Sunday/ Roger that: it’s number 20

I had to take a nap this afternoon! I watched the Australian Open Men’s Final in the wee hours of Sunday morning, from 1 am to 4 am. It was totally worth it. Roger Federer won his 20th Grand Slam* championship, at 36, which is unheard of in modern men’s pro tennis. (Both numbers: the 36 and the 20).

*A Grand Slam tournament is one of the four big ones: Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon or US Open.

Some screen shots from the live feed. Clockwise from the top left: Chilic (say ‘Chill-itch’) pumped up after winning the second set | Australian movie star Chris ‘Thor’ Hemsworth and friend were in the crowd | Roger That, says a fan t-shirt (I want one) | A tearful Federer at the podium, after winning | Wife and No 1 supporter on the tour, Mirka – an ex-tennis professional herself, in the player guest box | Another tennis legend, Australian Rod Laver, taking a picture of the big TV screen. Laver won all four Grand Slam titles in 1962, and again in 1969 – a feat unmatched by anyone else in the history of the game.

‘Keep your eye on the ball’. Federer working his magic. [Picture: Ben Solomon/ Tennis Australia].
Cilic chasing down a ball. The ‘impossible’ Western Forehand grip that he has on his racquet, is used to put extreme topspin on the ball. I never really used this grip when I played tennis; my impression is that it only became widely popular after my generation of tennis players. [Picture: Ben Solomon/ Tennis Australia].
It’s Federer’s 20th Grand Slam title, 6th Australian Open title. On Saturday, Caroline Wozniacki won her first Australian Open and first Grand Slam tournament. [Pictures: Tennis Australia]

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