Roger Federer says he feels ready to go ahead of this week's Dubai Tennis Championships.
Federer has taken three weeks off after the Australian Open to regroup and the Swiss star was looking relaxed as he met the press ahead of his quest for a fifth Dubai title.
Federer was defeated in straight sets by Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals, a defeat which led to the inevitable talk of a changing of the guard at the top of men's tennis.
However Federer admitted that he did not spend long dwelling on the loss to Djokovic and insists he is satisfied with his start to 2011, which has already brought one title in the Gulf (Federer won his fourth Qatar Open crown last month).
"I didn't spend much time thinking about the match against Novak," Federer conceded. "I generally thought about the first month, how it had gone. I came out of the Australian Open feeling good mentally and physically. There was huge hype as Nadal went for the 'Rafa Slam'. Novak, Andy and Rafa played well, but the changing of the guard doesn't happen over three days. Just because a top player doesn't play well, don't jump to conclusions that it's the end."
"I think I am playing well. If I wasn't, then it might be different. If I lost in Doha and early at the Australian Open, then you could ask some questions, but I had a strong end to last year and was one of the best players. I am happy with where my game is at ahead of this swing of hard-court tournaments."
Federer will be top seed and while most of the attention will be on Djokovic as he goes for a hat-trick of Dubai titles, the Swiss has a fine record at the tournament which he won three times in a row between 2003 and 2005 and again in 2007.
