Brisbane International: Roger Federer targets first title of 2015

Roger Federer will be hoping to start his year in style when he opens his 2015 campaign at the Brisbane International next week.

The Swiss maestro debuted at the tournament last year, but lost to Australian Lleyton Hewitt in the final.

Federer, who claimed five ATP World Tour titles last year, is aiming for a positive result to start his season on the right note.

"I would love to win this event. I was close last year, after I had had a good week," he told the ATP website.

I always like lifting trophies in a place that I have never been able to. I am unbelievably pumped up for this week.

"I always like lifting trophies in a place that I have never been able to. I am unbelievably pumped up for this week. It's a really good field, with a lot of promising players.

"I really had a great time here as a player and also as a family here last year. I couldn't wait to be back. It really kicked off a great season for me in 2014."

The qualification stages of the Brisbane International have already started, but Federer will play his first game of the tournament on Wednesday against either John Millman or the qualifier who Millman faces in the first round.

Apart from a positive start to the season, Federer will also be hunting for his 83rd Tour level title.

The former world No 1 needs just four more wins to take his number of career victories to 1,000. Only Jimmy Connors (1,253) and Ivan Lendl (1,071) have recorded over 1,000 career wins since the start of the Open Era in 1968.