Former world number one Roger Federer of Switzerland has defeated 9th seeded Rafael Nadal in five sets thriller, 6-4,3-6,6-1,3-6,6-3 at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne to clinch his 18th Grand Slam title and his fifth Australian Open trophy.
The 35-year-old triumphed over his old foe to become the first male player to win three of the major titles five times.
Interestingly, when Federer flew to Mallorca to help Nadal launch his academy in the autumn, knee and wrist injuries prevented both players from playing an exhibition match. No one could have imagined that their next on court meeting would be that near and at the final of major grand slam
“I don’t think either one of us thought we would be in final of the Australian Open,” he said.
“It has been a different last six months – I wasn’t sure I would make it here.”
Turning to Nadal, he added: “Tennis is a tough sport and there are no draws but if there were, I would have been happy to share it with Rafa tonight.
It was a historic win for Federer as he extends his lead to 18 on the all-time table of grand slam winners. It came after he played only seven ATP Tour events last year after damaging his knee the day after he lost the semi-final in Melbourne last year. He did not play again after Wimbledon.
Talking to the Press later, Federer confessed that he never thought he would win coming to the Australian. “I thought I could get to fourth round, maybe quarter depending on the draw, but not winning it. Its strange to me that I won it.”
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