Roger Federer delivers emotional speech after winning his sixth Australian Open title and 20th grand slam

EVEN before the Australian Open final, there was universal love for Roger Federer. But there was not a dry eye in the house as the Fed Express delivered his winner’s speech after beating Marin Cilic. Relive all the emotion here.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Roger Federer almost got through his winner’s acceptance speech without so much as a wobble but as his voice cracked, tears flowed. “I‘m so happy. It is unbelievable,” he said after beating Marin Cilic in a five-set epic. ROD LAVER PASSES TORCH TO NEW GOAT WHY WAS THE ROOF CLOSED? CILIC TEES OFF ROGER FEDERER DISCUSSES RETIREMENT RUMOURS “I’m happy it’s over now. Either way, but of course winning is just an absolute dream come true. The fairy-tale continues for us, for me. After the great year I had last year, it’s incredible. “It’s tough. And my team, I love you guys. Thank you.” Even Rod Laver got swept up in the emotion. As the raucous crowd applauded the Swiss maestro, the tennis legend took his mobile phone out to snap a quick image of the historic moment. Laver is Federer’s idol, it seems the feeling is mutual. 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 Cilic. 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. FOLLOW LIVE!

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