Roger Federer has moved within touching distance of the world No.1 position and admitted he is considering entering next month’s Dubai Open, which could offer him the best chance of replacing Rafael Nadal at the top of the rankings.

Federer is just 155 points behind Nadal after successfully defending his Australian Open title in Melbourne, when he beat Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in Sunday's final.

The 36-year-old has yet to confirm his schedule for the rest of the year, but given that he is likely to skip the entire clay-court season again in order to focus on his Wimbledon preparations, his best chance of reclaiming the No1 position could come next month.

With maximum points to defend in Indian Wells and Miami in March, Dubai might be Federer’s only opportunity to increase his rankings points before the grass-court season starts in June.

Nadal, who dropped 840 ranking points when he lost in the quarter-finals here, is due to play in next month’s Acapulco tournament in the same week as Dubai.

In Pictures | Australian Open Tennis 2018 140 show all In Pictures | Australian Open Tennis 2018 1/140 Getty Images 2/140 Caroline Wozniacki poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and celebrates by spraying champagne in the Royal Botanical Gardens after winning the women's singles final Getty Images 3/140 Roger Federer kisses the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after winning the men's singles final against Marin Cilic Getty Images 4/140 Caroline Wozniacki poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after winning the women's singles final against Simona Halep Getty Images 5/140 An emotional Roger Federer poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after winning the men's singles final against Marin Cilic Getty Images 6/140 Roger Federer kisses the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after winning the men's singles final against Marin Cilic Getty Images 7/140 Marin Cilic poses with the runners-up trophy and Roger Federer poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup Getty Images 8/140 Caroline Wozniacki in action in the women's singles final match against Simona Halep Getty Images 9/140 Roger Federer celebrates winning the 20th Grand Slam title of his career after beating Marin Cilic in the men's singles final Getty Images 10/140 Caroline Wozniacki reacts as she wins the women's singles final match against Simona Halep Getty Images 11/140 Roger Federer looks on in his men's singles final match against Marin Cilic Getty Images 12/140 Caroline Wozniacki poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after winning the women's singles final against Simona Halep Getty Images 13/140 Roger Federer in action in his men's singles final match against Marin Cilic AFP/Getty Images 14/140 Caroline Wozniacki poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after winning the women's singles final against Simona Halep Getty Images 15/140 The Norman Brookes Challenge Cup is displayed before the men's singles final match between Marin Cilic and Roger Federer AFP/Getty Images 16/140 Roger Federer celebrates winning a point in his men's singles final match against Marin Cilic AFP/Getty Images 17/140 Marin Cilic reacts against Roger Federer during their men's singles final match AFP/Getty Images 18/140 Kyle Edmund poses for a selfie with a fan during a practice session Reuters 19/140 Kyle Edmund hits a shot as his coach Fredrik Rosengren watches during a practice session Reuters 20/140 Kyle Edmund arrives for a practice session Getty Images 21/140 Great Britain's Aidan McHugh reaches the semi-finals at the Australian Open in the Boy's Singles Getty Images 22/140 Kyle Edmund plays a forehand in a practice Getty Images 23/140 Getty Images 24/140 yle Edmund makes a backhand return to Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov AP 25/140 Kyle Edmund Reuters 26/140 Grigor Dimitrov Reuters 27/140 Kyle Edmund Reuters 28/140 Grigor Dimitrov EPA 29/140 Kyle Edmund signs autographs for fans after winning his quarter final match against Grigor Dimitrov EPA 30/140 Spectators watch the quarter-final match between Kyle Edmund and Grigor Dimitrov Getty Images 31/140 Fredrik Rosengren, coach of Kyle Edmund, reacts during Edmund's match against Grigor Dimitrov Reuters 32/140 British tennis player Tim Henman watches Kyle Edmund Getty Images 33/140 Britain's Kyle Edmund celebrates after defeating Italy's Andreas Seppi in their fourth round match at the Australian Open AP 34/140 Britain's Kyle Edmund is congratulated by Italy's Andreas Seppi after winning their fourth round match AP 35/140 The sun sets over the Melbourne city skyline as the men's fourth round match between Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov and Australia's Nick Kyrgios is played at the Australian Open AP 36/140 Serbia's Novak Djokovic reaches for a return to South Korea's Chung Hyeon during their fourth round match at the Australian Open AP 37/140 South Korea's Hyeon Chung hits a return during their men's singles fourth round match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic AFP/Getty Images 38/140 Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts after a point against South Korea's Hyeon Chung during their men's singles fourth round match AFP/Getty Images 39/140 Novak Djokovic receives medical treatment during his fourth round match against Chung Hyeon EPA 40/140 Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov celebrates after defeating Australia's Nick Kyrgios AP 41/140 Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov is congratulated by Australia's Nick Kyrgios AP 42/140 Australia's Nick Kyrgios yells in frustration AP 43/140 Romania's Simona Halep celebrates after defeating Japan's Naomi Osaka during their fourth round match at the Australian Open AP 44/140 Angelique Kerber Reuters 45/140 Switzerland's Roger Federer AP 46/140 Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates after defeating Hungary's Marton Fucsovics in their fourth round match at the Australian Open AP 47/140 Tennys Sandgren in action against Dominic Thiem during round four on day eight of the Australian Open EPA 48/140 Kyle Edmund Reuters 49/140 Tomas Berdych REUTERS 50/140 Fabio Fognini REUTERS 51/140 United States' Madison Keys, right, shakes hands with France's Caroline Garci AP 52/140 Austria's Dominic Thiem AP 53/140 Kyle Edmund Issei Kato/Reuters 54/140 Kyle Edmund celebrates winning his third round match against Nikoloz Basilashvili Getty Images 55/140 Kyle Edmund and Nikoloz Basilashvili greet each other after their third round match at the Australian Open EPA 56/140 Kyle Edmund Getty Images 57/140 Nikoloz Basilashvili EPA 58/140 Spectators watch the women's singles third round match between Ukraine's Elina Svitolina and Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk on day five of the Australian Open AFP/Getty Images 59/140 Alize Cornet REUTERS 60/140 Grigor Dimitrov EPA 61/140 Magdalena Rybarikova EPA 62/140 Andrey Rublev EPA 63/140 Pablo Carreno Busta, is congratulated by Gilles Muller of after winning their third round match at the Australian Open AP 64/140 Italy's Andreas Seppi gestures AP 65/140 Marta Kostyuk Getty Images 66/140 Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan Getty Images 67/140 Johanna Konta Getty Images 68/140 United States' Bernarda Pera, left, shakes hands with Britain's Johanna Konta as she won their second round match at the Australian Open AP 69/140 Bernarda Pera Getty Images 70/140 Johanna Konta AP 71/140 General view of the Rod Laver Arena EPA 72/140 Gael Monfils AP 73/140 Juan Martin del Potro AP 74/140 Maria Sharapov Getty Images 75/140 Simona Halep EPA 76/140 Camila Giorgi EPA 77/140 Austria's Dominic Thiem AFP/Getty Images 78/140 France's Julien Benneteau celebrates after defeating Belgium's David Goffin AP 79/140 Reuters 80/140 Kyle Edmund EPA 81/140 Kyle Edmund shakes hands with Denis Istomin after Edmund won their match Reuters 82/140 Kyle Edmund Getty Images 83/140 Laura Robson and CoCo Vandeweghe Getty Images 84/140 Marta Kostyuk Getty Images 85/140 Jelena Ostapenko EPA 86/140 Caroline Wozniacki Getty Images 87/140 Rafael Nadal EPA 88/140 Fans of Rafael Nadal Reuters 89/140 Julia Goerges EPA 90/140 Alize Cornet EPA 91/140 A spectator yells during the men's second round match between Nick Kyrgios and Viktor Troicki EPA 92/140 Nick Kyrgios EPA 93/140 Croatia's Ivo Karlovic AFP/Getty Images 94/140 Ivo Karlovic shakes hands with Yuichi Sugita after Karlovic won their match Reuters 95/140 Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov Reuters 96/140 France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga AP 97/140 Johanna Konta Getty Images 98/140 Novak Djokovic Reuters 99/140 A young spectator cools down at a water spraying fan at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, AP 100/140 Maria Sharapova EPA 101/140 Roger Federer EPA 102/140 Russia's Maria Sharapova takes a selfie with spectators after she won over Germany's Tatjana Maria during their first round match at the Australian Open AP 103/140 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga falls during their men's singles first round match against Kevin King AFP/Getty Images 104/140 Simona Halep Getty Images 105/140 Petra Kvitova EPA 106/140 Angelique Kerber Reuters 107/140 A general view of the first round match between Lukas Lacko of Slovakia and Milos Raonic of Canada on Show Court 2 on day two of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park Getty Images 108/140 Eugenie Bouchard Reuters 109/140 Australia's Alex de Minaur Reuters 110/140 Caroline Garcia Reuters 111/140 multiple exposure image of Alexander Zverev in action against Thomas Fabbiano during round one of the Australian Open EPA 112/140 Stan Wawrinka Reuters 113/140 Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki reacts during their women's singles first round match against Romania's Mihaela Buzarnescu AFP/Getty Images 114/140 Tennis fans Reuters 115/140 Roger Federer smiles for the camera during practice Reuters 116/140 Great Britain's Kyle Edmund celebrates winning his first round match against Kevin Anderson Getty Images 117/140 Great Britain's Johanna Konta in action during a practice session Getty Images 118/140 United States' Venus Williams reacts during her loss to Switzerland's Belinda Bencic AP 119/140 Belinda Bencic celebrates winning a point in her first round match against Venus Williams Getty Images 120/140 Rafael Nadal serves in his match against Victor Estrella Burgos Getty Images 121/140 A supporter of Britain's Kyle Edmund waves during his men's singles first round match against South Africa's Kevin Anderson on day one of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne AFP/Getty Images 122/140 Grigor Dimitrov hits the splits on court vs Dennis Novak Reuters 123/140 Novak Djokovic of Serbia walks past his coach Andre Agassi during a practice session Reuters 124/140 Ball kids wipe the surface of centre court with towels after rain fell on day one of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park Getty Images 125/140 Will Ferrell and his wife Viveca Paulin watch the first round match between Grigor Dimitrov and Dennis Novak Getty Images 126/140 Australia's Nick Kyrgios bites his towel during their men's singles first round match against Brazil's Rogerio Dutra Silva AFP/Getty Images 127/140 Members of the 'We The People' supporters group cheer Nick Kyrgios ahead of his first round match against Rogerio Dutra Silva of Brazil Getty Images 128/140 Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova AFP/Getty Images 129/140 Russia's Andrey Rublev hits a return against Spain's David Ferrer AFP/Getty Images 130/140 David Ferrer Getty Images 131/140 Hungary's Timea Babos hits a return against Coco Vandeweghe AFP/Getty Images 132/140 Coco Vandeweghe in action AFP/Getty Images 133/140 Spain's Rafael Nadal hits a return during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne AFP/Getty Images 134/140 South Africa's Kevin Anderson hits a return against Britain's Kyle Edmund AFP/Getty Images 135/140 John Isner after losing his first round match against Matthew Ebden Getty Images 136/140 Matthew Ebden celebrates Getty Images 137/140 Former Australian Open Champions Boris Becker of Germany and Billie Jean King of the USA pose with the ball kids and the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and Norman Brookes Challenge Cup on day one of the 2018 Australian Open Getty Images 138/140 Marin Cilic Getty Images 139/140 Denis Shapovalov Getty Images 140/140 General view of crowds in garden square on day one of the 2018 Australian Open Getty Images 1/140 Getty Images 2/140 Caroline Wozniacki poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and celebrates by spraying champagne in the Royal Botanical Gardens after winning the women's singles final Getty Images 3/140 Roger Federer kisses the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after winning the men's singles final against Marin Cilic Getty Images 4/140 Caroline Wozniacki poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after winning the women's singles final against Simona Halep Getty Images 5/140 An emotional Roger Federer poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after winning the men's singles final against Marin Cilic Getty Images 6/140 Roger Federer kisses the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after winning the men's singles final against Marin Cilic Getty Images 7/140 Marin Cilic poses with the runners-up trophy and Roger Federer poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup Getty Images 8/140 Caroline Wozniacki in action in the women's singles final match against Simona Halep Getty Images 9/140 Roger Federer celebrates winning the 20th Grand Slam title of his career after beating Marin Cilic in the men's singles final Getty Images 10/140 Caroline Wozniacki reacts as she wins the women's singles final match against Simona Halep Getty Images 11/140 Roger Federer looks on in his men's singles final match against Marin Cilic Getty Images 12/140 Caroline Wozniacki poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after winning the women's singles final against Simona Halep Getty Images 13/140 Roger Federer in action in his men's singles final match against Marin Cilic AFP/Getty Images 14/140 Caroline Wozniacki poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after winning the women's singles final against Simona Halep Getty Images 15/140 The Norman Brookes Challenge Cup is displayed before the men's singles final match between Marin Cilic and Roger Federer AFP/Getty Images 16/140 Roger Federer celebrates winning a point in his men's singles final match against Marin Cilic AFP/Getty Images 17/140 Marin Cilic reacts against Roger Federer during their men's singles final match AFP/Getty Images 18/140 Kyle Edmund poses for a selfie with a fan during a practice session Reuters 19/140 Kyle Edmund hits a shot as his coach Fredrik Rosengren watches during a practice session Reuters 20/140 Kyle Edmund arrives for a practice session Getty Images 21/140 Great Britain's Aidan McHugh reaches the semi-finals at the Australian Open in the Boy's Singles Getty Images 22/140 Kyle Edmund plays a forehand in a practice Getty Images 23/140 Getty Images 24/140 yle Edmund makes a backhand return to Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov AP 25/140 Kyle Edmund Reuters 26/140 Grigor Dimitrov Reuters 27/140 Kyle Edmund Reuters 28/140 Grigor Dimitrov EPA 29/140 Kyle Edmund signs autographs for fans after winning his quarter final match against Grigor Dimitrov EPA 30/140 Spectators watch the quarter-final match between Kyle Edmund and Grigor Dimitrov Getty Images 31/140 Fredrik Rosengren, coach of Kyle Edmund, reacts during Edmund's match against Grigor Dimitrov Reuters 32/140 British tennis player Tim Henman watches Kyle Edmund Getty Images 33/140 Britain's Kyle Edmund celebrates after defeating Italy's Andreas Seppi in their fourth round match at the Australian Open AP 34/140 Britain's Kyle Edmund is congratulated by Italy's Andreas Seppi after winning their fourth round match AP 35/140 The sun sets over the Melbourne city skyline as the men's fourth round match between Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov and Australia's Nick Kyrgios is played at the Australian Open AP 36/140 Serbia's Novak Djokovic reaches for a return to South Korea's Chung Hyeon during their fourth round match at the Australian Open AP 37/140 South Korea's Hyeon Chung hits a return during their men's singles fourth round match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic AFP/Getty Images 38/140 Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts after a point against South Korea's Hyeon Chung during their men's singles fourth round match AFP/Getty Images 39/140 Novak Djokovic receives medical treatment during his fourth round match against Chung Hyeon EPA 40/140 Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov celebrates after defeating Australia's Nick Kyrgios AP 41/140 Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov is congratulated by Australia's Nick Kyrgios AP 42/140 Australia's Nick Kyrgios yells in frustration AP 43/140 Romania's Simona Halep celebrates after defeating Japan's Naomi Osaka during their fourth round match at the Australian Open AP 44/140 Angelique Kerber Reuters 45/140 Switzerland's Roger Federer AP 46/140 Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates after defeating Hungary's Marton Fucsovics in their fourth round match at the Australian Open AP 47/140 Tennys Sandgren in action against Dominic Thiem during round four on day eight of the Australian Open EPA 48/140 Kyle Edmund Reuters 49/140 Tomas Berdych REUTERS 50/140 Fabio Fognini REUTERS 51/140 United States' Madison Keys, right, shakes hands with France's Caroline Garci AP 52/140 Austria's Dominic Thiem AP 53/140 Kyle Edmund Issei Kato/Reuters 54/140 Kyle Edmund celebrates winning his third round match against Nikoloz Basilashvili Getty Images 55/140 Kyle Edmund and Nikoloz Basilashvili greet each other after their third round match at the Australian Open EPA 56/140 Kyle Edmund Getty Images 57/140 Nikoloz Basilashvili EPA 58/140 Spectators watch the women's singles third round match between Ukraine's Elina Svitolina and Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk on day five of the Australian Open AFP/Getty Images 59/140 Alize Cornet REUTERS 60/140 Grigor Dimitrov EPA 61/140 Magdalena Rybarikova EPA 62/140 Andrey Rublev EPA 63/140 Pablo Carreno Busta, is congratulated by Gilles Muller of after winning their third round match at the Australian Open AP 64/140 Italy's Andreas Seppi gestures AP 65/140 Marta Kostyuk Getty Images 66/140 Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan Getty Images 67/140 Johanna Konta Getty Images 68/140 United States' Bernarda Pera, left, shakes hands with Britain's Johanna Konta as she won their second round match at the Australian Open AP 69/140 Bernarda Pera Getty Images 70/140 Johanna Konta AP 71/140 General view of the Rod Laver Arena EPA 72/140 Gael Monfils AP 73/140 Juan Martin del Potro AP 74/140 Maria Sharapov Getty Images 75/140 Simona Halep EPA 76/140 Camila Giorgi EPA 77/140 Austria's Dominic Thiem AFP/Getty Images 78/140 France's Julien Benneteau celebrates after defeating Belgium's David Goffin AP 79/140 Reuters 80/140 Kyle Edmund EPA 81/140 Kyle Edmund shakes hands with Denis Istomin after Edmund won their match Reuters 82/140 Kyle Edmund Getty Images 83/140 Laura Robson and CoCo Vandeweghe Getty Images 84/140 Marta Kostyuk Getty Images 85/140 Jelena Ostapenko EPA 86/140 Caroline Wozniacki Getty Images 87/140 Rafael Nadal EPA 88/140 Fans of Rafael Nadal Reuters 89/140 Julia Goerges EPA 90/140 Alize Cornet EPA 91/140 A spectator yells during the men's second round match between Nick Kyrgios and Viktor Troicki EPA 92/140 Nick Kyrgios EPA 93/140 Croatia's Ivo Karlovic AFP/Getty Images 94/140 Ivo Karlovic shakes hands with Yuichi Sugita after Karlovic won their match Reuters 95/140 Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov Reuters 96/140 France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga AP 97/140 Johanna Konta Getty Images 98/140 Novak Djokovic Reuters 99/140 A young spectator cools down at a water spraying fan at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, AP 100/140 Maria Sharapova EPA 101/140 Roger Federer EPA 102/140 Russia's Maria Sharapova takes a selfie with spectators after she won over Germany's Tatjana Maria during their first round match at the Australian Open AP 103/140 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga falls during their men's singles first round match against Kevin King AFP/Getty Images 104/140 Simona Halep Getty Images 105/140 Petra Kvitova EPA 106/140 Angelique Kerber Reuters 107/140 A general view of the first round match between Lukas Lacko of Slovakia and Milos Raonic of Canada on Show Court 2 on day two of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park Getty Images 108/140 Eugenie Bouchard Reuters 109/140 Australia's Alex de Minaur Reuters 110/140 Caroline Garcia Reuters 111/140 multiple exposure image of Alexander Zverev in action against Thomas Fabbiano during round one of the Australian Open EPA 112/140 Stan Wawrinka Reuters 113/140 Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki reacts during their women's singles first round match against Romania's Mihaela Buzarnescu AFP/Getty Images 114/140 Tennis fans Reuters 115/140 Roger Federer smiles for the camera during practice Reuters 116/140 Great Britain's Kyle Edmund celebrates winning his first round match against Kevin Anderson Getty Images 117/140 Great Britain's Johanna Konta in action during a practice session Getty Images 118/140 United States' Venus Williams reacts during her loss to Switzerland's Belinda Bencic AP 119/140 Belinda Bencic celebrates winning a point in her first round match against Venus Williams Getty Images 120/140 Rafael Nadal serves in his match against Victor Estrella Burgos Getty Images 121/140 A supporter of Britain's Kyle Edmund waves during his men's singles first round match against South Africa's Kevin Anderson on day one of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne AFP/Getty Images 122/140 Grigor Dimitrov hits the splits on court vs Dennis Novak Reuters 123/140 Novak Djokovic of Serbia walks past his coach Andre Agassi during a practice session Reuters 124/140 Ball kids wipe the surface of centre court with towels after rain fell on day one of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park Getty Images 125/140 Will Ferrell and his wife Viveca Paulin watch the first round match between Grigor Dimitrov and Dennis Novak Getty Images 126/140 Australia's Nick Kyrgios bites his towel during their men's singles first round match against Brazil's Rogerio Dutra Silva AFP/Getty Images 127/140 Members of the 'We The People' supporters group cheer Nick Kyrgios ahead of his first round match against Rogerio Dutra Silva of Brazil Getty Images 128/140 Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova AFP/Getty Images 129/140 Russia's Andrey Rublev hits a return against Spain's David Ferrer AFP/Getty Images 130/140 David Ferrer Getty Images 131/140 Hungary's Timea Babos hits a return against Coco Vandeweghe AFP/Getty Images 132/140 Coco Vandeweghe in action AFP/Getty Images 133/140 Spain's Rafael Nadal hits a return during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne AFP/Getty Images 134/140 South Africa's Kevin Anderson hits a return against Britain's Kyle Edmund AFP/Getty Images 135/140 John Isner after losing his first round match against Matthew Ebden Getty Images 136/140 Matthew Ebden celebrates Getty Images 137/140 Former Australian Open Champions Boris Becker of Germany and Billie Jean King of the USA pose with the ball kids and the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and Norman Brookes Challenge Cup on day one of the 2018 Australian Open Getty Images 138/140 Marin Cilic Getty Images 139/140 Denis Shapovalov Getty Images 140/140 General view of crowds in garden square on day one of the 2018 Australian Open Getty Images

Nadal will be defending 300 points as last year’s runner-up, while Federer would have only 45 points to defend in Dubai after his surprising second-round defeat to Evgeny Donskoy 12 months ago.

It means Nadal would have to out-perform Federer that week to have a chance of retaining his No 1 position - and even that might not be enough. For example, even if the Spaniard finished runner-up in Acapulco again, Federer would need only to reach the semi-finals in Dubai to overtake his great rival.

Nadal has entered Acapulco and still hopes to play there, despite the hip injury which forced him to retire during his quarter-final here last week against Cilic. If he did not reappear until Indian Wells, Federer would automatically overtake him.

Federer, who last topped the rankings six years ago, has not entered Dubai yet, but would likely be given a wild card if he requested one.

The world No2 is returning home to Switzerland this week but has a warm-weather base in Dubai and has been a regular competitor there over the years.

He admitted on Monday he had been in talks with the tournament about playing there next month but had told organisers he wanted to delay a decision until after the Australian Open.

“I also have to decide about the clay-court season, so all these things are inter-linked,” Federer said. “It’s possible I’ll play [in Dubai] but it’s also possible that maybe I just don’t play anything. It depends on how the next week or so goes. Then I’ll make a decision.”

During his emotional on-court victory speech here yesterday following his victory, Federer failed to say that he looked forward to returning next year, prompting speculation that this might be his final season.

“I couldn’t really remember what I was saying at the end,” Federer said this morning after meeting Linda Dessau, the Governor of Victoria, at Government House.

“All I wanted to say was a big thank you. There are a lot of people to thank in a moment like this. But of course I hope to come back next year.”

Federer, who admitted he was “very tired” after “a great couple of weeks”, had said before the tournament that there was no way that a 36-year-old should be considered the favourite to win the title.

He admitted on Monday that before it began he had been unsure about whether he would be able to win the title again.

“Like last year, I just felt that something was going to come in my way, that one guy would catch fire and I would not be able to stop him.

“Next year when I do come back I might actually believe I can win it - but then I probably won’t win it, so it’s better to stay really relaxed about my chances, especially in my later years on the tour. I think it’s served me well, that I stay more relaxed throughout.”

With his 20 Grand Slam singles titles Federer is four ahead of Nadal, his closest male rival, but four behind Margaret Court’s all-time record.

Did he think it might be possible for him to match Court’s tally?

“I don’t think so,” Federer said. “I didn’t think 20 was ever possible to be honest.

"I think it’s too far. It’s not something I’m looking at. I’ve never thought about it to be honest.

"Those numbers are surreal. They’re amazing. I’d be very happy if it stays at 20.”