World No.1 Roger Federer is adamant his exhausting five-set struggle against Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic on Saturday night will not slow his push for a third straight Australian Open crown.
Federer took more than four hours to shake Tipsarevic before a stunned - and vocal - Rod Laver Arena crowd.
The Swiss sensation eventually winning 6-7 (5/7) 7-6 (7/1) 5-7 6-1 10-8 to move into the last 16 of the tournament.
Federer told the media after his marathon encounter that the workout may prove a blessing.
"Honestly for me it's good to play five-setters once in a while," he said.
"It gives me a lot of information on how I'm feeling, what I still have to work on.
"Just being there in a five-setter is good for me because I'm hardly ever there. It's good for my mindset for the next one.
"My last five-setter was back in Wimbledon I guess, so it doesn't happen every time. When it happens you have to take the most out of it. Check it out for yourself and then hope you're ready for the next one."
Federer will next play Czech Thomas Berdych, who needed four sets to defeat Juan Monaco of Argentina, and was looking forward to the meeting.
However, he was also savouring the mighty victory and quick to praise his vanquished Serbian opponent.
"He did well," Federer said of the world No.49.
"He fought really hard, didn't miss much, and he was way better than back when I played him in Davis Cup and beat him quite easily.
"So I was impressed by his game. He was serving very well in his first serve, and when it was down two sets or one set all it's not that easy to play that easy game.
"He put a lot of pressure on me, and I agree he had the upper hand from the baseline."
Tipsarevic made an impact with his tennis and body art in Melbourne; his heavy-duty tattoos catching the eye of fans and Federer.
But Federer was unable to shed any light on the meaning of the 'ink'.
"The one on his back? Have you seen that one? That's even bigger," he said.
"So, no, I don't know. I don't want to know."
