Roger Federer says the back injury he suffered in Doha won't hinder a bid for his first Grand Slam win in two years.
The 30-year-old Swiss ace strained his back during a second-round win over Slovenian Grega Zemlja at the Qatar Open on January 4, and there had been doubts as to how the 16-time Grand Slam champion would recover.
Although he admitted the injury had taken longer to heal than he had hoped, Federer said he is heading into the Australian Open at full strength.
"I only started to feel better around Tuesday," Federer said.
"Today (Saturday) was my first practice where I could play again at a hundred percent."
"Yesterday I felt good, too. No pain. But at least, you know, 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."
Federer's last Grand Slam success came at Melbourne Park in 2010 and, despite the injury, he feels his 30-year-old body is still capable of going the distance in the majors.
"I feel my game is really right where it needs to be, even though now the last few days have been pretty much of a waiting game, seeing how it goes," he said.
"I don't feel like I'm coming from way back. I feel like I'm ready to go. If matches were to start tomorrow, no problem. Even today would have been fine."
"I have a good mindset and physically feel really fit because the build-up has been a good one."
Federer will take a 20-match winning streak into the Australian Open, after his stunning run at the end of last season that saw him claim the Swiss Indoors, Paris Masters and a record sixth ATP World Tour Finals.
"I think it's only helpful that I finished so strong," he said. "I had so many great finishes to the year."
"Very often did I take this momentum into the following year."
"I hope it's going to be the same again. For this, I need the Australian Open to start well for me, win the first few rounds, get hopefully on a roll (and) see how far I can go."