See Roger Federer share tears and laughter with CNN’s Andy Cohen on the last night of the Australian Open.
Federer won his record 11th Australian Open title on Sunday. His victory, which came after a long battle with a groin injury, capped a remarkable comeback season that started with a loss to Novak Djokovic in his opening match.
Federer was defeated on Monday, his 19th defeat in the Open era.
Here’s what we learned:
Roger Federer finally overcame his groin injury to beat Novak Djokovic. The win gives him sole ownership of the career record for most consecutive grand slam titles after his last title in 2015. (AP) More
1. Federer’s comeback and his loss are in two different eras
The victory was the first grand slam title of Federer’s comeback season, which started on Sunday. He won three-set matches against Andy Murray in the Australian Open final on Monday, beating Roger Federer 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
Roger Federer at the 2016 Australian Open in Melbourne. (AP) More
The Open era began in 1970 and ended in 2005. The current era began in 1968 and ended a year later.
Federer will have been competing in the Open era for the entirety of his comeback, meaning his Australian Open title came in the midst of the current Open era.
The Open era also began in 1968, ended in 2005 and began again in 2008.
2. Federer has won the Australian Open on eight different surfaces over the course of his career
It’s not every day that Roger Federer wins nine consecutive grand slam titles at a single tournament.
That’s exactly what happened last week at the Australian Open, which had been held on eight different surfaces over the course of Federer’s career.
After the win over Novak Djokovic, Federer called the surface the “toughest” he had played on