Challengers will have to put up `heck of a performance to beat me’, says Federer

Thirteen-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer has said that those who harbour the dream of unseating him, would have to put up `heck of a performance to beat me’.

He is not uncomfortable admitting he expects to win. Having won the Grand Slams he has, that is not arrogance - it is realism.

Last year, he was below physical fitness here, but he won the last slam of the year in New York when he had finally recovered his fitness and form.

"It's going to take a heck of a performance from one of the players to win this tournament so it's going to be interesting," he said after winning the AAMI Classic exhibition tournament.

"I have played plenty of matches so that's not an issue - no health problems, feeling fresh and fit and ready to go so things are the way I was hoping them to be," he added.

For what that means for Melbourne Park, Federer was unequivocal: "I expect to win.