Fond memories have come flooding back for Roger Federer upon his arrival for the Brisbane International.

Now the Swiss master wants to create some more at his Australian Open warm-up event as he prepares to bounce back from a horror 2013.

In a bid to reboot his glittering career, the 17-time grand slam champion came back to where it all began – sort of.

At 14, Federer faced a gruelling training regimen away from home after getting his budding career’s first big break – being chosen to train at the Swiss National Tennis Centre.

As a last hurrah Federer and family visited Australia – and spent the majority of their time in Brisbane.

Eighteen years later the former world No.1 has returned to the Queensland capital again at a career crossroads.

For the first time since 2002, Federer this year failed to make a grand slam final prompting inevitable calls from critics that he should retire.

However, Federer claimed he was no spent force yet – and believed his walk down memory lane in Brisbane would help recharge his batteries.

“It is nice to be back. I had a vacation before I entered the National Tennis Centre at 14,” Federer said.

“I lived with a family from Monday to Friday for two years and I only came back (home) on weekends for tennis tournaments so it was our last big vacation we did together before I did that.

“I went to Sydney, Brisbane and up to Cairns and did a bit of the Great Barrier Reef.

“But I spent three days in Brisbane. My memories are still quite vivid about that trip.”

Federer indicated he did not believe he was a spent force by adding “childhood hero” Stefan Edberg to his coaching staff in 2014 – much to his surprise.

“I didn’t think he was going to be available because he hasn’t been around 15 years really,” Federer said.

“But he was a childhood hero of mine, and I thought I may as well contact him and have him think about it.

“He actually needed a bit of time to think about it. He wasn’t sure at all. He was very flattered.”

Australia will launch an all-out assault on the Brisbane International on Monday.

In men’s first round action, former Australian No.1 Marinko Matosevic takes on France’s Julien Benneteau and wildcard James Duckworth tackles Finnish veteran Jarkko Nieminen.

And teenager Thanasi Kokkinakis will look to break through into the main draw when he takes on China’s Di Wu in qualifying’s final round.

In the women’s first round, qualifier Ashleigh Barty takes on former world No.5 Daniela Hantuchova and doubles partner Casey Dellacqua battles Kazakhstan’s Galina Voskoboeva.

Four-time grand slam champion Maria Sharapova headlines the evening program with her clash with France’s Caroline Garcia.