver, who believes the 24-year-old Swiss tennis genius is now capable of winning all four Grand Slam titles, as he himself last did in the early seventies.

Federer is only three months from an attempt upon the French Open title which should reveal how close to the truth Laver — the only man ever to twice win all four Grand Slams in a year — really is.

And although Federer’s return to action in defence of the Dubai Open title on hard courts, rather than Parisian-style clay, the Australian’s words will make people view Federer with a more microscopic perspective.

But he is adept at deflecting this.

“My first goal for 2006 is maintaining my world number one ranking,” Federer insists. His chances of that have been helped by injuries sidelining his two most capable rivals, Rafael Nadal and Marat Safin.

Nadal, the world number two from Spain, is playing only his second tournament since a foot injury which he sustained while winning a thrilling Masters Series final from two sets down against Ivan Ljubicic in Madrid in October.

There have been moments, Nadal admits, when the injury reduced him to tears because of the pain and the fear that his career might be threatened. The 19-year-old’s comeback, starting in Marseille two weeks ago, was modest and brief, requiring him to withdraw the following week in Rotterdam.

But Nadal comes to Dubai hoping to build towards the form which enabled him to play such a great final against Federer on hard courts in Miami almost 11 months ago, when he led by two sets and 5-2 in the final set.

“I’m better every day, but still not quite there,” says Nadal, who has been training with both ankles taped and begins against Paul-Henri Mathieu, the French Davis Cup player.—Agencies