Roger Federer is suddenly within sight of the grand slam title record after entering uncharted waters with a historic sixth Australian Open triumph.
The insatiable Swiss became the first man ever to capture 20 grand slam singles crowns with a fighting 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 3-6 6-1 victory over Marin Cilic in Sunday night's championship decider at Melbourne Park.
Playing under a closed roof at Rod Laver Arena after officials controversially invoked the extreme heat policy, Federer repelled Cilic's tenacious mid-match challenge to repeat his 2017 Wimbledon final success over the Croat and match Novak Djokovic and Roy Emerson with six titles in Australia.
Incredibly, 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.
But after enduring a four-and-a-half-year grand slam title drought, Federer's remarkable renaissance, at an age when most players are long retired, has netted him three slams in 12 months.