Champions don’t go on a lengthy break in order to revitalise their body and mind, and come back with full vigour to make a fresh assault on the coveted trophies. Or, do they?

Watching Roger Federer at the Australian Open in the first week of the year’s first major has been nothing short of a revelation. Three games against the world’s top players are ample material to make an assessment of Federer’s comeback. Except for the second round against 200th-ranked American qualifier Noah Rubin, Federer has played against the world’s best. First up was against Jurgen Melzer, a former World No. 8. Then, Rubin was followed by Tomas Berdych and on Sunday Kei Nishikori.

Federer began his first competitive tournament since Wimbledon last year with three mis-timed shots in a row against Melzer. But that was just about it. Since finding his range in the third and fourth sets of that game, the Swiss has steadily taken up his game to the level it was when he was at his best.

While the straight-set win against Berdych surprised the master himself, the five-setter, although by all counts it should have been done and dusted in four, against the wily Nishikori proved to be a good gauge of where Federer’s game stands.

At the outset, the 17-time Grand Slam champion had some trouble negotiating Nishikori’s deep returns and was down 0-4. The Japanese seemed to have ample time on Federer’s serve and kept surprising the legend with his angles.

But then Federer started to find his groove and began his fightback slowly but surely. It’s amazing how he can be continuously written off while he has an all-encompassing game, and after the extended off-season matching fitness, that can quickly sort out all that his opponents could throw at him.

Undoubtedly this year’s slightly quicker surface at the Rod Laver Arena suits his style. But it needs much more than that to figure out an opponent’s tactics and expose his weakness in the course of a fast-paced match. In Federer’s own words, at the RLA this week it is going to be more of a football style shoot-out with not many long rallies. Sunday’s five-setter got over in under three and a half hours. All that only points to a master craftsman whose brain is ticking at a healthy pace.

The forehand is intact as ever. And the backhand looks stronger than ever before. Whether it’s a gentle jab or a lethal slice, it was all played to perfection. There was a disdain in the volley put aways; a nonchalance in the leaves; and a firmness and authority in the overhead smashes. Do tennis shots ever carry emotion and feelings? If they did, one would have sensed some anger and vengeance. It was as if Federer was censuring Nishikori for a misdemeanour: What temerity to question the King?

The fourth set was an aberration. Nishikori had begun to look up at the chirping pigeons in the night sky, dismayed at the distraction while serving. He would have been happy to have been elsewhere but Federer made a few tactical errors and the wily fox grabbed the opportunity. Yet, he didn’t have the game to fully turn the tables on Federer and quickly bowed out in the fifth.

But two factors under-score Federer’s domination on return while World No. 1 and 2, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, had made shockingly early exits. Like Rafael Nadal in the other half of the draw, Federer is looking fit as ever, which leads to the second aspect and answers our original question: his beautiful mind.

I have to digress a bit before I explain. Sachin Tendulkar came back from a tennis elbow injury and played some of his best cricket after that. But his was a forced layoff although the mental aspect of dealing with the recovery is the same. Then there is Vishy Anand who never took a break from the game despite being dethroned as the king of chess. One may mention Tiger Woods as well in this context, a legend who is in decline but also wrestling with injury and resultant layoffs.

So, to be still in contention in every tournament you enter and still show the courage to take a break from the game in order to come back stronger and with whetted appetite must have required a strong mind. And to think that he was considered mentally fragile at times against his arch-nemesis Rafa Nadal!

Maybe Federer will clear those lingering doubts as well this week. Just maybe!