Fantastic Federer makes it 20 grand slams

The Bradman of tennis did it again when an emotional Roger Federer defeated Marin Cilic to win his sixth Australian Open title.

Roger Federer holds the Australian Open trophy aloft after defeating Marin Cilic in Melbourne last night. Picture: Getty Images

The Bradman of tennis did it again last night when Roger Federer defeated Marin Cilic to win his sixth Australian Open title and claim his 20th major championship with another nerve-racking yet virtuoso performance inside Rod Laver Arena.

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆@RogerFederer, 2️⃣0️⃣x Grand Slam champion.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/l1oskAwzMU

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2018

Two weeks after Federer arrived at Melbourne Park and claimed he should not be the tournament favourite at 36 years of age, he recorded a 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 3-6 6-1 victory to spark wild celebrations and confirm his standing as the greatest player who ever lived. It was another masterclass when it mattered from Federer after organisers had made the controversial decision to close the roof and play the match indoors following a day of scorching temperatures and the hospitalisation of beaten women’s finalist Simona Halep.

Grand Slam titles won by federer

Tennis is never more popular than when Federer is winning, and so it proved again. The total attendance for the tournament of 743,667 was a record. The Swiss superstar retained the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup as an army of fans wore red and white face paint and T-shirts saying, “Roger That”. The first name is as familiar as The Don’s.

The atmosphere was fiercely pro-Federer, as usual. You could not be sure if you would see him here again. He’s a young man but an old athlete and every year on the tour could be his last. He was wildly cheered when introduced during the warm-up. He had seven water bottles next to his courtside seat as if he expected the long and draining night at the office that was to come. He was well paid for his extended shift, walking away with $4 million.

Not a dry eye in the house.

The tears flow from 🇨🇭@rogerfederer and we've officially run out of superlatives to describe this champion. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Hi1If9uSMP

— #7TENNIS 🎾 (@7tennis) January 28, 2018

Cilic shed tears while losing to Federer in last year’s Wimbledon final and a similarly distressing experience was on the cards when he lost the first set in only 24 minutes last night. In a near-perfect beginning, Federer made a mere three unforced errors. It was that one-sided … until the Croatian fought back.

ICYMI: @rogerfederer's speech!#AusOpen #RF20 pic.twitter.com/bdJLjvurcn

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2018