Roger Federer was as surprised to win his 18th grand slam title at the Australian Open as when he clinched his first at Wimbledon in 2003.

And now the Swiss yesterday targeted the All England Club for major triumph number 19 after he ousted old rival Rafael Nadal in five thrilling sets in Melbourne.

Federer beat Nadal 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 to win his fifth Australian Open title on Sunday and complete an incredible comeback following six months out with injury.

Victory also means Federer climbs to 10th in the world rankings after he started the tournament 17th and with faint hopes of making the quarter-finals.

“This came as a huge, huge surprise. I guess maybe like 2003 Wimbledon, it’s totally different, but it was a big, big surprise,” Federer said.

“I thought I could probably be dangerous for a top guy, maybe beat one, and then that would probably be it, just because the body would start aching — which it did — or my level would drop — which it didn’t.”

Even for Federer, the French Open is likely to prove out of reach given he has never enjoyed playing on clay and the surface will be particularly brutal on his body.

Nadal, the nine-time champion at Roland Garros, world number one Andy Murray, reigning champion Novak Djokovic and 2015 winner Stan Wawrinka will all sit higher in the pecking order.

It means the 35-year-old’s best chance of sealing his next grand slam success is on the grass of Centre Court this summer.

“Yeah, Wimbledon over Roland Garros yes,” Federer said.

“On the grass I’ve got a lot of tournaments there, I play Stuttgart and Halle. So I guess Wimbledon, I know I have a better shot there.

“But at the French Open, if you’re not in the draw you can’t win it so I hope to be in the draw this year, not like last year.

“The US Open actually I also think I have a good chance to do well there, but let’s enjoy this one first.”

Federer will first take some time off to recover physically from his draining run at Melbourne Park, before continuing the hard-court season in Dubai, Indian Wells and Miami.

The knee injury that prompted last year’s sabbatical appears not to have resurfaced but Federer did have to put up with pain in his thigh and groin against Wawrinka and Nadal.

“I feel OK, I am very tired right now,” Federer said.