Melbourne, Australia ? Always in control on the court, Roger Federer was overcome with emotion while accepting his Australian Open trophy from one of the few people he’s still trying to match.

The top-ranked Federer fulfilled overwhelming expectations by beating unlikely finalist Marcos Baghdatis, 5-7, 7-5, 6-0, 6-2, in Sunday’s final to claim his seventh Grand Slam title and third in succession.

He tearfully embraced tennis great Rod Laver while receiving his trophy. Laver twice swept the Grand Slams, a feat Federer will try to emulate this season – if he finally can win a French Open.

Federer wept and was stuck for words at the award presentation.

“I was so happy,” he said. “Then I had to go up on stage and speak. This is really too much for me sometimes. It’s just a dream come true every time I win a Grand Slam.

“I can’t block it out – I’m also just human.”

Federer maintained his perfect record in seven major finals. And, at 24, he’s halfway toward Pete Sampras’ all-time record of 14 Grand Slam titles. Sampras also was 24 when he won his seventh.

Federer, who is the first since Sampras to win three consecutive majors, said he was unusually nervous as an overwhelming favorite against the 54th-ranked Cypriot, a former junior world champion.

“The whole fact of being such a huge favorite. And if I lose, a huge upset since I don’t know when,” Federer said. “The whole thing was building up and waiting all day for the night session – that is nerve-racking on top of it. It was really tough for me mentally.”

An 11-game winning streak from 5-5 in the second set eased Federer’s nerves and took the match away from Baghdatis, who said his problems started when he began to think a huge upset was within reach.

Baghdatis’ raucous fans, who grew in number as he ousted second-seeded Andy Roddick, No. 4 David Nalbandian and two other seeded players in the tournament, chanted between points. Dressed as if for a soccer match, they waved flags, cheered and whistled to the end.

“I wanted to continue being aggressive … not to give Federer time to play his game,” Baghdatis said. “Maybe I was a bit scared of him. Maybe I didn’t really believe it. Things were happening so fast.”

Federer acknowledged being concerned about a massive upset after falling a set and a break behind.

“I was struggling so much to hold my serve … I was sweating like crazy,” he said. “I thought, ‘Well, if this is going to continue, I’ll probably lose and (only) a miracle is going to save me.”‘