5 most emotional moments from Roger Federer's career so far

The iconic Roger Federer has continued, at 35-years-old, to add laurels to his ever-growing trophy cabinet – this time with wins at the Australian Open – his 18^th Major – and his fifth title at Indian Wells.

Now heading into Miami and hoping to score the sunshine double, Federer seems to be entirely unstoppable.

The Swiss has never been one to shy away from expressing emotion on the court – so here we look at 5 of his most emotional moments:

#5 Australian Open 2006 – repeat success

Federer had already won an Australian Open title – in 2004, with a win over Marat Safin in the finals. But 2005 saw Safin take the title, with an early defeat of – you guessed it – Federer. Looking to take back the title in 2006, Federer, the top seed – and by now the World No. 1 had perhaps only two difficult matches en route to a final from the then little-known unseeded player Marcos Baghdatis in the final.

Cypriot player Baghdatis defeated a number of the top seeds – Ivan Ljubicic and David Nalbandian among them, to run into the final – and there, immediately took the first set off Federer to truly declare himself.

With the first two sets going to the brink – one each to Baghdatis and Federer, it was the No. 1 who finally mounted a solid juggernaut to firmly wrest the momentum of the match back in his direction.

An emotional Federer, on whom the match had taken an emotional toll, thanked both his own team and that of Baghdatis for their support as he accepted his trophy.

#4 Wimbledon 2001 – slaying an idol

Can’t believe it! Federer was in tears after beating his idol in their only meeting

At several occasions over his career, Federer has cited Pete Sampras as one of hig biggest idols. The grass-court icon won fourteen Grand Slams, half of them at Wimbledon – and it was Federer who equalled that record, winning his own seven titles on that surface.

In 2001, 19-year-old Federer faced his idol at perhaps his biggest stage yet – the fourth round of Wimbledon. Roger Federer was a talented but little-known face – and Sampras the defending champion. It was the first time Federer had been seeded at a Grand Slam, sitting well below Sampras as the #15 seed.

But at the Round of 16 at Wimbledon, the young Swiss put a spanner in Sampras’ plans to defend his title. Just to indicate how tight that match was going to be, the very first set went to tiebreak – one that Federer won.

After five long sets, it was Roger Federer who emerged victorious.

It was also the only time Federer and Sampras would ever play each other on court.

#3 Wimbledon 2003 – a talent is proved!

(Image: Reuters) Federer was understandably choked up about his first ever Major victory

Roger Federer was, in 2003, no stranger to success at Majors – just not as an adult. In 1998, five years earlier at 16-years-old, a young Swiss ace named Roger Federer had won the boys’ singles at Wimbledon, almost instantly showing the world that he was someone they would want to watch out for.

And they did.

Federer was seeded fourth at the tournament, and in the semi-finals dispatched Andy Roddick, for whom he would become a Grand Slam nemesis, in straight sets to set up a final against the unseeded Mark Philippoussis.

After three tight sets, it was 21-year-old Federer who came out victorious – with his first ever Grand Slam title. The young player dropped to his knees in jubilation, with tears of utter happiness in his eyes.

Little did he know he’d win 17 more...

#2 Crying after his loss to Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open 2009

Federer was unable to hold back the tears on his loss

Considered one of the most emotional Grand Slam finals in a long time, the title fight for the Australian Open in 2009 saw two iconic rivals – Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal – pitted against each other for the trophy. Nadal had not yet won a Grand Slam on hard courts, while Federer had already done so – repeatedly!

The pair were top seeds at the event too, with Nadal at #1 and Federer the second seed.

It was the pair’s seventh meeting at a Major final, and from the very beginning was charged with emotion. Federer had never lost a hard court Major final, and Nadal had never won one.

The match started off with an early break of serve, and Nadal eventually edged out Federer in the opening set. The Spaniard took the momentum in the second, but somehow, Federer managed to pull through – and won the second!

Continuing on a physical – and emotional see-saw, the pair were level at two sets each going into the fifth, with Federer’s forehand only just going long – and winning Nadal the Australian Open.

Both players cried – one in happiness and one in utter disappointment after a completely energy – and emotion-sapping fight, and for perhaps one of the only times in his career, completely broke down due to the sheer magnitude of his loss, and was comforted by Nadal, who then, for the first time, called him the greatest of all time.

#1 Celebrating with Mirka after the Australian Open

That Roger Federer is a family man is well known. That he is incredibly close to his wife is also well known. The two met at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and began dating soon after – giving them 17 years together so far!

Mirka has been an integral part of Federer’s support team since the earliest stages of his career – before he even won a Major, and has self-admittedly been his biggest source of moral