30 January,2017 08:36 AM IST | | AFP
Many people thought Roger Federer's Grand Slam-winning days were behind him, but he defied his age and conventional logic to seal his 18th major title at the Australian Open on Sunday
Melbourne: u00c2u0080u00c2u0088Many people thought Roger Federer's Grand Slam-winning days were behind him, but he defied his age and conventional logic to seal his 18th major title at the Australian Open on Sunday.
The Swiss master, returning from the longest injury break of his career, capped a resurgent fortnight with a five-set victory over his long-time rival Rafael Nadal. Federer stretched his lead on the all-time major-winners' list, four ahead of Nadal and Pete Sampras and six more than Novak Djokovic. He holds the all-time men's record of 314 Grand Slam wins, and has career earnings of more than US$100 million. It was also his 89th singles title victory, the third most in the Open era behind Jimmy Connors on 109 and Ivan Lendl's 94.
His latest Grand Slam win was perhaps his most surprising, as Federer last won a big title at Wimbledon in 2012 and at 35, his best days were considered over. But Federer became the second oldest major-winner in the post-1968 Open era, after Ken Rosewall won the 1972 Australian Open aged 37. The victory made Federer the first man in history to win five or more titles at three different Grand Slam events: five in Melbourne, seven at Wimbledon and five at the US Open.
His fifth Australian Open triumph was thought improbable in the current era ruled by Murray and Novak Djokovic. Federer, who spent a record 302 weeks at No. 1 and was inside the top 10 from 2002 until 2015, saw his ranking slide to 17 - his lowest since 2001 - after he spent six months out last year with a knee injury.
