Sydney: Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open Men's Final, winning his 18th grand slam. Switzerland's Federer won 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 against the Spaniard in a five-set match that lasted more than three-and-a-half hours.
Roger Federer receives his trophy. It’s his fifth Australian Open title and his first since 2010.
“I’m out of words and Rafael said so many great things,” he said.
“I’d like to congratulate Rafa on an amazing comeback. I don’t think either of us thought we’d be in the finals when we were at your academy four or five years ago. I’d just like to thank my team. It’s been a different last six months. I didn’t think I was going to make it here.”
“Congratulations to Roger and all his team,” Rafa Nadal says. “It is amazing how he is playing after all this time away from the tour. Congrats, I am very happy for you. For me, it has been a great month.
"For the first time in my career, I spent a full month in Australia. It is an amazing month for me. This beautiful country, fantastic people, supporting a lot all the events. It has been unforgettable.”
Federer was a break down in the fifth set. A break down against Rafael Nadal. A break down against a player who’d beaten him 23 times in 34 matches. He was having treatment on his right quad. Are you kidding me?
Almost ten years since Roger Federer last beat Rafa Nadal in a grand slam, he’s beaten him in five sets at the age of 35. He spent six months out with a knee injury last year. Can there be any doubt? Do you really want to tell me he isn’t the greatest of all time?
