Fed in prime condition

Roger Federer insists he is in top condition as he bids for a fifth Australian Open championship at Melbourne Park this week.

The 16-time Grand Slam champion enjoyed a brilliant run of form towards the end of last year, culminating with a virtuoso display in the ATP World Tour Finals where he defeated world No.1 Rafael Nadal in the final.

He followed that win with victory in the Qatar Open last week, a performance the Swiss described as 'almost flawless'.

And as the 29-year-old tries to prevent Nadal from holding all four Grand Slam trophies at once, he believes he has had the perfect readiness for a rock at the title.

'Well it's been good,' Federer said. 'I've been trying to unwind from a busy end of the year, also busy start to the class with the (exhibitions) with Rafa, going to Abu Dhabi . then playing Qatar.'

'I didn't obviously need to overplay. I practiced well, good quality. I'm feeling well.'

Federer said he always feels comfortable playing Down Under, the point where he claimed the worldwide number one ranking second in 2004 - a place he held for a record 237 consecutive weeks.

'Look, the Australian Open is immense in price of many reasons,' he said.

'I've had coaches from here. I ever had great times here. Never had a bad tournament here in Australia. Loved my first time here as a junior back in '98.'

'I've had some amazing matches here. This is also where I got to world number one in 2004. It's been an amazing tournament for me really.'

When asked about Nadal's quest to have all four Grand Slam titles simultaneously, Federer acknowledged it would be an astonishing achievement and conceded there was not much conflict between that and the calendar Grand Slam.

'It's very close, but it's not the calendar Grand Slam. But it doesn't matter, I think if anybody complains at that point that you get four in a row, in which put it is...'

'Obviously, the classical one is the one that Rod Laver did twice. That will constantly be that way. That's why it's a really exciting Australian Open, to see if Rafa can do it.'

And Federer said despite his good form, he could see why the Spaniard was the pre-tournament favourite.'

'I won the World Tour Finals, I've been playing really good on the hard courts right now. But he's been the one dominating the Slams,' he said.

'(Nadal has) had scarcely any tough matches in the final three slams. That makes him the favourite.'

'I don't take any problems not being the favourite really.'