Marin Cilic won the fourth set 6-3 and looked in control with the scores level at two sets each.

But then Federer roared out the blocks to win the final set 6-1 to seal his 20th Grand Slam title despite looking on his last legs.

The crunch moment of the match came in the opening game of the decider. Playing at his peak, Cilic overpowered Federer from the baseline but the second seed withstood the pressure to save two break points.

A successful HawkEye challenge on a Cilic second serve helped him break in the next game and another break for 5-1 left him serving for the title. He needed only one match point, with Cilic netting a backhand return.

The Croatian appealed to HawkEye but the serve just clipped the line.

And Federer has opened up on his thoughts at the start of the final set.

“Just really trying to get back winning a game again because he came back from 3-2 maybe and won four straight,” he said. 

“So for me it was really just trying to break his momentum. Tried to serve well. Tried to get lucky a little bit. 

“I think I was able to get that first game, at least get on the board. From then on, maybe momentum shifts a little bit, and it's exactly what happened.

“I think experience helped me there a little bit, and also a little bit of luck, I felt like I needed a little bit tonight.”