Roger Federer defeated Andy Murray to win the Australian Open today for his record 16th major title, extending Britain’s 74-year wait for a men’s Grand Slam champion.

The top-seeded Swiss won his fourth Australian Open crown, beating the fifth-seeded Murray 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11) at Melbourne Park. Federer saved five set points in the last set before overcoming Murray.

“I’m over the moon winning this again,” Federer said after accepting the championship trophy. “It’s also very special, the first Grand Slam as a father.”

Federer becomes the fifth man to win at least four titles at the season’s first major. Australian Roy Emerson won six titles at his home Grand Slam in the 1960s. American Andre Agassi and Australians Ken Rosewall and Jack Crawford won four each.

The 28-year-old Federer had 46 winners and 42 unforced errors in the match. Murray had 29 winners and 36 unforced errors.

Murray hit a backhand into the net to end the match. Federer screamed “YEAH!” and thrust his arms in the air.

Federer had two service breaks in a sweaty first set played in 76 percent humidity. The roof over Rod Laver Arena was mostly closed because the forecast called for showers.

Federer broke Murray’s serve in the third game of the second set and had little trouble on his own serve, ending the set with a forehand volley winner.

Murray, rubbing his right leg after points early in the third set, took a 5-2 lead before Federer responded by winning three straight games and eventually forcing a tiebreaker.

Recovery

A year ago, Federer was reduced to tears in Melbourne following his five-set loss to Rafael Nadal in the 2009 final.

“I can cry like Roger,” Murray said at the trophy ceremony, becoming emotional. “It’s just a shame I can’t play like him.”

Murray, 22, was trying to become the first British man to win one of the sport’s four major championships since Fred Perry captured the U.S. National Championships in 1936.

“I got great support back home the past couple of weeks,” Murray said. “Sorry I couldn’t do it for you tonight.”

The victory earned Federer A$2.1 million ($1.86 million). Murray takes home half of that in defeat.

Today’s win is Federer’s first major title since becoming a father. After breaking Pete Sampras’s record by winning his 15th major last July at Wimbledon, Federer became the father of twin girls with his wife, Mirka.

Federer’s path to the final wasn’t easy. It took him four sets against Igor Andreev of Russia to reach the second round, the first time in the last 25 Grand Slam openers he hadn’t won in straight sets.

In the quarterfinals, Federer fought back from a set and a break down to overcome Nikolay Davydenko of Russia.

Murray dropped only one set in six matches leading up to the final. He lost the first set to Croatia’s Marin Cilic in the semifinals.

Murray came into the final with a 6-4 career mark against Federer. The only time they had met in a Grand Slam tournament was at the 2008 U.S. Open, where Federer won in straight sets.