Federer off to flying start in 2014 with facile win in Brisbane International

Roger Federer has made a confident start to his first Brisbane International with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Finland's Jarkko Nieminen in his first match of 2014.

Federer now seems to be ready to put on a competitive showing at Melbourne Park, relieved of the back problems that dogged his 2013 campaign and contributed to his second and fourth-round exits at Wimbledon and the US Open, News24 reports.

Roger Federer believes the super-fast court at Pat Rafter Arena will sharpen his game ahead of this month's Australian Open.