We look back at the career of the 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer

We look back at the career of the 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer. __can he possibly win another major in Melbourne?

The superlative Swiss has lost none of his popularity but, at 35, only his most ardent fans would rate him as a leading contender for the title at Melbourne Park, where he is making his 69th Grand Slam appearance.

Federer is feeling his way back after a six-month injury lay-off, the longest of his career, which he ended with a mixed performance at the Hopman Cup team tournament in Perth.

Federer: Quitting not an option

Roger Federer says retirement was not an option during six months out

He does not seem to be contemplating retirement, however, and he remains stubbornly optimistic of a last hurrah to add to his record number of major titles.

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As he searches for his first Melbourne crown since 2010, we look back at the great man's unbelievable career.

Wimbledon 2003

Aged 21, Federer got his hands on his first Grand Slam title and it came at the All England Club with a 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 7-6 (7-3) demolition of Mark Philippoussis in the final - a star was born!

Australian Open 2004

After becoming world No 1, he beat Marat Safin in a one-sided final in Melbourne 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 6-2.

Wimbledon 2004

In the summer, Federer claimed his third major and second title at the All England Club with a 4-6 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 win against Andy Roddick.

US Open 2004

The Fed Express won his first US Open title and third major of the year with a 6-0 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 victory over Australian Lleyton Hewitt.

Wimbledon 2005

Roddick came back for more in south-west London, but was overwhelmed by Federer, who completed a hat-trick of Wimbledon titles.

US Open 2005

A 35-year-old Andre Agassi attempted the stuff of fairytales with a stunning run to the final, but Federer snuffed out the popular American and his adorning fans on Arthur Ashe Stadium by defending his title with a 6-3 2-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-1 win.

Australian Open 2006

Federer defeated Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 5-7 7-5 6-0 6-2 for his second title in Melbourne and then shared an emotional moment with legend Rod Laver.

Wimbledon 2006

It's four in a row at his favourite Slam for Federer as he buried a few demons by defeating Rafael Nadal to extend his winning streak on grass to 48 matches.

US Open 2006

'A-Rod' Andy Roddick was on the wrong end of a Federer final again. The Swiss ace won 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-1 to move past Agassi and Fred Perry in the list of major winners.

Australian Open 2007

Fed became the first man since 1980 to win a major without dropping a set, beating Fernando Gonzalez in the final to join American Bill Tilden in joint fifth on the all-time Grand Slam titles list and extend his winning run to 36 matches.

Wimbledon 2007

Federer made more history by emulating Bjorn Borg's five consecutive Wimbledon titles after an epic 7-6 (7) 4-6 7-6 (3) 2-6 6-2 win against Nadal in a match of breathtaking quality.

US Open 2007

Federer secured his fourth consecutive title in New York, beating a youthful Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-2) 6-4. He became the first man ever to win Wimbledon and the US Open four years in a row, and the first to win four straight US titles since Bill Tilden in 1923.

US Open 2008

In a rare off year for Federer he only managed to win one Grand Slam, which cames at Flushing Meadows, beating Andy Murray 6-2 7-5 6-2 in the final. Federer joined Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors as a five-time winner of the title in the Open era.

French Open 2009

Remarkably, out of Federer's 13 Grand Slam crowns, he had never won on the clay at Roland Garros until he beat shock finalist Robin Soderling in the final to equal Sampras's record of 14 major titles.

Wimbledon 2009

Federer served 50 aces to just come out on top in an epic 5-7 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 16-14 victory over Roddick to regain the title he lost to Nadal the previous year.

"This is not why I'm playing tennis, to break records, and this doesn't mean I'm going to stop playing tennis. I hope to come back for many years," said a jubilant Federer.

Australian Open 2010

Federer's 16th Grand Slam title arrived in Melbourne when he defeated Murray with a brilliant display of all-court tennis 6-3 6-4 7-6 (13-11).

Wimbledon 2012

He has to wait a while, but the 30-year-old collected his seventh Wimbledon crown and 17th major by beating an emotional Murray. The win helped him level Sampras' record with seven titles at the All England Club, and also secured him a record 286th week as world No 1.

One last major title?

After Federer lost out to Djokovic in his last major final, at the 2015 US Open, the question has to be asked whether or not we ever see him win another Grand Slam title again? To be continued...

Follow Roger Federer's progress at the 2017 Australian Open by following our blog skysports.com/tennis, our app for mobile devices and iPad or our Twitter account @skysportstennis.

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