AFP | Sep 23, 2017, 17:01 IST(AP Photo) LONDON: Roger Federer has admitted his year would have been "very different" had he not battled back from a 1-3 fifth-set deficit in his Australian Open triumph against Rafael Nadal .

Without a Grand Slam title since 2012, Federer fought back to beat Nadal in January's decider in Melbourne, setting himself up for a stunning return to form.

"By winning all those big three events at the beginning of the year, it allowed me to sit there in the top eight of the world already after a few months of the season and not worry about being ranked number 35 if I had lost early in the Australian Open because of the points I had to defend.

While Federer is resisting the ravages of time thanks in part to his fast, aggressive game, he does not think Djokovic or Murray would necessarily benefit from adopting similar tactics.

"Andy or Novak, we are talking about big champions and future hall of famers," said the Swiss, who was speaking at the inaugural Laver Cup team event in Prague, which he has launched.