ROGER IS A SWISSTORY MAKER
ROGER FEDERER survived a second-set wobble and Marin Cilic onslaught to win a recordequalling sixth Australian Open.
The Swiss star admitted to freezing in the face of fierce resistance before winning 6-2 6-7 (7-5) 6-3 3-6 6-1.
With the stadium roof closed to keep out the withering Melbourne heat the 36-year-old grabbed the first set in 24 minutes as a 20th Grand Slam title looked a formality.
But Cilic, who suffered a nightmare in last year’s Wimbledon final against Federer when blisters wrecked his chances, was not going to let his first Australian final slide by in a flash.
Despite fighting a lone battle against Federer and most of the crowd he reeled off five consecutive games to extend the champion into a deciding set.
The outcome hung in the balance but Federer recovered his mojo after saving two break points at the start of the fifth and was roared home to victory by an adoring crowd.
Despite all his titles and accolades Federer was overcome with emotion during his victory speech.
As wife Mirka and Aussie great Rod Laver recorded the moment with their mobiles, Federer, who has equalled Novak Djokovic and Roy Emerson’s Australian Open haul, said: “The fairytale continues for us, for me, it’s incredible. I got off to a flier but I froze in the tie-break and lost that second set and lost control of the match. So I got a bit lucky tonight.”
Federer’s renaissance has earned him three Grand Slams in the past 12 months after a five-year drought, emulating the feat of Ken Rosewall who also claimed three after his 35th birthday.
Cilic, who will rise to a career-high No.3 in the rankings, managed only four points in the first four games.
But despite little support among the shamelessly pro-Federer crowd he