Federer cautious on talk of calendar Grand Slam

 ROGER Federer has played down talk of an unprecedented calendar Grand Slam after securing his fourth Australian Open title in Melbourne.

CHAMPION: Switzerland's Roger Federer poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup in the players locker room after winning the men's final match against Andy Murray (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Federer now holds three of the four major titles and will head to Roland Garros and Wimbledon's All England Club - the next two Slam stops - as defending champion.

Only nine male players have ever won three Slam tournaments in a calendar year - an achievement Federer has secured three times, in 2004, 2006 and 2007.

But no men's player has ever completed the sweep, although women's legend Steffi Graf won all the Slam titles plus Olympic gold in 1988.

However, after brushing aside the challenge of one of his many pretenders, Great Britain's Andy Murray, it's hard to dismiss talk of Federer achieving yet more history as fanciful.

"It's not something I've ever put in my mind as something I want to achieve," said Federer.

"I'll still go and play the smaller tournaments, the Masters 1000s, the ones we're supposed to play. I try to give my best everywhere I go to, because it's not just about the Grand Slams for me.

"Of course, they are important, but I try to respect every tournament that invites me to go play. There's the fans who pay for tickets and I want to live up to my expectations too.

"I won't put the entire season at risk just trying to win the calendar Grand Slam. 

"If it happens then great but it's not my number one goal."

Federer raced to the first two sets against a passive Murray but the third set was much closer.

He broke back when Murray was serving for the set and then saved five sets points before wrapping up a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 victory in two hours and 41 minutes.

And he admits, the result could have been different had he allowed Murray to establish some momentum.

"I think it would have been very interesting to see how he would have handled it, coming off such a high of winning the third set," added Federer. 

Despite some blown out of proportion pre-match niggle, Federer was full of praise for Murray describing him as a 'wonderful mover and tactician'.

And he claims it will only be a matter of time before he fulfils his promise and ends Britain's 74-year wait for a Grand Slam champion.

But, ominously for his rivals, the world number one isn't planning on taking things easy yet.

Asked if he could continue at the top of the sport for five more years, he added: "Sure, but there's is never a guarantee.

"My game is not as taxing as other's games and I also think I have a very relaxed mind when it comes to the game of tennis.

"We'll have to see where it ends but I hope it will not be anytime soon."