Federer beats Cilic for historic Aus Open title

Roger Federer has made more tennis history with his sixth Australian Open title and 20th career grand slam crown.

The Swiss legend prevailed in a classic five-setter against Croatian sixth seed Marin Cilic on Sunday night, winning 6-2, 6-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

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Federer stunned Cilic with an incredible start to Sunday's final, winning the first set in just 24 minutes and dropping just two points on serve.

Things looked ominous for the underdog, however Cilic found his feet and managed to snare the second and fourth sets off the World No.2.

But with the final on a knife-edge, Federer fended off two break points in the opening game of the deciding set, before snaring a pivotal break of his own.

After dodging the bullets, he broke Croat for a fifth and sixth time to regain his stranglehold on the match before closing it out after three hours and three minutes.

Federer is now the first man to reach 20 career grand slam titles, extending his record haul over Rafael Nadal (16), Pete Sampras (14) and Novak Djokovic (12).

Female stars Serena Williams (23) and Steffi Graf (22) have achieved the unique feat, and Margaret Court (24) has done it if you include those won before the Open era.

Federer also ties the record for most Australian Open titles with Djokovic and Roy Emerson.

The victory in his 30th final at a major continues an astonishing renaissance in which he and Nadal have reasserted their dominance over the men's field.

Between them, the pair have won the last five grand slam titles and have racked up 36 over the course of their incredible careers.

After his win at the 2017 Australian Open, the back-to-back crowns mark the second time Federer has defended the Aus Open title, and just the 13th time it's been defended in history.

Largely untroubled all fortnight, Federer is the oldest Australian Open champion in 46 years.

"I'm so happy. It's unbelievable," he said.

"It's a long day waiting for the finals. It's easier when it is in the afternoon time. You sleep, you go out there and play and do your best. That's it.

"When it's at night you think about the match all day. It's tough.

"I'm happy it's over now, either way, but of course winning is just an absolute dream come true.

"The fairytale continues for us, for me. After the great year I had last year, it's incredible."

Amazingly, Federer - despite turning 37 this year - has now won 25 of his 26 matches at the majors since hobbling off Wimbledon's hallowed centre court 18 months ago with a serious knee injury, his playing future uncertain.

If he can defend his Wimbledon crown - which he won last year without dropping a set - and salute for a sixth time in New York, Federer will return to Melbourne in 2019 gunning for grand slam No.23.

He will edge closer to Nadal's No.1 ranking when the ATP releases its update on Monday.

CAREER SNAPSHOT OF ROGER FEDERER

Age: 36
Height: 185cm. Weight: 85kg
Born: Basel, Switzerland
Lives: Bottmingen, Switzerland
Ranking: 2
Career prize money: A$144 million
Career titles: 96
Career win-loss record: 1139-250
Grand slam titles: 20 (Australian Open 2004, 2006-07, 2010, 2017-18; French Open 2009; Wimbledon 2003-07, 2009, 2012, 2017; US Open 2004-08)
Grand slam win-loss record: 332-52
Australian Open win-loss record: 94-13
Best Australian Open results: champion 2004, 2006-07, 2010, 2017-18
Coaches: Ivan Ljubicic and Severin Luthi

Road to the title:

1st rd: bt Aljaz Bedene (SLO) 6-3 6-4 6-3
2nd rd: bt Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) 6-4 6-4 7-6 (7-4)
3rd rd: bt 29-Richard Gasquet (FRA) 6-2 7-5 6-4
4th rd: bt Marton Fucsovics (HUN) 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 6-2
QF: bt 19-Tomas Berdych (CZE) 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 6-4
SF: bt Hyeon Chung (KOR) 6-1 5-2 (ret)
F: bt 6-Marin Cilic (CRO) 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 3-6 6-1

with AAP