3 milestones Federer achieved at the 2020 Australian Open

Making his 21st consecutive appearance at the Australian Open, Roger Federer failed in his bid to win a record-equalling 7th title at the tournament when he went down to eventual winner Novak Djokovic in straight sets.

However, the 38-year-old Swiss maestro had a fair share of good moments at Melbourne Park. After straight-sets opening round wins, Federer met his match against John Millman in the third round. The 20-time Grand Slam champion recovered from the loss of the opening set to lead by two sets to one.

Millman came within two points of victory, when the Australian led 8-4 in the deciding set tiebreak. But just when it appeared lighting would strike twice (Millman had upset the Swiss maestro at the 2018 US Open), Federer reeled off six consecutive points in a row to deny the Australian a famous win.

Two rounds later, an injured Federer refused to throw in the towel, denying American Tennys Sandgren on seven match points (three at 4-5 in the fourth set, and four more in the ensuing tiebreak) in the quarterfinals to book a semifinal meeting with defending champion Novak Djokovic. In the process, Federer extended his perfect record in Melbourne quarterfinals to 15-0.

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Despite struggling with his movement, Federer rattled Djokovic in the opening exchanges, surging to a 4-1 40-0 lead on his opponent's serve. He came within two points of the opening set at 5-2 30-0 before the Serb fought back to take a straight-sets win and reach a record 8th Australian Open final.

Federer may have failed to extend his all-time record Grand Slam tally at the season's opening Grand Slam tournament, but the 38-year-old nevertheless achieved the following milestones at the 2020 Australian Open.

#1 First player in the Open Era to win matches in 4 different decades

Federer reacts after beating Steve Johnson in the first round of the 2020 Australian Open

Federer met Steve Johnson in the first round of the 2020 Australian Open. In his third career meeting with the American, Federer controlled proceedings from the outset, surging to a straight-sets win for the loss of just seven games.

With the victory, Federer became the first player in the Open Era to win matches in four different decades.

The 38-year-old went 15-20 in the 1990s (1998-99), 663-141 in the 2000s, 558-109 in the 2010s and has started the 2020s decade with a 5-1 record.

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#2 First player to win 100 matches at the Australian Open

Federer greets Millman following the pair's third round match

After surging through the first two rounds of the 2020 Australian Open without dropping a set, Federer met John Millman in a repeat of the pair's 2018 US Open fourth round clash.

It was Millman who was quicker off the blocks, taking a one-set lead, before Federer seemingly assumed control of proceedings by taking a two sets to one lead. However, the 38-year-old's inability to close out the win in four saw Millman force a fifth set where the Australian came within two points of a famous win in the tiebreak.

But Federer won six consecutive points to deny Millman another upset win, in the process becoming the first player to win 100 matches at the Australian Open. The win over Millman also made Federer the first player to win 100 matches at two different tournaments (also Wimbledon).

#3 Most match wins at a tournament by any player

Federer reacts after beating Sandgren in the quarterfinals

Facing a 345th different opponent in his storied career, Roger Federer was an overwhelming favourite against two-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist Tennys Sandgren.

There was little inkling of what was in store when the 38-year-old Swiss took the opening set. But with Federer's movement getting severely inhibited due to an injury, coupled with the American beginning to get into his groove, an upset looked on the cards. Sandgren dropped only four games in two sets to take a two sets to one lead.

Serving second in the fourth, Federer came under pressure in the 10th game when he fell behind 15-40 on serve to hand Sandgren two match points. Although the 20-time Grand Slam champion forced deuce, the American soon had a third match point - which Federer saved. That meant the set proceeded to a tiebreak.

A loose forehand from Federer at 3-4 in the tiebreak saw Sandgren with three more opportunities to grab the biggest win of his career. Federer saved the first two on his own serve before Sandgren faltered to close out the match on his serve.

After Sandgren saved a set point at 7-6, the American had his 7th match point at 8-7 on the Federer serve. But he was denied once again as the 20-time Grand Slam champion forced a fifth set, much to the delight of a partisan crowd.

Energiszd by his fightback, Federer took the 5th set 6-3 to move into the semifinals. It marked Federer's record-extending 102nd win at the tournament, breaking his own record for most wins at a tournament (101 at Wimbledon).

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