Roger Federer is suddenly within sight of the grand slam title record after entering uncharted waters with a historic sixth Australian Open triumph.
The insatiable Swiss became the first man ever to capture 20 grand slam singles crowns with a fighting 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 3-6-1 victory over Marin Cilic in Sunday night’s championship decider at Melbourne Park.
Playing under a closed roof at Rod Laver Arena after officials controversially invoked the extreme heat policy, Federer repelled Cilic’s tenacious mid-match challenge to repeat his 2017 Wimbledon final success over the Croat and match Novak Djokovic and Roy Emerson with six titles in Australia.
Incredibly, Federer – despite turning 37 this year – has now won 25 of his 26 matches at the majors since hobbling off Wimbledon’s hallowed centre court 18 months ago with a serious knee injury, his playing future uncertain.
But after enduring a four-and-a-half-year grand slam title drought, Federer’s remarkable renaissance, at an age when most players are long retired, has netted him three slams in 12 months.
With Laver believing the former world No.1 is playing as well as ever, Federer’s relentless run has raised the prospect of the ageless maestro reeling in Serena Williams’ open-era record of 23 grand slam singles titles.
If he can defend his Wimbledon crown – which he won last year without dropping a set – and salute for a sixth time in New York, Federer will return to Melbourne in 2019 gunning for grand slam No.23.
Laver doubts Federer would be thinking that way, but suspects the veteran has a window of another year to 18 months to keep piling up the slams.
“He’s certainly playing as well as he did eight or 10 years ago,” Laver told AAP on Sunday.
Largely untroubled all fortnight, Federer is the oldest Australian Open champion in 46 years after defending the title he won so spectacularly in 2017 following six months out of the game.
Often untouchable indoors, Federer rolled through the opening set in 24 minutes, conceding only two points on serve as Cilic made a nervy, error-filled start to his third grand slam final.
There was no sign of the tension and drama to come, even after Cilic – the 2014 US Open champion – nabbed the second set in a tiebreaker.
Federer seemed to have wrestled back control after taking the third set with a decisive break in the sixth game and then charging ahead 2-0 in the fourth.
But after missing a chance to go up a double break, Federer’s serve deserted him as Cilic roared back from the brink to level the final at two sets apiece.
With the final on a knife-edge, Federer fended off a further two break points in the opening game of the deciding set.
But, after dodging the bullets, he broke Croat for a fifth and sixth time to regain his stranglehold on the match before closing it out after three hours and three minutes.
Fionn
Guest
Was it only 36% in set 4?? I know it was bad but wow. Yeah, I honestly couldn't believe how he switched back on from losing the 4th and being down 3 break points in the first game of the 5th to coming back. Shows his class I guess.
Fionn
Guest
Nah, Nadal is usually careful about his body, and Dubai wasn't originally on his schedule I don't think. Nadal won't mind relinquishing number 1 for a few weeks, knowing Federer has Indian Wells and Miami to defend.
Fionn
Guest
Federer skipped the entire clay season last year. I wouldn't be surprised if he never plays another clay event again, at least as long as Rafa is fit and playing. If Rafa is out then perhaps he would.
spruce moose
Guest
Clipper Thanks for that. Useful to know. However, I suspect with Roger it's largely academic. I reckon the Grand Slams would hand Federer a wildcard until he's about 50 if they really wanted to!
Big Daddy
Guest
You have gone the early crow a little bit. And it might be better to rephrase it to major tournaments as it takes 4 to make a grand slam.
Johnno
Guest
Some Modern day men’s sport greats since 1970: Maradonna/Zidane/Richie McCaw/Dan Carter/Jonah Lomu/Shane Warne/Viv Richards/Rafa Nadal/Federer/Michael Jordan/Kareem/Wilt/Magic Johnson/Larry Bird/Le Bron James/Kelly Slater/Sergi Bubka/Jahanger Khan/Micheal Phelps/Mark Spitz/Tiger Woods/Jack Nickalous/Bo Jackson/Dion Sanders/Ali/Floyd Mayweather/Carl Lewis/Michael Johnson/Usain Bolt/Steve Redgrave/Sidney Crosby/Wayne Gretzky/Tom Brady/Joe Montana/Jerry Rice/Micheal Doohan/Schumacher/Senna etc.. Imagine being at a party with this lot etc...
Johnno
Guest
He's so good wow. One of the best modern day sportsman since 1970, if no the best eg longevity(and still good)/marketability/wider audience/statistics etc. He's on Michael Jordan's level no doubt about it. MJ still sells more merchandise though lol, Federer even played one US open in some specially designed Nike Air Jordan's etc. They are friends and know each other. But Fed keeps on giving. Putting the roof on was the right decision the heat and humidity were oppressive, the women's final should of as well, but the humidity was worse for the mens and the heat apparently. And no excuses about weak fields you can only play what's in front of you, Rafa/Novak/Andy Murray have a more exhausting style of game, Fed has never retired hurt within a match which is remarkable, unlike Rafa who is 5 years younger and has retired mid match loads of times. Fed has withdrawn from tournaments or withdrawn from a match pre match but never during the match.. The best modern day men's player ever.. He has navigated Sampras/Agassi/Safin/Hewit/Rafa/Novak/Andy Murray/Stan, and the next gen as well... He is so good..
jamesb
Guest
He is incredible. Coming back from injury age 35, he has now won three of the past five slams. Maybe the reason why he is still competitive at 36, is because his style of play doesn't put much stress on his body. And number 21 is certainly within his reach at Wimbledon.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
That 1st game of the 5th set was crucial. Isn't it extraordinary how Federer was able to re-find his service rhythm again just at the important moment. He went from 36% of 1st serves in for the 4th set to 61% in the 5th. And more importantly I seem to remember he got it in on the first 3 points.
clipper
Guest
This explains why Roger can skip slams, as will Nadal, Murray etc. A player’s number of ATP World Tour Masters 1000 commitment tournaments shall be reduced by one (1) tournament for reaching each of the following milestones: 1) 600 matches* (as of 1 January of the commitment year); 2) 12 years of service; 3) 31 years of age (as of 1 January of the commitment year). If all three (3) conditions are met then the player has a complete exemption from the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 player commitment.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Roger is definitely playing less overall tournaments in a bit to manage his fitness. The 36 year old body is certainly more susceptible to injuries when pushed than the 26 year old body is. So, not sure what tournaments he will and won't be playing, but I'd be pretty shocked if he went out of his way to play some extra tournaments in order to push for the number one ranking. He was ranked number one for so long, I doubt it's a big thing to him, the big thing now is tournament wins, specifically Grand Slams. I didn't realise that he didn't play the French Open. Surprised about that. While I understand Roger thinking it in his best interests not to, I thought that when it came to these big tournaments it was considered basically a requirement for the top players to all play them unless they had a good excuse (ie injury). But maybe as he gets older, maybe playing two Grand Slams as close together as the French and Wimbledon being too tough on his body is considered a good enough reason. The French has always been the toughest one for him, so I can certainly understand that he'd prefer to have a build up to Wimbledon that doesn't include lots of running around on clay!
Brian
Guest
Don't think either will play Dubai though they will both consider Acapulco where if neither plays Federer will go to No 1 albeit for a week. Federer will also need to decide if he attempts to aim for No 1 by years end. That would include playing the French. I suspect both though are more interested in the total grand slam tally's which now stands at 20-16 to be 20-17 if Nadal is fit for Rolland Garros.
clipper
Guest
Think that will happen, which is a pity as he should make sure he is fully fit before he returns. Great final, Cilic held his nerve and really went for his shots in the forth and his luck held out and was unlucky not to ride the momentum into that first game of the fifth. Deserves his ranking of 3.
Kane
Guest
Do you think Nadal will play if not fully fit to try and defend his points to keep Federer from claiming No1? I get the feeling that’s how he finished the year last year playing to prevent that happening.
Fionn
Guest
Impressive that he was able to hold in that first service game of the 5th. Cilic had gotten a huge amount of momentum, and like Fed said in the press conference, would have been extremely difficult to beat had he gotten up a break to start the 5th. Great tournament from Roger. Now, if he can win Dubai he will return to number 1. What a legend. Commiserations to Cilic though. He's a good bloke and played well, just unlucky he came up against Fed.
Nate
Guest
That really was something. Cilic was all over him at the end of that 4th set and he looked gone, then suddenly he broke to start the 5th and that was it. Crazy how he was able to swing momentum.
perry cox
Roar Guru
He's the greatest.
Jameswm
Guest
What a legend and a gentleman. Takes the sadness off the Aussies’ performance in the 5th ODI. How can anyone not have the utmost respect for the guy. Congrats Roger.