Roger Federer was already starting to think about achieving the Grand Slam after beating Fernando Gonzalez 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 to retain his Australian Open crown on Sunday.

• Federer hits perfect 10 | Images 

The Swiss world number one needs the French Open to complete his set and become only the third player to hold all four majors at once.

"Now I am again close to winning four (Slams) in a row so that's what is on my mind," he told a news conference.

"The French Open is next for me so it's going to be very interesting to see how I can do there. I hope I can win the title there because that is the only way I can improve on last year."

Federer won three Grand Slams last year and believes his experience will help him add more after closing within four majors of record holder Pete Sampras.

"I have more experience now, what schedules to pick, what tournaments to play," he said. "My motivation is as strong as ever."

Federer lost in last year's French Open final to world number two Rafael Nadal.

Rafa is very strong, very confident and he's a great player," he said. "I really enjoy the challenge of playing him."

On Sunday, Federer became the first man since Bjorn Borg at the 1980 French Open to win a grand slam tournament without dropping a set.

"Equalling records is really nice, no doubt," Federer said. "It was never a goal of mine to win a slam without dropping a set. As long as I win the trophy I don't mind how."

The 25-year-old has won 10 Grand Slam titles since winning his maiden title at Wimbledon in 2003 and will break Jimmy Connors's record of 160 consecutive weeks as world number one next month.

"The conditions have been the same for the last couple of matches," said Federer, who had a tough opponent in Gonzalez.

"I tried to play my game, be aggressive and it ended up working. I'm just relieved that I managed to win it again."

Federer said he had initially struggled to contain the flamboyant stroke-making of Gonzalez, who beat fifth seed James Blake and second seed Rafael Nadal in straight sets on his way to the final.

"He made it hard for me to attack him and I was missing a few shots in the first set to give him the upper hand," Federer said. "Luckily, I was able to win it. I picked the right tactics in the end, played well and won a tough match."

Federer said it could have been a very different match if Gonzalez had won the opening set, though he said he would still have been confident of winning it in the end.

"The first set could have been a turning point," Federer said. "He could have taken more chances maybe."

"Grand Slam finals are tough, everything is on the line, there is no draw in tennis," he said. "It's always tough to be an overwhelming favourite."