What have been Roger Federer’s biggest matches at the Australian Open?
Few players have dominated at Melbourne Park like Roger Federer. And now that he has 100 wins at the venue, look back on the 10 we will never ever forget.
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It couldn’t be more fitting that on the same night he entered the Australian Open record books, Roger Federer put on a show of epic proportions.
At 4-8 down in the final set tiebreak against John Millman, he rattled off six straight points to snatch victory.
How many 38 year olds would have the fight to pull that off?
Adding to the celebration, the match was Federer’s 100th win at the Australian Open.
And while the Friday night epic was clearly among his best Melbourne Park matches, what have been his other stunners we will never forget?
In celebration of Federer’s milestone, check out 10 of his best Australian Open matches and let us know in the comments where his win over John Millman ranks.
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2004 – FINAL V MARAT SAFIN
7-6(3) 6-4 6-2
While this match wasn’t a classic, it was an important piece of history.
In just his fifth main draw appearance, Federer secured his first Australian Open title. And of course, he did it in style.
The Swiss superstar defeated fiery Russian Marat Safin in straight sets. Federer began the tournament as world No. 2 and left with his second Grand Slam title and the No. 1 ranking in his pocket.
Federer dropped just two sets throughout the tournament while his opponent Safin played four five set matches in a row en route to the final.
2005 – SEMI-FINAL V MARAT SAFIN
7-5 4-6 7-5 6-7(6) 7-9
For one of the few times down under, Federer came off second best in this classic semi-final battle.
Having beaten Safin 12 months earlier, the sequel was far better than the original, with the two stars bringing out the very best in each other.
Federer held a match point in the fourth set tie-breaker but couldn’t close the deal as Safin rallied to send the match into a decider.
The drama wasn’t done there, with Federer saving six match points before Safin eventually prevailed on the seventh.
Adding to the juicy dynamic, Safin was being coached by Peter Lundgren, who was Federer’s former mentor.
2007 – SEMI-FINAL V ANDY RODDICK
6-4 6-0 6-2
Federer has put on plenty of masterclasses throughout his 19 Australian Opens. But you’d be hard pressed to find a bigger beat down of a world class opponent than this.
The Fed Express annihilated big serving American Andy Roddick in an 83-minute demolition job.
“It was frustrating. You know, it was miserable. It sucked. It was terrible. Besides that, it was fine,” a flat Roddick said after the match.
2008 – R32 V JANKO TIPSAREVIĆ
6-7(5) 7-6(1) 5-7 6-1 10-8
It was almost the ultimate upset. World No. 49 Janko Tipsarević pushed Federer to the brink and then some in this four hour and 25 minute epic.
The tournament organisers clearly weren’t expecting the match to last as long as it did, with a backlog of games left for Rod Laver Arena.
As a result, Lleyton Hewitt’s scheduled clash with Marcos Baghdatis didn’t finish until 4:33am the next morning.
2009 – R16 V TOMAS BERDYCH
4-6 6-7(4) 6-4 6-4 6-2
It looked like it was a potential changing of the guard.
Federer was down and out against rising Czech Tomas Berdych, trailing two sets to love.
However, in what was perhaps a preview of how the next decade would play out, Federer saw off the challenge from ‘generation next’ and put Berdych back in his place.
It remains the only time Federer has come back from a two set deficit at Melbourne Park.
2009 – FINAL V RAFAEL NADAL
5-7 6-3 6-7(3) 6-3 2-6
One of the best rivalries in tennis history had another instalment back in 2009, with Federer and Nadal meeting for the first time at Melbourne Park.
The four hour epic went all the way to a fifth set, with Nadal coming out on top. Amazingly, the Spanish bull had played a five hour semi-final against Fernando Verdasco only two days earlier.
2013 – SEMI-FINAL V ANDY MURRAY
4-6 7-6(5) 3-6 7-6(2) 2-6
It wasn’t their first big battle at Melbourne Park, with Murray and Federer clashing in the final three years earlier. But this was clearly their most enthralling match.
Murray was in near career best form and went toe-to-toe with the GOAT for four hours.
After desperately pushing the match into a fifth set, Federer couldn’t pull off the come from behind win and Murray prevailed.
The Scot went on to lose the final to Novak Djokovic in four sets.
2017 – SEMI-FINAL V STAN WAWRINKA
7-5 6-3 1-6 4-6 6-3
Melbourne Park was buzzing. The tournament was one match away from a dream final.
But first, the resurgent Fed Express had to get past his countryman and great friend Stan Wawrinka.
In a seesawing classic, Wawrinka emerged from a third set injury timeout with the clear game plan of throwing caution to the wind, which resulted in a big hitting rampage.
He levelled the match at two sets apiece and even held break points in two different games to start the final set.
However, there was one last twist in the tale, with Federer regrouping much to the delight of the sell-out crowd. The King was ALMOST back.
2017 – FINAL V RAFAEL NADAL
6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3
This was the moment GOAT status became almost impossible to argue against.
After one Grand Slam title in six years, injury concerns and a falling ranking, a 35-year-old Federer kick started what would eventually become one of the best late career runs in sports history.
The build-up was like nothing Melbourne Park had seen, with some tickets to Rod Laver Arena being sold for as much as $16,000.
And they proved to be worth every cent, with Federer and Nadal putting on an epic.
After being down a break in the final set, Federer rallied, reeling off the final four games to complete the remarkable comeback.
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2018 – FINAL V MARIN CILIC
Proving his victory 12 months earlier was no fluke, Federer returned to Melbourne Park and defended his title.
It was the second time in his career he would win back-to-back Australian Opens.
However, he was made to work for it against Marin Cilic.
The big serving Croatian pushed the match all the way to a fifth set before Federer’s class prevailed and he took the decider 6-1. It remains his most recent Grand Slam victory.