Recently split from his long-term coach and mentor Peter Lundgren, the stylish Swiss all-court player turned to his friends over the festive off-season to prepare his Grand Slam bid.

Top of the list was giant Belarussian Max Mirnyi, known on the tennis circuit as "The Beast".

Mirnyi flew into Switzerland to help his friend and occasional doubles partner to get ready for the gruelling Melbourne major.

"The Grand Slams are the biggest ones," the world number two said this week at the Kooyong International, where he is preparing for next week's hardcourt Open.

"I really want to do well there, to get off to a good start and attack the number one ranking here in Australia.

"So after my holiday, Max came and joined me in Switzerland... he stayed with me for a week. Plus, there were also a lot of Swiss players around which was good.

"This preparation has been very good for me."

Federer does not feel the absence of a coach will affect him in the slightest at Melbourne Park.

TASTED GLORY

"Every year I set myself new goals -- I don't need a coach to do that. I always try to improve, try to be more organised, with or without a coach it doesn't matter.

"It doesn't make any difference because I am trying to improve some things and that's not something to do with a coach."

Federer split with Lundgren after three years in December 2003. The Swedish former pro had guided Federer from a world ranking of 30 to number two in the world and steered him to the Wimbledon crown last July.

Certainly Federer knows he has a lot to live up to in 2004.

But with an abundance of ability -- Australia's Pat Rafter last week described him as the "most complete tennis player" he had ever seen -- the sky is the limit for the man touted as Pete Sampras's natural successor.

But Federer will not be resting on any laurels.

"It is important to remember what you have achieved but for the motivation factor you've got to forget that and set yourself new goals otherwise tennis can be difficult.

"When you are just playing and you don't really know why, you have to tell yourself: `I want to achieve this, I want to win events, I want to climb the rankings."

Federer knows what he wants and having tasted glory at Wimbledon he will not be keen to accept second best when hostilities commence at Melbourne Park.