Federer claims singles title at Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Always in control on the court, Roger Federer was overcome with emotion while accepting his Australian Open trophy from one of the few people he's still trying \nto match.\nThe top-ranked Federer fulfilled overwhelming expectations by beating unlikely finalist Marcos Baghdatis 5-7, 7-5, 6-0, 6-2 in Sunday's final to claim his seventh Grand Slam title and third in \nsuccession.\nHe tearfully embraced tennis great Rod Laver while receiving his trophy. Laver twice swept the Grand Slams, a feat Federer will try to emulate this season -- if he finally can win a French Open.\nFederer wept and was stuck for words at the award presentation.\n"I was so happy," he said. "Then I had to go up on stage and speak. This is really too much for me sometimes. It's just a dream come true every time I win a Grand Slam.\n"I can't block it out -- I'm also just human."\nFederer maintained his perfect record in seven major finals. And, at 24, he's halfway toward Pete Sampras' all-time record of 14 Grand Slam titles. Sampras also was 24 when he won his seventh.\nFederer, who is the first since Sampras to win three consecutive majors, said he was unusually nervous as an overwhelming favorite against the 54th-ranked Cypriot, a former junior world champion.\n"The whole fact of being such a huge favorite. And if I lose, a huge upset since I don't know when," Federer said. "The whole thing was building up and waiting all day for the night session -- that is nerve-racking on top of it. It was really tough for me mentally."\nAn 11-game winning streak from 5-5 in the second set eased Federer's nerves and took the match away from Baghdatis, who said his problems started when he began to think a huge upset was within reach.\nBaghdatis' raucous fans, who grew in number as he ousted second-seeded Andy Roddick, No. 4 David Nalbandian and two other seeded players in the tournament, chanted between points. Dressed as if for a soccer match, they waved flags, cheered and whistled to the end.\n"I wanted to continue being aggressive ... not to give Federer time to play his game," Baghdatis said. "Maybe I was a bit scared of him. Maybe I didn't really believe it. Things were happening so fast."\nFederer acknowledged being concerned about a massive upset after falling a set and a break behind.\n"I was struggling so much to hold my serve ... I was sweating like crazy," he said. "I thought, 'Well, if this is going to continue, I'll probably lose and (only) a miracle is going to save me.'"\nBaghdatis had three game points at 5-6 to force a tiebreaker in the second, but Federer rallied to break on a Baghdatis forehand that was ruled just long.\nFederer then lifted his level of play, winning 27 of the 37 points in the third set to take control.\nBaghdatis had cramps in his left calf in the fourth set, and treatment didn't help. He later said they probably were due to nerves.\nFederer set up match point with a forehand crosscourt, his 50th winner, and sealed the 2 3/4-hour victory when Baghdatis netted a backhand.\nFederer's next career goal is a French Open title. A win at Roland Garros would give him four consecutive majors across two seasons, and he'd be halfway to a proper Grand Slam -- last accomplished by Laver in 1969.\n"Absolutely, there's some pressure there. I feel it already," Federer said.\nLaver twice won all four majors in one season -- the first time before turning pro in 1962.\nFederer's seven major titles tie him with eight other players -- including John McEnroe, John Newcombe and Mats Wilander -- and leave him one behind Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Fred Perry and Ken Rosewall.\nHe passed childhood heroes Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg, who had six apiece.\n"I left my idols behind me now. That means something, I'm very pleased," he said. "But they're still my heroes from back in the day, Becker and Edberg."\nSampras won his seventh major in his 22nd try. Federer was playing in his 27th. Their birthdays are four days apart, and they won their seventh Grand Slam titles at the same age.\n"It's quite scary if I compare it," Federer said. "I'm on the same road, but I've got to maintain it"