MELBOURNE, Australia — As Roger Federer cried while accepting his 20th Grand Slam title, Rod “Rocket” Laver took a chance to snap a picture for posterity.
Federer has won more major tennis titles than any man, including a record-equaling six on the court that bears the great Rod Laver’s name at Melbourne Park.
This one, following a tension-filled, momentum-swinging 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 win over Marin Cilic in Sunday’s Australian Open final, was a keeper.
Laver has been involved in the on-court presentations in the past, witnessing Federer’s tears at close range. This time, Laver — the only man to twice win all four Grand Slam titles in one season — held up his mobile phone to get the shot from the stands.