More labourer than artist but Federer the poet is still capable of crafting a miracle

MELBOURNE - Up he came, in lift No. 3 which is reserved for the players, to the fourth floor of the Tennis HQ building. It's where the main interview room is and today attendance was compulsory. Every seat was filled, cameras alert, pads ready. When a miracle is the subject, everyone turns up.

Roger Federer arrived at roughly 8pm, wearing a watch and a white Uniqlo tracksuit over a body that hours ago had been protesting on court. He crossed his arms and people leaned in.