Roger Federer won his sixth Australian Open and 20th Grand Slam title with a five-set victory over Marin Cilic.

The Swiss lost five games in a row as he dropped the fourth set but recovered to win 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 3-6 6-1.

Federer, 36, becomes only the fourth player after Margaret Court, Serena Williams and Steffi Graf to win 20 or more major singles titles.

“It’s a dream come true and the fairytale continues,” said Federer, who has won three of the last five majors.

• Reaction to Federer’s Australian Open win

The final was played under the Rod Laver Arena roof as the tournament’s extreme heat policy was invoked.

Despite starting at 19:30 local time in Melbourne, the conditions were if anything more testing than 24 hours earlier, when Caroline Wozniacki and Simona Halep played to the point of exhaustion in the women’s final.

With the roof closed and air-conditioning taking the edge off the temperature, Federer and Cilic played out a gripping contest over three hours and two minutes.

After a poor start, Cilic looked to have the momentum when he won five games in a row to force a fifth set, but Federer clung on to his serve at the start of the decider and got the key break in the following game.

The Swiss ties the record for men’s Australian Open titles at six with Novak Djokovic and Roy Emerson, and moves four clear of Rafael Nadal in the all-time list for male Grand Slam champions on 20.

“I’m so happy, it’s unbelievable,” Federer added. “After the year I had last year, it’s incredible.”

Federer holds off Cilic fightback

Cilic, 29, had come into the final brimming with positivity after an impressive run to the final that included a quarter-final win over Nadal, but he made a desperate start.

He won just four points in losing the opening four games, and Federer fired down back-to-back aces on his way to serving out the set after 25 minutes.

The Swiss saw off two break points early in the second, roaring “come on!” as he pulled a forehand winner down the line, and then resumed his assault on the Cilic serve.

Three break points were saved, the third with a second-serve ace, as Cilic edged his way into a tie-break and a chance to claw his way back into the match.

The 2014 US Open champion did just that after a huge cross-court forehand brought up two set points, and he smashed away the second to level.

Federer appeared to have regained control when a deep return drew an error as he broke for 4-2 in the third, and a fabulous half-volley pick-up said the confidence was flowing as he moved ahead again.

With a point for a double-break early in the fourth, Federer appeared as good as home, but his first-serve began to falter and Cilic ripped into the second serve with his huge forehand.

After two hours and 10 minutes he finally broke the Federer serve, and a jolt of adrenaline coursed through the Croat – and the crowd – as this unexpected fightback took him to two sets all.

Federer was now struggling to contain the world number six, and was relieved to see a return hit the net on break point at the start of the fifth, before roaring as a serve saw off a second chance for the Croat.

The Swiss had halted the momentum and in the next game he grabbed it for himself with a deep, fizzing return that Cilic could not handle.

Nerves were still apparent as the eight-time Wimbledon champion urged himself on during the changeover, but he was not about to let his opponent back in, and another break of serve all but made sure.

There was time for one more moment of uncertainty for Federer when, just as in last year’s final, he was forced to wait on match point for Hawk-Eye to confirm that he had indeed retained the title.

Roof closed in testing conditions

The decision before the match to keep the roof closed was greeted with surprise by those in Rod Laver Arena.

As forecast, the temperature in Melbourne during Sunday reached a very testing 37.5C, but that was below the 41C experienced earlier in the tournament, when the extreme heat rule was not involved.

However, the rule is not purely based on ambient temperature, but also other factors such as humidity, wind speed and angle of sun, known as the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT).

“The tournament referee made this decision based on qualified and professional advice from the Bureau of Meteorology who are on site, and the tournament’s chief medical officer,” read a Tennis Australia statement.

“At no other time during the event this year has the WBGT reading reached the threshold.”

What the BBC commentators said

Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash on Radio 5 live: “It was a good performance from both players. You’ve got to hand it to Cilic, he had to play his best tennis and keep it up. That was the problem.

“Federer was consistent the whole way through. Other than a few double faults and a few patches, it was good consistency.”

BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller: “Federer has previously won 19 of these, but he has a look of a man who’s never done it before. He may be 36, but he shows no sign of ageing. He’s proved yet again he’s too good for the rest of the world.”

Match stats

Federer’s route to the title

Caroline Wozniacki was delighted that she will never again be asked about her lack of a Grand Slam title after winning the Australian Open.

The Dane, 27, beat Simona Halep 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-4 in Melbourne to finally land a major title at the 43rd attempt.

Despite ending the year as world number one in 2010 and 2011, questions had persisted about her failure to win one of the sport’s four biggest titles.

“That’s one of the most positive things about all of this,” said Wozniacki.

“I’m never going to get that question again. I’m just waiting for the question, ‘When are you going to win the second one?’

“Right now I’m just happy I have this one, and I’m going to really enjoy this moment.”

• Wozniacki wins Australian Open
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On Monday, Wozniacki will return to the top of the rankings six years to the day since she was last number one.

“Obviously that’s very special,” she added.

“I think being new Grand Slam champion and world number one sounds pretty good. I’m very excited for that. It’s a dream come true.”

Wozniacki is the first Dane to win a Grand Slam singles title, and sits behind only Jana Novotna (45), Marion Bartoli (47) and Flavia Pennetta (49) for the most Grand slam appearances before winning a major.

She also collects £2.3m, which takes her past Victoria Azarenka into fourth in the all-time list for prize money on the women’s tour, at around £21m.

Wozniacki was congratulated via social media by Serena Williams, who was unable to defend her Australian Open title four months after giving birth to her first child.

The American said she had been “too nervous to watch”, adding: “I’m so proud of my friend.”

Wozniacki responded: “It means a lot to me. Obviously she’s a great friend of mine.

“It means a lot she was supporting and following. She’s just the best. It’s awesome.”

‘I’ll be cuddling Daphne tonight’

Wozniacki won junior Wimbledon in 2006 and played her first Grand Slam main draw match at the French Open in 2007.

Her previous Grand Slam final defeats came against Kim Clijsters at the 2009 US Open and Williams, also in New York, four years later.

She would end the year in the world’s top 10 for six years running between 2009 and 2014, before injuries and poor form saw her slip further down the top 20.

“I think you always, at certain points, especially when you start having injuries and stuff, you start maybe doubting if you’re ever going to be 100% healthy for longer periods of time,” she said.

“But I think last year, already for a year and a half, I’ve proved that I can beat anyone out there on court.”

Wozniacki was watched in the stands by her father and coach, Piotr, alongside her fiancee, former NBA player David Lee.

“Excited,” was how she described her father’s reaction. “They’re out drinking right now, so they’re having a great time.”

As for Wozniacki, she could not let go of the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup when she faced the media several hours after her win.

“Being here tonight as a Grand Slam champion, Australian Open champion, it’s very special,” she said.

“Daphne here is going home with me tonight. I’ll be cuddling with her.”

‘Life goes on’ – Halep

Halep had also been trying to win a first major title, after two French Open final defeats, but felt her body let her down in the end.

“I can still smile,” she said. “It’s fine. I cried, but now I’m smiling. It’s just a tennis match in the end.”

The Romanian, 26, had spent 11 hours and 30 minutes on court just to get to the final, saving five match points on the way and dealing with an ankle injury she suffered in round one.

By the time of the final she was suffering with her feet, and midway through the match with a headache and dizzy spells.

“I was really tired,” said Halep.

“I had so many problems at my feet, pain everywhere. But I think I did pretty well with all the things that were going on.

“I did 100% what I could today. That’s why I can say that I’m not sad for that. I’m sad that I lost the match, I was not the winner. But, you know, life goes on.”

Analysis – ‘Wozniacki will have sense of freedom’

Former world number seven and 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli on BBC World Service:

It was one of the best Grand Slam finals I’ve ever seen. Caroline Wozniacki has that title forever now and she truly deserves it – she’ll have a sense of freedom now and definitely huge relief.

It’s very difficult when you finally have won a Grand Slam to go back out there and compete and fight every time, but maybe she can do it.

The next major is on clay which is by far her worst surface, as well as grass. She hasn’t been able to perform well on both of those surfaces. So I think the next opportunity will be the US Open. By then Serena will be back, probably at her best level.

Will Wozniacki really have another opportunity like she had today? I don’t know. And also will she have the drive to keep on practising as much and do as much as she does right now? I don’t know either.

Reaction – ‘Wozniacki’s time to shine’

Wozniacki in profile

• Born in Odense, Denmark on 11 July, 1990.
• Made professional debut in 2005 as a wildcard at Cincinnati, losing in the first round.
• Entered the top 20 in 2008, winning WTA titles in Stockholm, New Haven and Tokyo.
• Won six WTA titles in 2010 to rise to number one in the world rankings.
• After an inconsistent 2012, finished the year as number 10 in the world.
• Completed the 2014 New York Marathon in a time of three hours 26 minutes 33 seconds.
• Finished runner-up to Serena Williams at the 2014 US Open, but dropped out of the top 10 in the following years.
• Won first Grand Slam on 43rd appearance in a main draw, rising to number one in the process.

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Roger Federer must overcome the powerful game of an in-form Marin Cilic if he is to win a 20th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open on Sunday.

The pair meet in the final at 08:30 GMT, with live coverage on BBC Radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website.

Federer, 36, is through to a record seventh Australian Open final and trying to win it for the sixth time.

Cilic, 29, is bidding to win his second major title and become the first Croatian to win the Australian Open.

“It’s a big motivation for me to play the final and obviously to win,” said Cilic, who beat top seed Rafael Nadal in the quarter-final and Britain’s Kyle Edmund in the semi-final.

“I’m feeling really good with my game, so hopefully I can have a great match and also great energy on the court.”

• Wozniacki beats Halep to win first Grand Slam title
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Federer is the oldest man to reach a Grand Slam final since the 39-year-old Ken Rosewall at the 1974 US Open.

Another victory would see him join Margaret Court, Serena Williams and Steffi Graf as the only players to have 20 or more major singles titles.

“It would be amazing,” said the Swiss.

“It ain’t just an easy trip to the finals. There’s always a lot of work that goes into it during the tournament, focus, and also preparation beforehand.”

The final will be played in the Melbourne evening session, but conditions are still expected to be testing on a day when the temperature is forecast to peak at 39C.

‘Aggressive’ Cilic ready to test Federer

On the face of it, Federer is an overwhelming favourite against a man he has beaten eight of nine times.

Their last Grand Slam meeting was in the Wimbledon final six months ago, a match which saw blisters effectively end Cilic’s hopes of making it a contest.

However, the past two weeks have suggested that the Croat is the man most likely to man to test the five-time champion, and he heads into the final on the back of two days’ rest.

“I’m feeling really, really good physically,” said Cilic.

“I’m not looking at it as a revenge. I mean, it was on me that I couldn’t give my best in Wimbledon. And that happens.”

The 6ft 6in world number six has shown the same kind of powerful tennis in Melbourne that swept him past Federer and onto US Open title in New York four years ago.

Nadal retired in the fifth set of their quarter-final in Melbourne, but Cilic had done enough to suggest he could have come through anyway.

Asked afterwards to describe Cilic’s performance, the Spaniard said: “Serving well, hitting very strong from the baseline, returning so well. He was playing very aggressive.”

Cilic arrives in the final second in the aces standings on 107, second for forehand winners with 125 and second for backhand winners on 42.

“I’m playing much, much more aggressive,” he said.

“I’m feeling that I am, for most of the shots, hitting them really, really good. From the return, moving, forehand, backhand, serving, I think everything is in good, solid spot.

“I’m feeling really excited about the final.”

Federer looking to ‘mix up’ tactics

When asked to imagine how he would have reacted a year ago if told he would be on the verge of a third Grand Slam title within 12 months, Federer replied: “Nice joke.”

It has been a remarkable return to the top of the game for the Swiss, who went nearly five years without adding to his then record haul of 17 major titles.

A record seventh Australian Open final, a record 30th Grand Slam final and within sight of matching Djokovic and Roy Emerson on a men’s record six Melbourne titles, the Federer honour roll continues to astonish.

“You go through different stages throughout your career,” said Federer.

“I’m happy I’m still around, still healthy, still playing good, give myself chances, playing the best.”

As Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka all struggle with injuries, Federer once again appears to be well clear of the rest of the field, at the age of 36.

His progress through the draw at his 20th Australian Open has been smooth, without a single set dropped and moving as athletically as ever.

Federer has spent just 10 hours and 50 minutes on court in getting through six matches – more than six hours quicker than Cilic.

“I think I’ve done everything pretty well,” said Federer.

“I just hope I’m going to have a good start to the match. I hope I can mix up my game. I hope I can start serving well from the get-go, not get into too much trouble early.

“I hope I can read his serve and all these things. I’m just pleased that actually my game has been good from the very beginning of the tournament.”

Analysis

Boris Becker, six-time Grand Slam champion, told Radio 5 live:

I don’t think Roger believed 18 months ago that he would be back in the winner’s circle on a regular basis in Grand Slams.

But he persevered, improved, changed tactics a little bit and played more offensive. Roger, with the technique he has and the very soft footwork, I wonder how he keeps his body in shape at the 36.

Cilic certainly has the game to beat Federer – the powerful baseline game, the serve, he has a Grand Slam win under his belt, beating Federer along the way.

Everything that you want going into a Grand Slam final against Federer, he has, the question always with Cilic is mentally.

How strong is he? How stable is he? He looked very strong against Nadal, I thought that was the best Cilic I’ve seen in a long, long time, so the cards are looking good.

Goran Ivanisevic, former Wimbledon champion and ex-coach of Cilic, told 5 live:

This is going to be a different final than Wimbledon, for sure.

This court is better for Marin. He needs to serve well and he needs to press Roger from the beginning of the match, then he has a chance, otherwise he doesn’t have any chance.

You need to maintain your tennis from the first to the last point, very high. When you’re on top of him, you need to stay on top of him.

If for one second you stop – you’re gone. You have 15,000 people against you, you have Roger waiting for you to slip.

This court is very good for Marin, it’s very quick. But the guy across the net is also in amazing form and wants to win his 20th Grand Slam. I think Roger is the little favourite, but let’s say Roger in five sets.

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Tale of the tape

Federer’s route to the final

Cilic’s route to the final