%20Cropped%20(1).jpg?rect=0%2C0%2C2400%2C1350&auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
Roger Federer turned back time at the Rod Laver Arena on Thursday to march into his first Australian Open final since 2010.
Playing his first tournament since a knee injury forced him out of action for the last 6 months, the seventeenth seed held firm against a furious fightback from fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka, edging his former apprentice 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3.
I never, ever in my wildest dream felt I was going to be coming this far in Australia and here I am. It’s beautiful. I’m so happy.Roger Federer, 17th seed
On the same day the Williams sisters booked their place in the women's final, 35-year-old Federer continued the march of the veterans, becoming the oldest man to reach a grand slam final in nearly 40 years.
The sold-out crowd in Rod Laver Arena roared when Wawrinka double-faulted to give Federer the critical service break at 4-2 in the fifth set.
The 35-year-old Federer calmly served it out two games later to become the oldest player to reach a Grand Slam final since Ken Rosewall made the 1974 U.S. Open final at the age of 39.
He now plays the winner of the Rafael Nadal vs Grigor Dimitrov semi-final on Friday.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)