Was that Federer's Last Australian Open?

Was it just me or did Roger Federer's victory speech sound like good-bye?

Some have speculated that Federer is still in the game to retake the world's number one ranking and become the oldest number one ever. In some ways it seems like he rightfully should have the number one ranking with this win. True, he didn't play last year's French Open, so he got no ranking points there. But he's won this year's Australian, last year's Wimbledon and other significant tournaments last year, including Indian Wells, Miami and Shanghai. Plus, he's won six straight over his main rival, Rafa Nadal. It seems like a recent head-to-head record in the rankings should be worth something.

But I don't think he'd retire just as soon as he reaches number one. IMHO, it's likelier that he'd choose a year to be his farewell tour to the game. Is 2018 that year? His tears at the end of this year's win didn't seem just like tears of joy. There was no mention of "See you next year," as there so often has been with Federer in the past. Instead, he congratulated Cilic on reaching number three and wished him luck achieving more in the future. And yet Nadal and Federer are indisputably the top two players in the game right now. So is Federer signaling that one of those top spots--his--might soon be vacant?

Federer's longevity, in addition to his pile of Grand Slam victories, has been impressive. Few would have predicted he'd end his four-year drought without a Grand Slam victory from 2012 through 2015 in his early 30s with Grand Slam wins in his mid-30s. The injuries or soreness have finally caught up even with Federer though, as he's missed a few Grand Slams recently due to ailments or to pace himself for a shot at subsequent Slams.

I could be wrong. I had thought he might retire earlier in his 30s. With Nadal still on the tour, there's a chance that Rafa, who has 16 Grand Slam victories to Federer's 20, could catch up to Federer's total and have a chance of being called the all-time greatest unless Federer is around to defend his titles. That might be motivation enough to stick around. And Federer, already an Olympian, could be an Olympian yet again and go for Gold in singles (he already has it doubles), one of the few achievements to elude him, though he's come close--winning Silver in 2012.

Kim Clijsters had a remarkable comeback from becoming a mother to win Grand Slams. Federer is one of the first players on the tour to win Grand Slams after becoming a father. It's possible that he may be tired of the globetrotting and recent injuries and want to settle down with his family as his kids grow up.

Or not! I've been wrong with Federer before. At his post-match press conference, he was asked point blank how long he'd keep playing and said, "I have no idea." Federer also said you have to play each Grand Slam like it's the last one. But as for the travel, he said he didn't mind it and that his wife, Mirka Federer, supported his decision to keep playing. He also explained the emotions were partly from having a tough match after an easy run up to the final round and having to wait all day to play a night match. His nerves after winning may have been frazzled after a long day of wondering how he would feel if he won or lost. Or the accomplishment of winning a 20th Grand Slam could well have been overwhelming. Even Federer's human after all.

It could simply be that, as Chris Evert has often noted, Grand Slam victories become more emotional the older champions become.

Still, that victory speech sounded like farewell--and, if so, is a big gulp moment for us all.