I partied like a rock star, says Federer
ROGER FEDERER only just got back to his hotel before sunrise after “partying like a rock star” to celebrate his Australian Open triumph here.
The Swiss won his first Grand
Slam title for five years and his 18th overall by defeating Rafael Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 yesterday.
And the 35-year-old made the most of that success, even though he admitted today he was struggling a bit as he posed for photographs with the Cup (left).
“We did party like rock stars,” said Federer. “We started late, or super early in the morning, we made it home by sunrise, which was good, it was nice to see the sun rise over Melbourne, get into the room, so it was a long night but a lot of fun.
“We celebrated in a great way, being silly, having fun, chatting about everything. All the stress went away. I don’t know how much I slept, if I even did sleep.”
Three of his last four matches went to five sets and he was on court for three hours and 37 minutes in his victory over Nadal.
“My legs hurt like mad and my back’s stiff now too because I didn’t take any treatment, plus I was dancing,” said Federer. “I’m still on a high. I’m going to crash eventually, but that’s okay. In a week’s time I think the pain in my legs will go away, which is going to be nice.”
Federer noted that his victory was all the more special as it was his first in a Grand Slam final since his twin boys were born three years ago. Federer and his wife, Mirka, also have twin daughters, who were born in 2009.
“The girls were just super excited to see the trophy,” Federer said. “I saw them this morning. As I walked in, they woke up. They were all in such a good mood as they woke up and I came walking in with the trophy. It was an amazing half hour.”
Federer now has his eyes on becoming the first man to win eight Wimbledon singles titles. He shares the record of seven titles with William Renshaw and Pete Sampras.
Asked how he felt about his chances at the year’s next three Grand Slam tournaments, Federer said here today that he expected Wimbledon to provide his best opportunity to take his tally of Grand Slam titles to 19.
“Wimbledon over Roland Garros, yes, and then the US Open I don’t know,” said Federer. “I’ve got a lot of tournaments on grass this summer. I play Stuttgart and Halle. I know I have a better shot at Wimbledon.
“If you’re not in the draw at the French Open you can’t win it so I hope to be in the draw this year, unlike last year. I also think I have a good chance to do well at the US Open, but let’s enjoy this one first.”
Unlike Serena Williams, the women’s singles champion here, Federer is not planning to play a limited schedule in 2017. Having not competed for six months at the end of last year after suffering a knee injury at Wimbledon, he appears determined to make up for lost time.
Federer will be back on court in the Dubai tournament at the end of February and then plans to play at Indian Wells and Miami in March. Today, he rose seven places in the rankings to No10.