MELBOURNE – Roger Federer has emerged as the most successful male tennis player of the Open era, beating Marin Cilic in the final of the Australian Open to collect his 20th grand slam title.
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??????????@RogerFederer, 2️⃣0️⃣x Grand Slam champion.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/l1oskAwzMU— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2018
The roof was closed for the final to cope with 37.5 degrees Celsius heat outside, but the Swiss superstar kept his cool to beat a brave Cilic 6-2, 6-7 (7/5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in three hours and two minutes.
The 2️⃣0️⃣x champion signs off from RLA.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/lRkwGt9GOr
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2018
He won a second-set tie-break to level, and later came back from a set down again to force a deciding set, but Federer’s finals experience told in the end.
When Goats cry. #GOAT? #ausopen #bbctennis pic.twitter.com/iGJUIAX7jm
— BBC Tennis (@bbctennis) January 28, 2018
Federer, 36, won his first grand slam title at Wimbledon in 2003, where he beat Australia’s Mark Philippoussis.
He now has six Australian Open men’s singles titles, joining Novak Djokovic as the champions with the most wins in the Open era at the tournament.
The pair equal Australia’s Roy Emerson, who won six titles between 1961 and 1967 in the amateur era.
Federer also has eight Wimbledon crowns, as well as five US Opens and a single win in the French Open.
