Roger Federer won his first Australian Open 20 years ago. Here's how his most dominant period began
Roger Federer's first Australian Open win, 20 years on
On the 20th anniversary of Roger Federer's first Australian Open win, we look back at the 2004 edition of the grand slam and the Swiss star's rise to the top.
Federer arrives Down Under as the second seed
Before winning his first grand slam, Federer had never made it to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
Having won Wimbledon the year prior in 2003 (pictured), the Swiss star came into the 2004 Australian Open as the second seed behind Andy Roddick.
Roddick only made it as far as the quarter-finals, making Federer the bona fide favourite thereafter.
However, he'd have to beat some of the world's best to achieve the ultimate triumph.
Federer's first round foe
Federer's first round opponent saw him go up against tournament qualifier Aleksandr Bogomolov Jr.
Federer made reasonably quick work of the Russian-born American, winning 6-3, 6-4. 6-0.
Bogomolov Jr. represented the United States from 2001 to 2011 before switching allegiance to Russia in 2012.
He never made it past the third round in a grand slam.
Federer sends another American home
Federer's second round match-up pitted him against another American qualifier, Jeff Morrison.
It was another comfortable win for Federer, who triumphed 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.
Federer's first Australian opponent
Wildcard Todd Reid gave Federer little to worry about in the third round, downed by the second seed 6-3, 6-0, 6-1.
If not that Australian, then another would give the Swiss star a run for his money.
Federer vs Hewitt
All eyes were on Federer and hometown favourite Lleyton Hewitt in the fourth round.
There was an air of confidence for Hewitt, the 16th seed, and his fans.
Before the Australian Open that year, Hewitt had the edge over Federer with the ledger at 7-2.
Federer's first AO finals berth nears
Hewitt gave the adoring Melbourne crowd something to cheer about when Federer dropped his first set of the tournament.
Downed 6-4 in the first, Federer came out firing in the second to win it 6-3.
It was largely one-way traffic from there, taking out the third and fourth set, 6-0 and 6-4 respectively, to cruise through to the quarter-finals.
The start of dominance
That win was the first of 14 consecutive triumphs for Federer over Hewitt.
The Australian finally got one back in 2010 in the Gerry Weber Open final (now Halle Open).
In their final contest against each other in 2014, Hewitt had the last laugh.
At that year's Brisbane International, Hewitt won the final 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
Federer vs Nalbandian
Federer's fourth round win at the Australian Open over Hewitt set up a quarter-final berth with Argentina's David Nalbandian.
It marked the second year in a row that Nalbandian had reached the last eight and represented another tough task for Federer.
Federer drops his last set of the tournament
Nalbandian lost the first two sets to Federer – 7-5, 6-4 – before rebounding to take the third 7-5.
Federer bounced back to close out the match in the fourth set, winning it 6-3.
