Federer’s trophy collection grows
With sixth Aussie Open, first male with 20 slams
MELBOURNE, Australia – What do you do when you’re Roger Federer and at
36 years, 173 days old you just stole another piece of tennis history by winning your 20th Grand Slam tournament trophy in the Australian Open?
The answer to that question is cry, and keep crying.
That’s what the Swiss master did as he delivered an impassioned speech to the crowd after his 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3,
3-6, 6-1 win against Marin Cilic to successfully defend his Australian Open crown Sunday.
Federer started off poised as he soulsearched to explain how it feels to win another major and, quite simply, to be Roger Federer.
“I’m so happy it’s unbelievable,” he said. “Winning is just an absolute dream come true. The fairy tale continues. After the great win I had here last year, it’s incredible.”
This was not the first time fans have seen Federer weep with joy. In fact, he’s made a habit of it. But this time he wasn’t able to control his passionate response. As he kept speaking, the emotions kept building. His voice cracked, and the tears began flowing. As much as he tried to wipe them away, there was no containing the flood, so he just stopped talking and stepped back.
“When I start thinking about what I was going to say, every subject I touch actually is very meaningful and very emotional,” Federer explained. “Thanking your team, congratulating Marin, thanking the people, thanking the tournament. At the end it’s like one big party.
“I hoped over time in the speech I would start to relax a little bit, but I couldn’t. I wish it wasn’t so sometimes. At the same time I’m happy I can show emotions and share it with the people.”
To do what Federer has done is astounding. No other man in the game has been able to fill a trophy room with 20 souvenirs representing victories at the four most cherished tennis events in the world.
There’s now six from the Australian Open, eight from Wimbledon and five from the U.S. Open. And there’s the one from the French Open, the hardest to come by, which finally became a reality on his fourth consecutive trip to the final in 2009. He has played in five French Open finals.
Federer joins Margaret Court (24), Serena Williams (23) and Steffi Graf (22) as the only players to capture at least 20 singles trophies in the majors.
To still be achieving the consistent level of greatness on the closer side of 40 adds to the astonishment associated with his conquests. While he isn’t the oldest man to tabulate such notable results, he’s definitely one of the lucky few.
Federer is the third man along with Australians Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall to win four or more majors after joining the 30-and-older club. Federer’s three wins since he turned 30: Wimbledon
(2012 and 2017) and here last year. He has now won his past three majors since turning 35. Only Rosewall played for Grand Slam trophies after his
35th birthday, which he accomplished eight times. His last title was in the 1972 Australian Open.
Federer had no answer when asked how long he can realistically go on playing, especially at this level.
“No idea,” he said. “Honest, I don’t know. ... I’ve won three slams now in 12 months. I can’t believe it myself. I’ve just
got to keep a good schedule, stay hungry, then maybe good things can happen.
“Then I don’t think age is an issue, per se,” he added. “It’s just a number. But I need to be very careful in my planning, really decide beforehand what are my goals, what are my priorities. I think that’s what’s going to dictate how successful I will be.”
As for putting his success at Melbourne Park in context, Novak Djokovic and Roy Emerson are the only other men to win the Australian Open on six occasions.
Compared with Federer, now 20-10 in Grand Slam finals, 29-year-old Cilic stands at 1-2 in championship matches in the majors. Cilic, who will advance to a career-high No. 3 ranking as a reward for his Australian Open, won his one Grand Slam title in the 2014 U.S. Open, which is also where he won the only match in 10 played against Federer in the semifinals.
Cilic was happier with his performance than he was when, suffering with blisters, he limped to a loss to Federer in the Wimbledon final last year. After the match Sunday, Cilic offered praise for how Federer continues to set himself apart from most of the rest of the competition.
“(His) passion to compete, season after season, especially at this high level,” he said. “Then, also, being able to challenge himself, first physically and then mentally, as well, to be at the top almost every single week.”