Win No.1000 meant a lot to Roger Federer.
But toasting the not so recognised number 1007 at the Australian Open may be one of his greatest achievements yet.
Top seed Federer became just the third man in the open era to shatter the 1000 win barrier after outlasting world No.8 Milos Raonic of Canada to claim his maiden Brisbane International title on Sunday night.
His 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 win over the big-serving third seed at Pat Rafter Arena ensured Federer joined an elite group whose only other members are Jimmy Connors (1253) and Ivan Lendl (1071).
World No.2 Federer almost looked star struck when he received the winner's Roy Emerson Trophy from the man himself, the 12-time grand slam champion, after clinching his 83rd career title.
However, Federer appeared truly touched when his hero Rod Laver emerged to present a special memento to mark win No.1000 as a video tribute to the Swiss great played on the big screen.
Yet it all may pale in comparison to what the 33-year-old may achieve at the opening grand slam.
Federer will become the oldest player since a 37-year-old Ken Rosewall took out the 1972 crown if he adds another seven wins to his remarkable tally in Melbourne.
And after seeing off a member of the new guard tipped to threaten the "big four" in 2015, the 17-time grand slam champion is considering another entry in the record books.
Asked if he thought he could add to his four Australian Open titles this year, Federer said: "Yeah, I do believe that.
"Then again, it's just talk.
"At the end of the day, I've got to do the running, I've got to do the clutch play when it matters the most."
But no one would doubt Federer after watching the veteran outlast a member of tennis' self proclaimed "generation next".
Federer appeared to be a marked man after Raonic backed fellow young gun Kei Nishikori's call in Brisbane that the days of the old guard - Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray - were numbered.
World No.5 Nishikori tipped the likes of himself, reigning US Open champ Marin Cilic, big-serving Raonic and Federer clone Grigor Dimitrov to take the next step this year.
However, Federer has done his best to silence the knockers by holding out the likes of world No.11 Dimitrov and Wimbledon semi-finalist Raonic on his way to savouring Brisbane glory.
Federer has now won at least one tournament every year since 2001.
In the meantime, Federer seemed intent to relish his milestone which came at a stunning 81.5 winning percentage.
"It feels very different to any other match I ever won - reaching 500 or 800, all those numbers didn't mean anything to me, but for some reason 1000 means a lot because it's such a huge number," he said.
"My daughters can't even count to 1000."
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