Roger Federer interview: Back in Dubai and predicting big things in 2014

Roger Federer has warned his rivals he is now injury free and ready to launch a serious assault on the Grand Slams in 2014.

Speaking to Yahoo Maktoob ahead of this week's Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship, the Swiss maestro conceded the back injury he suffered in the first few months of 2013 had left his confidence at an all-time low.

But now pain free and back to full fitness, the 32-year-old has set his sights firmly on returning to his best 2014, starting at a tournament he has won a record five-times in the past.

Federer begins his quest for a sixth title in a place he calls a "home away from home" against German Benjamin Becker on Monday night.

Provided he negotiates his way through the early rounds successfully, a potential semi-final showdown with world No2 Novak Djokovic awaits. And he's certainly in confident mood.

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Meanwhile, the 17-time Grand Slam winner admits he would change very little about the current set-up of the ATP Tour and tennis in general.

Some players have bemoaned the busy calendar in the past, but it seems Federer is pretty content with the state of the game right now.

His views were in marked contrast to both Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who both revealed the one thing they would like to see changed back in December at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.