Rivals stand in Fed's shadow

to achieve yet he still looks as hungry for success as when he won his first Grand Slam title, at Wimbledon in 2003.

Federer has now played in a staggering 22 of the past 27 Grand Slam finals, winning 16 of them, and between he and Rafael Nadal (who has given Federer five of his six defeats in major finals), the pair have also won 22 of the past 27 majors between them.

And now having run out of records as far as men's tennis is concerned, Federer is incredibly on target for what seemed impossible - winning more Grand Slam titles than not only any male player in history but any female as well.

Given how much easier it is to dominate in women's tennis than men's tennis that would be an extraordinary feat but as it stands now only Margaret Court (24), Steffi Graf (22), Helen Wills Moody (19) and great 1980s rivals Martina Navratilova (18) and Chris Evert (18) stand ahead of Federer in terms of Grand Slam singles titles.

And considering that not even fatherhood could slow Federer down at Melbourne Park this year - as he became the first father since Agassi in the 2003 Australian Open to win a Grand Slam tournament - there is no reason why the Swiss master cannot do the impossible and surpass those five women.

Even if he doesn't the 28-year-old has already guaranteed he will be forever remembered as not just the greatest tennis player ever but one of the greatest sportsman of all time as the likes of Murray can only continue to hope that one day the king might finally be dethroned.