'Back-in-form' Roger Federer feeling 'fresh, fit' ahead of Australian Open final phases

Swiss tennis star Roger Federer has said that he is feeling fresh and back in form as he reached the Australian Open's last phases with a comfortable third-round win over Teymuraz Gabashvili on Saturday.

The 17-time Grand Slam winner, who is chasing his fifth Australian crown, made the round of 16 at Melbourne for the 13th straight year after an unruffled 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 win over the unseeded Russian in one hour 41 minutes.

According to Sport24, Federer said that he is over the back pain that dogged him last year and was in good shape heading into the second week, with battles looming against his main rivals.

Stating that he is feeling very fresh and good physically, Federer also said that he did a lot of 'prevention work' to fasten his recovery, adding that he is thankful that he did not have any setbacks since Hamburg (last July), which looks good for him going ahead.