We look back at the career of 18-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer

We look back at the career of 18-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, who ended a wait of more than four years to claim his latest title.

The superlative Swiss has lost none of his popularity but, at 35, only his most ardent fans rated him as a leading contender for the title at Melbourne Park, but he racked up a fifth Aussie title with a stunning five set triumph over old rival Rafael Nadal.

Victory made him the oldest Grand Slam champion since Ken Rosewall's triumph in Melbourne in 1972 aged 37 and was all the more remarkable given Federer was feeling his way back after a six-month injury lay-off, the longest of his career.

After claiming an 18th title almost 14 years after his first, 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 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' 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 came 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' 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.

Australian Open 2017

Having lost his previous three Grand Slam finals, and after an injury-plagued second half of 2016 that ended with knee surgery, Federer headed to Melbourne with unlikely hopes of a long run let alone a title tilt.

But with Murray and Djokovic falling early and Federer rolling back the years, hopes grew as the tournament progressed.

Federer emerged triumphant from five-set matches against Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka to reach the final where he found old rival Nadal standing in his way.

Having not beaten the Spaniard in a Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2007, and lost six of their previous eight Slam finals, the Swiss great put the head-to-head to one side to claim the title in a thrilling five set encounter to move eight clear of the field in the all-time list.

Don't forget to follow us skysports.com/tennis, our app for mobile devices and iPad or our Twitter account @skysportstennis for news, reports, expert analysis and live blogs.

Get a Sky Sports Day Pass

The best Sky Sports action for 24 hours, all from just £6.99!

By purchasing a Sky Sports Day Pass for £6.99 or Sky Sports Week Pass for £10.99, you __can enjoy access to all seven Sky Sports channels and watch on a TV with a NOW TV Box or on a range of devices.