CANBERRA – Roger Federer savoured the latest chapter of a late-careerfairytale that delivered a sixth Australian Open crown on Sunday and a very”special” 20th Grand Slam title.
Federer, a nervous defending champion, survived a second set ‘freeze’ and alate rally by sixth seed Marin Cilic before *winning 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3 3-6 6-1*link>underthe *closed roof of Rod Laver Arena*link>.
After a five-year drought, a rejuvenated Federer has bagged three GrandSlam titles in the past 12 months, emulating Australia’s Ken Rosewall whoclaimed the same number after his 35th birthday.
Since his maiden major title at Wimbledon in 2003, several generations ofyoung pretenders have come and gone, yet Federer has outlasted them all.
He has now shared the last five Grand Slam titles with 31-year-old Spanishgreat and long-time rival Rafael Nadal, a state of affairs, the Swiss said,he could scarcely believe.
But with his other ‘Big Four’ rivals — Nadal, Novak Djokovic and AndyMurray — struggling with injuries and the ‘NextGen’ talents yet to make abreakthrough, the tally could well rise if he manages his body and schedulecorrectly.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I have no idea. I’ve won three slams now in 12months. I can’t believe it myself,” the 36-year-old Federer told reporters.
“I just got to keep a good schedule, stay hungry, then maybe good thingscan happen. Then I don’t think age is an issue, per se. It’s just a number.
“But I need to be very careful in my planning, really decide beforehandwhat are my goals, what are my priorities.
“I think that’s what’s going to dictate how successful I will be,” addedFederer, whose decision to skip the entire claycourt season last yeardespite being fit paid off when he claimed a record eighth Wimbledon titlelast July.
“Exciting times ahead.”
Although speeding to victory in the deciding set, Federer came into thematch a bundle of nerves, having been denied a proper semi-final againstSouth Korea’s Chung Hyeon, who retired hurt in the second set.
“I didn’t fall asleep very well after the Chung match,” said Federer.
“I think it surprised me that at this stage of a competition in semis, toget a walkover, that was very odd for me.
“I couldn’t fall asleep until about three in the morning.
“All of the next day I was already thinking about how should I play Marin,’how cool would it be to win 20?’, but no, don’t think of it, ‘but howhorrible would it be to lose it’.
“I had it for over 36 hours, to be honest. It was a lot.”
Cilic roared back into the match after the opening set and had break pointson Federer’s serve early in the decider.
The Swiss said experience and “a bit of luck” had got him over the line toequal Djokovic and Roy Emerson’s record of six Australian Open titles.
“Defending my title from last year, sort of the fairytale continues,” hesaid.
“That’s what stands out for me, maybe not equalling Emerson or Novak. Theyhad their own unbelievable careers.
“It’s definitely a very special moment in my life again.”