With the win, Federer becomes only the fourth player to win 20 or more singles Grand Slam titles.
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Australian Open champion Roger Federer is set to continue defying Father Time as he has announced Monday that he will return to defend his title next year.
Roger Federer has won his sixth Australian Open Grand Slam title and his 20th overall, defeating sixth seed Marin Cilic in five thrilling sets.
It was only the fifth time Federer had been broken all tournament and the giant Croat broke through again in the eighth game before successfully serving it out to take the match to a deciding set shootout.
Buoyed by a change in schedule which has kept him fresh going into tournaments, Federer followed up his Australian Open triumph by winning his eighth Wimbledon title previous year.
For losing finalist, 2014 US Open victor Cilic of Croatia, this was his third major final. With the score 4:5 Federer on his serve played a set-bol, but at the tiebreak allowed Cilic to level the score.
His progress to the final was largely stress-free and included a truncated semi-final triumph when Hyeon Chung was forced to withdraw through injury in the second set.
Federer was unexpectedly emotional after his five-set victory and could not hold back the tears during his victory speech with the Swiss superstar admitting that he is still taking it all in. “At the same time I’m happy I can show emotions and share it with the people”. The world number six, CIlic, fought back well though and should be applauded for his part in this incredible final.
“I think, you know, Nick Kyrgios could be the best player in the world”, Laver told Fairfax Media.
Caroline Wozniacki won the women’s singles title on Saturday, beating Simona Halep in three sets in Melbourne for her first career Grand Slam title.
Like last year this year’s final too went to 5 sets.
Laver – one of the Swiss’s biggest fans – suspects Federer has a window of 12 to 18 months to add to his grand slam tally.
It’s Federer’s sixth Australian Open title, tying him with Roy Emerson and Novak Djokovic for most all-time.
“I’ve played a great tournament so far, I’m playing much more aggressive, hitting most of the shots really good”.
However, Federer was struggling to find a first serve and Cilic began to crush the second one with his forehand.
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“It was an awesome journey to come to the final”.
