After claiming six ATP World Tour titles and compiling a 63-11 record last year, defending champion Roger Federer will start his season in Brisbane for a third consecutive year this week.

“It’s an absolute pleasure to be back in Brisbane,” Federer said at the launch event for the Citycat Transport system.

“I had a wonderful last two years here and was not going to miss it again as long as I am playing tennis. My family really enjoys it here and the people are super friendly.

“They love their tennis here in Brisbane.”

Federer fell to Lleyton Hewitt in the 2014 finals during his first trip to the Australian city, then captured the title in a milestone match against Milos Raonic in 2015.

Queensland battler Ben Mitchell is one win away from a dizzying change of scene in which he would go from sleeping on the floor at his last tournament win to playing against Federer.

Federer has a first-round bye at the Brisbane International as one of the top four men’s seeds.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion was drawn to play either Mitchell, a hardworking Queensland wildcard, or qualifier Tobias Kamke in his second round encounter at Pat Rafter Arena in midweek.

Federer has reaped $97m in career prize-money, compared to Mitchell’s earnings of $250,790.

The 23-year-old won the Canberra Challenger in November and then a smaller Futures event in Wollongong, which is where he skimped to keep his accommodation bill for the week to just $85.