Roger Federer

Roger Federer has created a memorable legacy at the Australian Open – and continues to draw a packed crowd whenever he graces the court. The Swiss player made his Melbourne debut in 2000 reaching the third round, and has never fallen before that stage in 17 consecutive appearances Down Under.

Federer's victory over Marat Safin in the 2004 final was the second Grand Slam title of his career and secured his place in history as the first Swiss man to win an Australian Open trophy. It elevated him to the world No.1 ranking setting him on the path to another record, his 237-week reign from that point making him the longest-serving world No.1 in history.

After losing to Safin in the semifinal of Australian Open 2005, throwing away a match point in the fourth set tiebreak with a dubious between-the-legs shot, Federer returned in 2006 to win the title over Marcos Baghdatis. The occasion, which saw Federer drop the first set to the Cypriot before winning 5-7 7-5 6-0 6-2, was momentous, the Swiss man weeping as his hero Rod Laver presented him with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup. "I hope you know how much this means to me," he sobbed wiping tears from his eyes.

The win made him the first since Pete Sampras in 1994 to win three consecutive majors and was Federer's seventh Slam title, tying him with John McEnroe, John Newcombe and Mats Wilander.

Federer's third Australian title in 2007 was remarkable, not so much by the nature of his victory as by the records he set as a result of his 7-6(2) 6-4 6-4 win over Fernando Gonzalez. It was his 10^th major and Federer became the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win a Grand Slam without dropping a set.

The triumph marked the start of a winning spree that also saw him claim the 2007 Wimbledon and US Open titles, making him the only man to perform that triple-feat three times (in 2004, 2006 and 2007).

Federer's fourth Australian Open crown in 2010 was particularly special, the Swiss maestro capturing his 16th major title to put him two ahead of Pete Sampras and further establish himself as one of the game's greats. He also became the first father to win a Grand Slam since Andre Agassi in 2003 and the fifth man in the tournament's history to win the trophy four times. Federer had to wait seven years before winning another title  - his fifth - in Melbourne. Incredibly, after taking six months out of the game, he made somewhat of a fairy-tale comeback to defeated Spanish rival Rafael Nadal in the final of the 2017 championships  6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3. He then went onto claim an eighth Wimbledon crown and, overall, a record 19 majors.

He is one of eight men to have won a career Grand Slam (winning all four Grand Slams at least once) and one of four players to have won a career Grand Slam on three different surfaces, hard, grass & clay courts.