From cute toddler to gawky teenager to debonair tennis idol: The evolution of Roger Federer

Hard to believe as this may sound, Roger Federer wasn't always the suave, debonair tennis artist that he is today. Before he ascended to the throne of men's tennis and mesmerized the world with his deft touch on the court and impeccable sense of fashion off it, he was at various times a cute toddler, a gawky teenager, and even a love-struck hippie! Here is the evolution of Roger Federer, in pictures - from a tiny little kid to a universally admired tennis ace.

#1 As a toddler - blonde and clueless!

The mischievous grin betrays him though - it's hard to imagine Roger ever being clueless.

#2 The racquet was always a weapon of destruction

Even as a kid, he looked determined to inflict damage when given a racquet in his hand.

#3 The cutie-pie phase

A picture that makes for a perfect 'Aww!' moment.

#4 As a football fan

Could this have been a career-changing moment?

#5 Conspiring with his sister

The siblings seem to be in the middle of a nasty little conspiracy, which probably involved pulling a wedgie on the neighbours' kid.

#6 A true blue 90s kid

The hair was still blonde, but it was also cut in the famed 'mushroom' style that was so popular in the early 90s.

#7 The spikes phase

As the 90s progressed, so did Roger's hairstyle - it went on to acquire the spikes that were all the rage in the late 90s.

#8 Those pay-phone days

Sporting a sports jacket and talking earnestly into a pay phone - was Roger asking a girl out on a date?

#9 In the company of legends

A self-professed sucker for tennis tradition and history, Roger sure made a pretty quick move on hobnobbing with the legends, in this case Jimmy Connors.

#10 That nonchalance!

The slice backhand was probably always perfect. And so was the "I'm walking on water" expression as he played it.

#11 Training was always fun

All smiles while training on the practice court - some things never change!

#12 The ghastly hairdo phase

At some point in our lives or the other, we all have that "I wish I had rather died than sported THAT look" phase. And Roger - great as he is - is just like any other human in this regard.

#13 Blonde is good for business

Roger didn't seem particularly distracted by his blonde hair during his teen years. It certainly didn't stop him from winning trophies, at any rate. And is that a Pamela Anderson poster we see on his door?

#14 The ghastly hairdo phase, part 2

Seriously Roger, what were you thinking?

#15 The glow of eternal love

The signs were there all along - Roger and Mirka are meant to be together forever.

#16 The hippie phase

The hair seems better, but what's up with that necklace?

#17 The pony-tailed assassin

If we didn't know better, we might have been tempted to call Roger's pony-tail a lucky mascot. He won his first Wimbledon title sporting that gloriously grotesque pony-tail.

#18 The start of a rivalry bound by mutual respect

Even in the early days, Roger and Rafa seemed perfectly at ease with their on-court rivalry. There was no animosity to be found here.

#19 Growing into a champion

As the success piled on, his look matured too. A global superstar now, Roger both looked and played the part.

#20 Mr. Debonair

It didn't take long for all those upscale brands to turn him from just another famous athlete into an international man of intrigue.

#21 Tying the knot

Roger and Mirka at their wedding in 2009, looking like the very picture of happiness.

#22 Turning on the style

It wasn't just the photoshoots that were making Roger look like a model; he soon started turning his everyday routines into expressions of his fashion sense. Not that anyone was complaining.

#23 Turning on the style (a little too much)

The waistcoat was borderline passable, the military-style jacket was going way overboard, and the gold highlights on the gym bag (or was it a man-purse?) would make any self-respecting athlete puke in his mouth. Thankfully, the "I'm too regal for my wardrobe" phase didn't last too long.

#24 Daddy dearest

Doting on his twins Myla Rose and Charlene Riva - he seems born to do that! (In addition to wreaking havoc on the tennis court, that is).

#25 Circa 2014

Global superstar, content with his career, happy family at home, comfortable in his own skin - the Roger Federer of 2014 pretty much defines what every man on earth wants to be like.