Federer feels his aching back is finally fit for duty

Jan 14, 2012, 6:24 GMT

Melbourne - Roger Federer eased his painful back by doing exercises on the long flight from Doha to Melbourne, with the Swiss saying that after time off and training, he's ready for a fast start at the Australian Open.

'I tried to sleep as much as I could, then got up and did some exercise,' he explained two days before the Monday start of the first major of the season. 'Believe it or not, my back started to feel a little bit better, which was a bit of a relief.

'I was worried about that, too. Playing in those cold conditions, we had a lot of wind in Doha this year, then knowing the long flight I had... who knows how I would have touched down here in Melbourne and how I felt. I'm happy with how things went.' The number three had to pull out of semi-final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Doha last week - a rarity in his largely injury-free career - due to back spasms. The 30-year-old said it would have been pointless and dangerous to play on.

'I could barely play, if it had been the last match of the season, fine, you can somehow get through it, but not like this.

'I really hoped that things improved quickly, but they didn't quite do that. I only started to feel better around Tuesday.

'Today was my first practise where I could play again at a hundred per cent. Yesterday I felt good, too. No pain. But at least I was out there playing full on, but still just a little worried or scared, let's put it that way.

'Today all that's gone, so I feel like I'm back to normal. That's a good feeling to have coming into the Australian Open now.'

The 16-time Grand Slam champion will open against a qualifier as he tries to win his first major since taking the title in Melbourne in 2010.

He said that last season's run of three straight titles has carried over into 2012. 'I think it's only helpful that I finished so strong.

'I need the Australian Open to start well for me, win the first few rounds, get hopefully on a roll, see how far I can go. It's definitely only an advantage. I feel really confident when I'm hitting the ball. So I'm feeling really good, which is a good thing.'

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