Tennis fans celebrated with Roger Federer yesterday as he became the first man to win 20 Grand Slam singles titles. His record-breaking win happened in Melbourne, Australia, where the 36-year-old veteran player faced Croatia’s 29-year-old Marin Clinic for the title.
The Australian Open is the first of four annual tennis tournaments known as the Grand Slams. The other three are the French Open, Wimbledon (in England), and the U.S. Open.
The record for most Grand Slam titles still stands at 24, set by women’s singles player Margaret Court. Federer came off a drought of losses just a year ago to win three of the four Grand Slams in 12 months’ time. Prior to this new streak, he had won the U.S. Open five consecutive years from 2004 to 2008, and five consecutive Wimbledon titles from 2003-2007. His resurgence in the last year has fans speculating about his chance to match Court’s record.
Federer, content with his current win, wasn’t willing to set that goal yet. “I didn’t think 20 was ever possible, to be honest. But, no, I think it’s too far,” he said of Court’s 24 Grand Slam titles. “Those numbers are surreal. They’re amazing. I’m very happy if it stays at 20. What a moment.”
Federer didn’t hide his emotion after beating sixth-seeded Marin Cilic at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday night. He shed tears as he accepted the trophy. Even the great Laver, sitting in the crowd, was compelled to get a photo of it for posterity.
At the age of 36 years, 173 days, Federer became the second-oldest man to win a Grand Slam singles title in the Open era after Ken Rosewall. He won the 1972 Australian Open at age 37. But even if breaking another record isn’t in his sights, Federer isn’t ready to retire. The father-of-four said careful planning and staying injury-free could keep him in contention at the big tournaments. “I’ve just got to keep a good schedule, stay hungry, then maybe good things can happen.”
(AP Photo: Switzerland’s Roger Federer celebrates after defeating Croatia’s Marin Cilic in the men’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis champsionships in Melbourne, Australia, on Sunday, January 28, 2018.)
