Australian Open - Nadal wins Australian Open epic

Eurosport - Mon, 02 Feb 09:07:00 2009

Rafael Nadal captured the Australian Open title with an enthralling 7-5 3-6 7-6 3-6 6-2 win over Roger Federer, denying the Swiss a chance to win a record-equalling 14th Grand Slam title.

Rafael Nadal after winning the 2009 Australian Open - 0

The world number one became the first Spaniard to win the Open and chalked up his fifth straight win over Federer, including last year's French Open and Wimbledon finals.

The victory took his Grand Slam tally to six and left him needing only to win the US Open to complete the full set while reducing Federer to tears.

"God, it's killing me," Federer sobbed during the presentation ceremony.

"Rafa congrats, you played incredible, you deserve it man. (You) played another fantastic final."

Nadal offered a consoling word to his great rival after receiving the winner's trophy and a cheque for A$2 million from the only person to have twice completed the Grand Slam.

"For me to receive this trophy from Rod Laver is a dream for me," Nadal said. "It was an amazing two weeks for me."

"Roger, sorry for today. I really know how you feel right now.

"It's really tough (but) remember you are a great champion, one of the best in history and you have proved that."

The final at Melbourne Park lived up to all expectations as the two best players of their generation slugged it out for almost 4-1/2 hours in a classic match packed with magical shotmaking and intense drama.

The momentum swung back and forth throughout before Nadal struck the killer blow when he broke in the fourth game of the deciding set when Federer slapped a backhand into the net then again in the eighth game to seal a famous victory.

Nadal, showing no signs of fatigue despite his five hour, 14 minute victory over compatriot Fernando Verdasco in the semi-finals, started the match full of energy and was still running as strongly as ever at the end.

He broke Federer in the opening game and despite twice losing his own serve, he wrapped up the first set in 58 minutes after the Swiss master overcooked two backhands.

Nadal was again the first to break in the second set when Federer mistimed a forehand over the baseline but the three-times Australian Open champion won the next four games to level the match.

The pair maintained their extraordinary standard of play in a third set that was even more enthralling than the first two.

There were no service breaks in the set but Nadal saved three break points in the ninth and 11th games while world number two Federer survived a set point to force the tie-breaker.

While Nadal lost the first point on his serve, he regained his composure to win four on the trot after they were level at 3-3 to grab a two sets to one lead.

The pair traded breaks early in the fourth set before Federer, a 13-times Grand Slam winner, saved five break points in the fifth game then broke Nadal in the next to seize the initiative.

Federer safely held his two games to force the match into a deciding fifth, the first time an Australian Open final had gone the distance since Mats Wilander beat Pat Cash in 1988, the same year the tournament switched from Kooyong to the current site at Melbourne Park.

Watch the match again in full on the Eurosport Player. Click on the link under the picture to subscribe.

Reuters

Comment 309 - 328 of 348

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  1. Well alright you guys asked for it. Ha!ha!ha! Nadal won and is champion. I think he should start showing less respect to Federer and his childish army of friends since they obviously do not know the word. Go on Rafa! Vamos from Nigeria baby.

    From Wen, on Mon 2 Feb 3:50PM

  2. 327 you are and IDIOT

    From darcj, on Mon 2 Feb 3:39PM

  3. stiu PITIC!!!!!!! ce nasolie!!!!! eurosport imi incalca dreptul la opinie :))

    From Helen H, on Mon 2 Feb 3:36PM

  4. To 328 - yeah you're right. This match did not deliver any outstanding performances like Wimbledon last year. Not only Federer played poorly but also Nadal has suffered from some nervousity to my surprise. If only Federer could overcome his fear a bit I think he could manage a more comprehensive victory. If only.

    From risimko, on Mon 2 Feb 2:53PM

  5. I'm very disapointed.This match was full of unforced errors.
    Roger's first serve was very poor.That was a main reason,why he lost.
    Congrats Rafael.
    Good luck Roger.
    I'll hope French open's and Wimbledon's finals will be more interesting and attractive.
    from Tennis' fan.

    From z.karaulashvili, on Mon 2 Feb 1:40PM

  6. Federer is as good now as he will ever get, he played very well but just could not bring himself to level needed to win against Nadal and collapsed in the 5th set. Wimbeldon last year was the key: when he lost that (and he did play his best!) every other match aginst Nadal will get harder and harder. After 5h epic semi Nadal stil beats him!!! That is astonishing!!! Amazing!!! Nadal is the king of tennis today, he is just to good, and Federer can do nothing about it but cry. The only way for Federer now is to exept that Nadal is better player and then and only then he will have a chance to win a match against him in Wimbeldon or US open, but only as an underdog.

    From Maki, on Mon 2 Feb 1:18PM

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    From , on Mon 2 Feb 11:54AM

  8. Keep it like this RAFA, Vamos tu eres el numero 1

    From EMA*, on Mon 2 Feb 11:53AM

  9. 327 - he'll have more than 11 slams douchebag, Rafa is the greatest, I mean he can dominate anything he enters, he is a super human superstar

    From justgetsnasty, on Mon 2 Feb 11:39AM

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    From Summy L, on Mon 2 Feb 11:30AM

  11. What's so agonizing it is the fact that this Nadal man has emerged as such an obstacle for Federer to become the greatest of them all. Just imagine, Federer would have easily had his 4 Rollands at home with last year's Wimbledon too hadn't there been Nadal. I must put my hat off that we are witnessing such a curious historical event. I do not wonder why he cried in the end. He realised this sour fact maybe even more than at Wimbledon last year. He knows he will never beat Rafa again.

    From risimko, on Mon 2 Feb 10:30AM

  12. Igor K - Federer is in real trouble now because there is a real chance that with this kind of superiority he can meet Nadal just about in every final they make an loose it big time. But it is hard to predict honestly. With AO behind us we may think every final of a grandslam in 2009 coould end up like this one. I still think that it could be other way too, that these two guy may not win a grandslam this year if they meet their Tsongas, Murrays and Verdascos

    From risimko, on Mon 2 Feb 10:21AM

  13. Some ppl really talk a lot of grabage in here when they say Nadal is not at the same level of Federer's because the young Spaniard hasn't won the US Open yet. Who cares? Ballacks! Ballacks! Ballacks! It's the other way around! When Federer wins Roland Garros he may reach Nadal's level, so far Roger is miles away from Nadal's competitive level!!
    Nadal needs to prove nothing he shows us time after time who is boss.
    And what if his knees in two-three years give way? Who cares? He kills legends like Roger anytime the chance is out there. I'm just enjoying this spectacle of sheer brutish power in Nadal's tennis while it lasts. When Nadal retires with his knees done up he'll be a richer man than he is now. He plays like nobody. Full of passion, sheer adrenaline, skill, will power, pride, determination, intelligence and yes muscles you Fed fans do not have . L Hewitt was close but he did not achieve half of what Agassi did. So already like it or not, Nadal is a great player, the Number One and I love it. Get used to it. Vamos Nadal tu puedes el cielo es el limite (Com'on Nadal you can the sky is the limit).

    From AndJustice4All, on Mon 2 Feb 10:21AM

  14. Invalid comment :(( again:((

    From Pitic, on Mon 2 Feb 10:11AM

  15. VAMOS RAFAAAAAAAAAAAA FROM SERBIAAAAAAAAA

    From boki, on Mon 2 Feb 10:02AM

  16. So what can he expect ? I was talking one year ago that he will never ever won any GS.. he won US open in a meantime and I was wrong.. but he can do similar again just with a GREAT amount of luck now. his play is not sharp like it was.. and if he is willing to put some much pressure again, he will snap much worse then during finall ceremony.. his statements became more an more ugly towards competition.. he was a gentleman when he was winning... for more then a year he is not... I’m sorry guys but he has to change something in his attitude.. this is going in direction of loosing fans because of his great determination of winning more then Sampras, at all cost... and it is not the way he should took ! Nadal is 22 and won 6 GS-s.. so there is no point for Fed to push himself further.. he shoud play to injoy the game.. cose obviosly Nadal will make the most GS-s in history only if he is healthy.. or some other alien land on planet earth :-)

    From Igor K, on Mon 2 Feb 10:00AM

  17. In a few years when Rafa's knees pack in, what's the betting that he will dominate the Wheelchair game too??!!!!!

    From justgetsnasty, on Mon 2 Feb 9:27AM

  18. It wasn't a great match at all. They were both nervous from the beginning and although acknowledging Nadal's superiority, this is really about Federer being enchanted by his rival. Very lavish display of errors, mishits, no first serve at all, giving up the chances. Truly, nothing spectacular. Federer was frozen. He only could bounce the ball back to the middle line for Nadal to place it whereever he wanted. Then breakdown in the fifth. No, no, no that's not a way to beat Nadal. He needs to change his attitude and without a couch he won't do it.

    From risimko, on Mon 2 Feb 8:57AM

  19. Why any people can't accept Nadal is better than Federer? You only must see games between them, and number of titles won by Federer, when he was 22 (and without real oposition). Nadal has won more titles than anybody in tennis history at 22, and whith Federer in the circuit. I think that it´s easy to see.

    (sorry for my english)

    From Lennyfast, on Mon 2 Feb 8:44AM

  20. BOYS DON'T CRY

    From sagupaan43, on Mon 2 Feb 8:35AM
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