Competing at the Australian Open for the 21st time, Roger Federer is through to the quarter-final for the 15th time, defeating Marton Fucsovics 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in two hours and 11 minutes. The 38-year-old made a slow start before finding his game, racing past his opponents in the last three sets to advance into the last eight 16 years after he did that at Melbourne Park for the first time.
Despite the fact he is one of the oldest players left on the Tour, Roger is still capable of fighting for the big titles and keeping high ranking positions, finishing the previous season in the top-3 ahead of much younger rivals and just behind Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Entering the 21st straight Australian Open, Federer took down Steve Johnson and Filip Krajinovic with commanding triumphs, facing John Millman in the third round and experiencing one of the hardest obstacles in Melbourne in the last two decades.
The Aussie pushed the Swiss to the limits, having an 8-4 lead in the deciding match tie break before Federer grabbed six straight points to stay alive and get a chance to fight for the place in the quarter-final against Marton.
Passing that hurdle as well, Roger has earned another age record, becoming the second-oldest Australian Open quarter-finalist at the age of 38 years and five months, standing behind only the everlasting Ken Rosewall. Also, Federer is the fifth-oldest Major quarter-finalist in the Open era overall, behind Ken Rosewall, Pancho Gonzales, Istvan Gulyas and Jimmy Connors, whom he could pass in September at the US Open if he reaches the last eight.
Roger is the oldest Major quarter-finalist since 1991, standing next to Connors and keeping the rivals from the first decade of the Open era within his sight. If he beats Tennys Sandgren in the next round, Roger will become the only the fourth Major semi-finalist in the Open era after turning 38, still eager to compete at his best and keep the retirement talks away from him.