Andreas Seppi has said that it was a "special moment" for him to beat Roger Federer at the Australian Open.

The 30-year-old pulled off an upset in the third round to knock out the four-time champion, and he has admitted that it is the biggest win of his career.

"To beat Roger for the first time, especially in a Grand Slam, best-of-five [sets], is a special moment for me," Seppi told reporters. "It's always a special moment to play against him. I have known him a long, long time. He had so many great results. So to step on court against him for me is always something special.

"It's the first time I beat him. I beat once [Rafael] Nadal in Rotterdam when he was two in the world, that was also a big win.

"Against Roger, you know, I never went close. I never had the chance. To have this win in my career, it's for sure something big, yeah."

Seppi has never been beyond the fourth round of a Grand Slam before.