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 269 - 288 of 348

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  1. I've never seen Roger break down like this before and I really feel sorry for him. This says to me that he thinks that this was his last chance of winning another grand slam. He is losing matches that no way he would have lost a couple of years ago. Time is running out and he knows that his next best chance will be Wimbledon because Roland Garros will be Nadal's. Even then it's going to be difficult.
    I'm a Roger fan by the way.

    From kingsburyflyer, on Sun 1 Feb 9:59PM

  2. Give it up people you should be ashamed of yourselves. Would Barcelona win a title and have Real Madrid called the true champions? Rafa is simply the best. I used to think he was the Tiger Woods of tennis but now I believe Tiger Woods is the Rafael Nadal of golf. In whataever language you speak, Nadal is better than Roger. Both great players yes, but Nadal on top baby.

    From Wen, on Sun 1 Feb 9:53PM

  3. It was a great match - no doubt! I congrats to Nadal but it was more like Federer lost against himself then to Nadal! I mean everyone could see the statistics right??? Like at one point Federer´s 1st service has been like what 40%??? And look how difficult it has been for Rafa to beat him!!!! If anyone says that Rafa has beat him easily than this person is completely blind or just watched another match!:O)))
    Seriously Roger can play soooo much better than this! and we´ve seen it here on Australian Open! I´m sure he is capable to beat Nadal when his serving is right and when he gets over to whatever it is that is holding him against Rafa! He should have beaten him today and I was really sorry that he did not:O( I wish him luck in this season and I have no doubt that even after this he is still the best player ever - of course with Agassi and Sampras! So go Roger!
    But for now...Rafa did deserve to win this one I have to admit so congrats ones more!

    From Hanka, on Sun 1 Feb 9:29PM

  4. Nadal played the match of his life and Federer played a very poor match with no 1st serve and still he had all the chances to win it in straight sets!!!!!

    From Dr. Tarek Said, on Sun 1 Feb 9:23PM

  5. WELL DONE, A TRULY GREAT FINAL, THESE GUYS ARE AT THE VERY PINNACLE OF THE GAME, AND LONG MAY THEY ENTERTAIN US WITH GREAT TENNIS.

    STEVE CURTIS

    From steven c, on Sun 1 Feb 9:20PM

  6. #249

    Cheers

    What you didn't mention is his cross court backhand that could bury the opponent in the advertising boards should he risk to run it down

    Boy or boy....if he added some more speed to that serve, he will be unplayable

    Congratulations Roger....you threw your best at HIM but it all returned with an acute dosage of venom

    In its ok 2 cry when it hurts even heroes are HUMAN

    From hosmakus, on Sun 1 Feb 9:10PM

  7. @big mouth
    you got a big mouth:-)
    criss, i love you, and thats not sarcasm:-)

    From birdmancapcom, on Sun 1 Feb 9:00PM

  8. nadal and roger (play like star behave like star and to be EXACT they are star but andy murray unfortunalty is not at all a star item......

    From abid_ziyad, on Sun 1 Feb 8:58PM

  9. I love Nadal when he does what he knows how to do best.....Nadal was exceptional in today's game...i see him win more slams

    From major, on Sun 1 Feb 8:56PM

  10. What a contrast compared to the womens final. Thats the real tennis.Well done Rafa

    From CheBay, on Sun 1 Feb 8:31PM

  11. hahaha fenomenal nadal makes federer start crying. I never i my wildest dreams have thought that i would see federer cry in front of the cameras, because he cannot beat rafa. i have a solution for this problem of federer, its called pension.
    and about rafa, because he didnt want to ashame even more federer, he himself was ashamed to celebrate the title as he normaly does...

    From vladimir, on Sun 1 Feb 8:27PM

  12. birdmancapcom,
    it is possible. But only in your dreams!!! So, go on- dream! You stupid, blind idiot, please, remind me when was the last time Federer defeated Nadal!

    CONGRATULATIONS, RAFA!!!
    YOU DESERVE AUSTRALIAN OPEN TITLE!!!
    YOU DESERVE "WORLD NUMBER ONE" TITLE!!!

    I'm looking forward reprise last year Roland Garros! VAMOOOOOOOOOOOOOS RAFA!

    From big mouth, on Sun 1 Feb 8:22PM

  13. Nadal is amazing, when everything is against him he plays the best of his tennis and start his rivals make a lot of mistakes. See every single of his match statistics; he always has less winners than his rivals but the pocentage of unforced errors of his rivals is much more higher than nadal's. Can you imagine what would it happen when he improves his winners, no one will stop him!!!Thanks to Nadal and Federer for the inmense spectacle of effort and fair play, and example for the mankind. Show must go on!!!

    From habitualdelbosque, on Sun 1 Feb 8:07PM

  14. Rafael Nadal. Big respect and all the best in the season!!

    From Olga, on Sun 1 Feb 8:02PM

  15. well done Rafa - u have stopped the Fedex, and at 21, have time on your side to become one of the greatest; indeed, surpass Fedex and capture all the GSs.
    However, could the USOpen be your achilles heel like roland garos waas to fedex ?? Only time will tell.

    Anyway, congratulations and to Fedex, you need to find the Eye of the Tiger if you want to beat Nadal again.

    From ispurs, on Sun 1 Feb 7:46PM

  16. Nadal did a great match today. He deserved to win, he has the mentality, and mentality is a HUGE part of being a good tennis player. When you start doubting yourself you are bound to make many mistakes, and that's what happened to Federer today. I have to give it to Rafa, two long and hard matches but he still came out on top! Just amazing! Federer was really good too though, I won't downplay that, Federer is a great tennis player.

    I have to praise Verdasco too. He has just proved he belongs with the greatest tennis players in the world, he is now #9 in the world, but wouldn't surprise me at all if he ended up in the top 5 by the end of the season. He came *this* close to beating Nadal in the semi. All he has to do is getting rid of his errors, I'm sure he can beat the best tennis players if he manages to do that, even Nadal and Federer.

    From Maria, on Sun 1 Feb 7:35PM

  17. Rafa will win more GS-s then enyone in the history... he is from another planet :-) ... my true congrats to him !

    From Igor K, on Sun 1 Feb 7:32PM

  18. aha...i can smell the sarcasm...

    From criss, on Sun 1 Feb 7:30PM

  19. thank you criss, that saved my weekend:-)

    From birdmancapcom, on Sun 1 Feb 7:24PM

  20. yeah birdmancapcom...like before this kind of tournments they are not tasted anti-doping.

    stop looking for excuses

    From criss, on Sun 1 Feb 6:57PM
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