A history-making moment at the Australian Open was captured on camera by one of the all-time greats on Sunday evening.
Rod Laver, 79, was openly emotional as he used his phone to snap a picture of Roger Federer as he burst into tears just moments after clinching his twentieth grand slam title.
The twelve-time Grand Slam star set social media buzzing as the cameras caught him in tears while photographing the great Swiss player in what’s now being called ‘the moment of the tournament’.
Twelve-time grand slam winner Rod Laver photographed the moment Federer burst into tears
Roger Federer, 36, was seen with tears rolling down his face on Sunday night after his big win
Rod Laver (left) watches the Australian Open in the area named after him at Melbourne Park
Speaking to the media after his victory over Croatian player Marin Cilic, Federer said, ‘It is unbelievable…Winning is just an absolute dream come true.
‘The fairy tale continues for us, for me. After the great year I had last year, it’s incredible.’
This is the sixth grand slam title Federer has won at Melbourne Park, in a stadium named after the great Rod Laver.
Twitter user Sambit Ball called Laver snapping Federer’s win ‘the moment of the tournament’
When the emotional moment was brought to Federer’s attention after the match, he told reporters that he considers Rod ‘Rocket’ Laver ‘the best’.
‘I am so happy when I see him any time … to see Rocket in the front row taking a picture. I couldn’t see it because I was crying too much.’
Social media lit up with people tweeting their reactions to Laver’s appreciation of the moment, with Canadian television sportscaster Caroline Cameron writing: ‘You know how special Federer’s 20th is when the legend Rod Laver is even snapping pics.’
The 12-time grand slam star sent social media abuzz as cameras caught him snapping Federer
It only took the 36-year-old three hours and three minutes to pull off a five-set victory and become the first man in history to win 20 grand slams.
Only three others, all women, have reached that mark — Margaret Court (24), Serena Williams (23) and Steffi Graf (22), while his nearest male challenger is Rafael Nadal (16).
Federer has now won 96 singles titles, with a very realistic chance of reaching an unbelievable 100 by the end of the year.
Roger Federer became the first man to win 20 Grand Slam titles as he beat Croatian Marin Cilic