Roger Federer believes his shock defeat in the semi-finals of the Australian Open provided him with a timely reality check.
"I've come used to winning so much that when you lose, it can get to you easily as tennis is a very mental sport," the world number one said at the World Indoor Tournament on Wednesday after winning his first match since that Melbourne defeat.
"Everyone was praising me before and saying 'No one can beat Federer' which creates pressure. But I don't want the pressure off my shoulders as I always want to win."
Federer had entered the season's opening Grand Slam as one of the hottest favourites in the tournament's history after capturing 11 titles in 2004.
Enjoying a run of 21 consecutive victories, he even had a match point against eventual champion Marat Safin in an epic five-set contest.
However, his decision to return a Safin lob with a shot between his legs eventually proved to be his downfall.
"It's hard to take, because I felt that maybe it was just another Grand Slam that went away from me," said Federer, who won three of the four slams last year.
"But then again I was happy with the way I fought."
Instead of torturing himself with what might have been, Federer hopped on to a flight and spared himself the ordeal of witnessing Safin's victory.
"I didn't see the match at all. When I got off the plane, they told me who won and I was like..," he said with a shrug.
"I had a few days off and went skiing with my girlfriend and then went back to my training. This tournament is now a new beginning for me."
