When all is said and done—and after last night’s trio of age-defying triumphs, who can possibly say when that might be—the Australian Open will go down as the most significant tennis tournament Roger Federer ever played. Not this year’s Australian Open in particular, although if Federer goes on to win his 18th career Grand Slam singles title in Melbourne on Sunday, the case could certainly be made. That’s how unlikely a championship appeared as Federer—who is playing his first tour event since last July—entered 2017, and how impressive his run has been during this fortnight.
I’m referring to the Australian Open’s impact on Federer’s career. He’ll always be identified with Wimbledon, having won his first major there, along with six more. It was also the scene of his most painful defeat. Federer’s five consecutive U.S. Open titles—an achievement which, somehow, I feel is overlooked—also warrants mentioning. But Federer and Oz have had a connection like no other event he’s played.
It was where Federer began his reign as his sport’s best in 2004; it was, in 2006 and 2007, where we witnessed his elegant efficiency at its most refined. His loss to Novak Djokovic there in 2008 was stop-the-presses news, one of the biggest upsets in the last decade; his loss to Rafael Nadal there the following year, along with his tearful runner-up speech, will forever be a part of tennis lore. He won the title for the fourth time in 2010, part of an 11-year stretch of semifinal showings or better at Melbourne Park. At no other Slam has Federer achieved such a display of longevity and excellence.
