Brisbane International: Roger Federer takes title with 1,000th victory

Roger Federer defeated Milos Raonic in the Brisbane International final to bring up his 1,000th career victory.

The 17-time major winner secured his 83rd title after taking advantage of Raonic’s first double fault to seal a 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 win in Australia.

Federer seized on some nervy serving from Raonic to secure a break in the first set and appeared to be cruising to victory when he broke again in the opening game of the second.

But the Canadian refused to be brushed aside and broke back in the fourth game before dominating the tie-breaker, winning the last seven points to level the match at 1-1.

The two men could not be separated in the tense decider until Raonic’s double fault brought up Championship point and he then netted a forehand to end the two hour, 13-minute match.

Ball-boys held up the number 1,000 in white letters near the net during the presentation ceremony as Federer collected the trophy and a montage of images to mark the landmark.

I've played a lot of tennis over the years, so to get to 1,000 wins means a lot to me and I will never forget this match.

"It's a special moment, no doubt about that," said Federer. "I've played a lot of tennis over the years, so to get to 1,000 wins means a lot to me and I will never forget this match.

"It feels very different to any other match I've ever won, because I never thought about anything reaching 500 or 800. 

"All those numbers didn't mean anything to me, but for some reason 1,000 means a lot because it's such a huge number. Just alone to count to 1,000 is going to take a while."

Reflecting on the hard-fought final, he said: "Looking back, it's almost nicer winning this way through a tight match with nerves and humid conditions against a great player in a final.

"It means so much more than just running away with it, with the score maybe winning 6-4, 6-4, which was looking very likely at one stage.

"I guess I was much more happy having to go three sets in the end rather than winning in straight sets."

Only retired greats Jimmy Connors (1,253) and Ivan Lendl (1,071) have won more than 1,000 matches on the men's tour - while it is also the 15th consecutive year that Federer has won an ATP tour title, breaking Lendl's record of 14.