Federer plans to turn season around in Beijing

Beijing: Roger Federer said on Tuesday he is anticipating a "dream Olympics" that will help turn around his disappointing season by winning one of the few titles to elude him.

"For me it is really important over the next couple of weeks, starting here at the Olympics, going on to the US Open," he said.

"I still have plenty of tournaments to do well in, and I hope I can start here at the Olympics and fulfill my dream to win gold."

After failing to overcome arch-rival Rafael Nadal at the French Open, he then fell to the Spaniard in an epic five-set Wimbledon final before going out in the early rounds in Toronto and Cincinnati.

But he is feeling lucky in China, where he will carry the flag for Switzerland at the Olympics opening ceremony.

"I've had a lot of luck in China," said the Swiss ace, whose 27th birthday coincides with Friday's opening ceremony on August 8.

"I know eight is the lucky number here, maybe because my birthday and everything that has also brought me luck here in China, who knows."

Eight is considered lucky because the Chinese character 'ba' sounds similar to the word for luck, or 'fa'.

Because of this the Games opening ceremony has been slated to start at 8 PM on the eighth day of the eighth month of the year 2008.

"I hope being able to carry the flag for Switzerland, which is a great honor for me, starting with that, and then hopefully performing well, it's going to be a dream Olympics for me," Federer added.

The Swiss star flew into Beijing on Monday night on a chartered flight from Cincinnati, where he lost to Croat Ivo Karlovic in the third round last week.

Now chasing an elusive Olympic gold medal, he has opted to stay in a hotel instead of the athletes village for the first time.

"I usually always stay at hotels, all year long, at tournaments. So I said, you know, this time I'll try this way," he said.

"But I have to say the village is beautiful, very nice, very well done here with the vegetation and everything, so it's nice to be able to be part of the team like that."

Federer finished fourth at his first Games in Sydney eight years ago then headed to Athens as the top seed in 2004 but got a shock when Czech player Tomas Berdych knocked him out in the second round.

This time he is doing things differently to give himself an edge over Nadal and his other challengers.

"I'm here a few days earlier than in previous Olympics," said Federer.

"For our purposes usually we're there two-three days ahead but now seven-eight days so actually that's a lot of practice. And I had a good flight in from the States, which is a long trip, but I feel fine."

Federer gets to keep the world No.1 status he has owned for a record 235 weeks for the early part of the Games courtesy of Nadal's loss to Novak Djokovic in the semis of the Cincinnati Open.

Despite the fact that he will have to surrender it to Nadal on August 18, Federer said he does not feel any extra pressure here.

"Everyone has a chance. We'll see down the stretch who is going to have the best day, and I hope it's going to be me."

Federer was constantly pestered by fans and athletes in Athens and he got another taste of that on Monday night when he was mobbed by airport officials, and again on Tuesday when volunteers hounded him for autographs.

"The volunteers struggled to hold themselves back, but it's part of the spirit so it's no problem," said Federer.