Federer plays down importance of winning French Open

MELBOURNE, Jan 29 (Reuters) Roger Federer's standing in tennis's pantheon of champions should not be judged on whether he ever wins a French Open crown, the Swiss master said today.

''(Winning) the French (Open) might put me in another atmosphere in terms of being a legend, because nowadays people want you to win all four otherwise you've not quite done it,'' a bleary-eyed world number one told an invited group of journalists after scooping his third Australian Open title.

''But I don't think that is quite right.'' ''It's (the French) a totally different surface. It would be different if the last one missing for you is the Australian Open or the US Open because those are on hard courts and you can think 'oh that's the one anybody can win'.

''But the French Open and Wimbledon seem specific surfaces (on which) to win and you have to really be an expert to win. I think we'll never really know who is the greatest because of eras -- it's so hard.'' Just when the world thought that they had already seen the Swiss master at his peak after an unforgettable 2006 season in which he reached all four grand slam finals and won 12 titles, he proved he still had plenty in reserve.

He completed the most dominant men's grand slam campaign in 27 years when he won his 10th grand slam title at Melbourne Park with victory over Fernando Gonzalez on Sunday.

Not since Bjorn Borg's run to the 1980 French Open title had a man won a grand slam title without dropping a set in the tournament.

The Wimbledon, US and Australian Open champion realises that the pressure to hold all four majors at once -- and emulate Don Budge and Rod Laver -- will again build on him during the European summer season.

REALLY SHOCKED But after chalking up grand slam title number 10 in just 3-{ years, Federer was in reflective mood.

''Number one (Wimbledon 2003) will always stay the most memorable one for me, no doubt about that,'' he said.

''I don't like comparing different grand slams, like is Australian Open more (important) than Wimbledon or US Open or whatever? ''It depends so much on how you feel at the moment itself, how was the match point played. There are so many components that play a role in a grand slam victory.

''This time I'm really shocked, it's my first tournament of the year and right away to come out and don't lose a set.

That's what stands out the most. It hasn't been done for such a long time that this is my most dominant grand slam victory.

''It's already my 10th in such a short period of time so obviously I'm amazed myself. Now it's a question of keeping it up as it keeps on coming.'' But for a man who has probably forgotten what it feels like to be a loser, winning one of the big four still gives him a buzz.

''You go to your room and you can't sleep because your head is still spinning,'' said the 25-year-old who was out celebrating in Melbourne till dawn.

''Went to bed late, around six. It was already light outside, I slept for 1-{ hours... so it's been a bit of an awkward sleep. But I feel pretty good now. I could win a match,'' he grinned.

Reuters PM GC1046