EITHER way it was going to be a fairytale story — and for Roger Federer, it is now complete.

Federer claimed the Australian Open title on Sunday night defeating long-time rival Rafael Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in a match that only added to their storied and epic rivalry.

But in many ways with the victory Federer entered unprecedented territory, and the numbers back that up.

Here’s a look at just what the 2017 Australian Open championship meant for Roger Federer.

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G.O.A.T. STATUS CONFIRMED?

Federer’s Australian Open title was his 18th Grand Slam crown, placing him even further ahead of the chasing pack.

The Swiss ace is now four titles ahead of second-placed pair Rafael Nadal and Pete Sampras, making it extremely unlikely he will ever be caught by the Spaniard. Novak Djokovic (12) will now find it even more difficult to catch Federer.

With five Australian Open titles under his belt, Federer is in outright third all-time for championships at the event. He sits behind Djokovic and Roy Emerson, both of whom have won six.

The 35-year-old has become the first ever player to win five or more championships at three separate Grand Slam events — although to be fair, no-one else has won 15 or more either.

Federer’s 18th Grand Slam title also gives Switzerland its 21st in the Open Era, placing them ahead of Australia and in a tie for third with Spain.

Combining Federer with Stan Wawrinka’s three puts the Swiss on 21 with Australia on 20 (Laver 5, John Newcombe 5, Ken Rosewall 4, Rafter 2, Hewitt 2, Edmondson, Cash). The United States leads this category on 51.

THE $100 MILLION DOLLAR MAN

Federer became the second player in tennis history to surpass $US100 million in career prizemoney after progressing to the Australian Open finals.

The Swiss great had amassed $US98.83 million in prizemoney ahead of the tournament, trailing only defending champion Novak Djokovic ($US107.69 million) on the all-time list.

As runner-up in this year’s Australian Open Nadal pocketed $US1.399 million and the winner, Federer, a cool $US2.799 million as per existing currency rates.

It’s hard to say they don’t deserve it though given the love and interest for both men.

FIRST MAN TO 100 AUSTRALIAN OPEN MATCHES

This was Swiss timing at its best.

The 2017 Australian Open final was Federer’s 100th match at Melbourne Park — making the first man to achieve the feat.

Federer is 30 matches clear of the next best, Australia’s Jack Crawford, and 48 ahead of Lleyton Hewitt, who contested the Open two more times than his Swiss rival.

MATCHES AT AUSTRALIAN OPEN:

100 — Roger Federer (87-13)

70 — Jack Crawford (53-17)

66 — Stefan Edberg (56-10)

65 — Novak Djokovic (58-7)

61 — Rafael Nadal (50-11)

60 — Andy Murray (48-12)

58 — Ivan Lendl (48-10)

55 — Roy Emerson (46-9)

53 — Andre Agassi (48-5)

52 — Lleyton Hewitt (32-20)

FEDERER’S LOVE AFFAIR WITH MELBOURNE PARK

Federer’s victory will surely only add to his love of Australia and its tennis history.

He choked back tears accepting his 2006 trophy, and then again in 2009 when he lost to Rafael Nadal because of the magnitude of playing in front of his hero, Rod Laver.

Despite this, Federer has always been associated more with Wimbledon, where he has won a staggering seven titles.

Yet, after Sunday night’s win over Nadal, Federer has won more matches at Melbourne Park than any of the other grand slam venues.

FEDERER’S WIN-LOSS RECORD AT MAJORS

87-13 — Australian Open (100 matches)

84-11 — Wimbledon (95 matches)

78-11 — US Open (89 matches)

65-16 — French Open (81 matches)

OLDEST GRAND SLAM CHAMPION IN FOUR DECADES

Not since Ken Rosewall 44 years ago has there been a men’s champion as old as Federer.

At 35 years and 183 days, Federer edges out Andres Gimeno (French Open, 1972) as the second oldest male grand slam winner in history.

But he is nowhere near eclipsing Rosewall’s record. The Australian great was 37 years and two months when he won the 1972 Australian Open — 19 years after he won the title for the first time.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR 2017

Federer’s seeding of 17th made his run to the final difficult, and it was all thanks to his long injury absence.

But for the first time since dropping out in October last year, Federer will now return to the top ten in the ATP rankings.

Of course after Sunday night, most people would place him even higher than that.

ODDS AND ENDS

— Federer defeated four top 10 opponents at this Australian Open, sweeping past No. 10 Tomas Berdych in the third round, No. 5 Kei Nishikori in the fourth round, No. 4 Stan Wawrinka in the semis and Nadal, ranked No. 9, in the final.

— Federer first won the Australian Open 13 years ago. He went back-to-back in 2006-07 before claiming his most recent title (before Sunday night) in 2010.

— Federer firmed from $21 to win the championship at the start of January to $1.80 this weekend.

— Federer is now 79-2 at the Australian Open when winning the first set.

— Sunday night was the fourth Grand Slam final to go to five sets involving Federer and Nadal. The only other rivalry to have multiple five-set Grand Slam finals is Bjorn Borg v John McEnroe.