Eurosport - Mon, 02 Feb 18:38:00 2009
We look at how the world is reacting to Rafael Nadal's thrilling five set victory over Roger Federer in the Australian Open final.
Following is a selection of newspaper headlines illustrating global media reaction to the news.
SWITZERLAND
BaslerZeitung
NADAL SETS THE BENCHMARK
Roger Federer now seems unable to win against Rafael Nadal. What everyone was talking about Federer achieving not long ago, now seems possible for Nadal. If Federer does manage to equal or better Sampras's record, it seems we already know the name of the man who will challenge it next.
Blick
TEARS FOR THE FUTURE
Almost all legendary sports stars had their legendary rivals. The pain of yesterday's defeat will be temporary. Nadal is the Joe Frazier of the present day. He is strong, he is young and he is winning. But the greatest, the unequalled, the Muhammad Ali of tennis? In the end that will be Federer.
TagesAnzeiger
NADAL MAKES FEDERER SUFFER
After already toppling Federer from the top of the world rankings, and replacing him as Wimbledon champion, Nadal has now stormed Federer's last stronghold by beating him at a hardcourt Grand Slam tournament. But Federer's chances of breaking his sport's most important record remain good.
The consistency which he has shown in recent years is unique and will not be matched by Nadal.
SPAIN
Marca
GOD NADAL
Federer cannot fathom how his perfect tennis can be defeated again and again by the fury of Nadal. That's why he was crying.
And it hurts Nadal. But he will carry on beating him because he cannot help himself.
ENGLAND
Daily Telegraph
RAFA FINISHES THE REVOLUTION
Tennis has entered the neo-Rafaelite age. Only five men have won all four Grand Slam titles over their careers - Fred Perry, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Don Budge and Andre Agassi. Now Nadal, and not Federer, is the more likely to join that quintet.
The Guardian
NADAL'S HOLD OVER FEDERER MAKES EVERYTHING POSSIBLE
So much has been written and discussed about the possibility of Roger Federer being, or becoming, the greatest player of the modern era that Rafa Nadal's extraordinary career has hardly been considered in that light. Yet here he is, at 22 years old, having just won his sixth major at the Australian Open. At this age ¬ Federer had won two.
ITALY
Gazzetta dello Sport
NADAL MAKES FEDERER CRY
It will be interesting to see in the next tournaments how Federer reacts to the new situation. The tears which he could not stop during the ceremony were a surprise but also a moment of weakness, or maybe of anger for a title which eluded him. Corriere della Sera
FOR THE SWISS IT IS A NIGHTMARE
Certain moments last forever. Roger Federer left us suddenly after four hours and 23 minutes of an incredible video game that is not for sale.
FRANCE
L'Equipe
NADAL, REAL TOUGH NUT
If he (Federer) does not change anything, it may harm his chances in the important matches of beating a rival who now is the only master of the field.
Rafael Nadal can see higher, further. He now is in the best position to take over from Rod Laver and complete a Grand Slam.
AUSTRALIA
Melbourne Herald Sun
FEDERER GOES TO WATER
Rafel Nadal was born to play Roger Federer. There is no other player on the planet whose style, approach and mind bruises Federer's silken craft as often or as menacingly as the unmerciful Mallorcan.
UNITED STATES
New York Times
NADAL DEFEATS A TEARFUL FEDERER IN AUSTRALIA
Nadal said that he was convinced Federer would beat Sampras's record. Perhaps Federer will, but for now Nadal, however respectful, keeps blocking his path.
SOUTH AFRICA
The Times
NO TIME FOR TEARS OF THE FED
Federer was entitled to his tears. Tennis is a game of great tensions, especially when it runs to five sets in a Grand Slam final. Win or lose, you need release and a bit of weeping is better than smashing your racket against a wall.
Comment 144 - 163 of 163
blick is really biased and the last line of tagesangier also
get lost sam nadal isnt rubbish
Poorman indeed. And miserable too.
POORMAN3000...Well, I think you just wanted some attention because u know that those words u used are not meant for the world's best tennis player and the olympic champ...what were u doing at age 22?. I guess u had not even finished high school
Rafa is the best and no one can dispute that, even the poorman3000 cannot dispute that. COME TO THINK OF IT, RAFA can make you change ur name from poorman to richman if he gets in contact with you.
RAFA for POWER
jexbj...poor innocent thing : u're being picked on,
and you know quite a bit about cowards for as soon as the emotional level gets over your head..well: you report for abuse right ?
Impersonating yourself under Jess x, Jessica, everyone knows you're really pat (for pathetic)
or maybe you should call yourself Roger, for you are stuck to that unlucky # 13, just like him.
How is that infatuation of yours going by the way ?
why are u sooooooooooooooooooooo STUPID POORMAN3000? people like u shoundn't be allowed to write such silly and offensive comments. is something wrong with your brain? if u hate Nadal just b'cos he's such a gud and fenominal player don't even bother yourself or waste your time to comment on him. truth hurts but once in your life u have to admit it. he was just far better than Federer n u know that, u cant see White n say its Black. it actually makes u a Foolish person!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In this case u r the PIECE OF SHITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT. Idiot!!!
no wonder u've named yourself "poorman3000" ,you've got a such poor mind n i doubt if u've got a "common sense"
GO RAFA.............U ROCK!!!
jexbj : dirty sanchez on you tonight !
t'es 0
A good coach woud be Mac he would know how to deal with Nadal but it will take hard work on the forehand volley especially.
joeblogs, I was thinking the same thing that Federer may take some advices from Sampras regarding the serve and volley game. I think that it is a mistake that Federer does not have a coach. A good coach can give you mental strength.
Yes, I think Federer needs to get a coach (Sampras?!) to work on his serve and forehand, which seem to have gone off - under pressure he dumps them in the net. His backhand is defensive rather than aggressive (like Sampras's was) too, so from the baseline and especially on clay he won't win against the best ie Nadal. Think it's also true he's lost confidence now, and looked nervous from the start in the final, despite playing fairly well for the first few sets. The tears are a turn-off, though - and a sign of weakness which will not go unnoticed; thought Nadal was marvellous in offering him sympathy and yet still not pulling any punches in beating him again! Maybe Fed will never get to 14 let alone the 15 or 20 that looked likely until last year. He needs to get fitter, too, and put the work in (like Murray and Nadal) and run and chase more, instead of (classic Leo, this) expecting to be No1 and everybody else to follow/submit/praise and let him win...and when they don't, he cries! Maybe he'll retire soon - it'll certainly be difficult to try the French again now...
Roger Federer you will remain the top tennis player in history don't give a @#$% what the Spanish say.
PETE SAMPRAS WOULD BEAT BOTH THESE """SUPERSTARS"" WITH NO PROBLEM
HIS RECORD OF UNFORCED ERRORS WAS -- UNSURPASSED
To Danel.
Thanks for sharing with my thoughts. Am just trying to make sense here as others are getting illogical and mean. Let's just focus on the mechanics of the game and the way it was played by the players. There's nothing personal about it. There should always be a winner. The better player of the day wins. We just can't close our eyes and shut our minds of the reality. We just can't dictate by statistics on what to believe and of which player is the best. It's still the start of the season, 3 slams more to go. If Nadal will loose in the next tour, then what you have in mind to say?
Relax guys, see you all on the next match between Federer and Nadal. Frankly, I am always looking forward for it. Whoever win wins. (Russ, Kuwait)
Don't be jealous TOIDI!lol You carry on picking on me...As far as I can see,I got you into trouble last time...I was spot on...I'm not surprised,meaningless SDRAWOC like you are so easy to hurt...What's the point in hiding behind another identity???You SSUW!:-)Well,that's your main hobby,so,keep on killing time that way then,petit écervelé.A jamais "Pierre V",you're not worth it "petit"...Heureusement pour toi,le ridicule ne tue pas.Jess xxxx:-)))))
Try again!!!! If Federer is to beat Nadal he needs a coach preferably Spanish or South American( Keurtens coach) Federer is Swiss and it is very difficult for him to change. Ok it works with most people but not with somebody of the temperemant of Nadal
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FANTASTIC, INCREDIBLE NADAL , GREAT JOB, IS THE NEW GENERATION
jexbj get a life...you speak english comme une vache espagnole (la vaca castillana). And now you've turned a Nadal fan, what's wrong with you ? Are you a collabo ?
Post 177"..tactics wrong" "dcgarcia" Tienes razon amigo!Rafa y Roger son grandes campeones!A Nadal merece la victoria.Me gusta mucho Fed pero Rafa es fantastico desde hace varios meses,ademas,es muy simpatico este Rafa.Tengo mucho respeto para los dos.No he practicado el espanol desde 1998,antes podia hablarlo bastante bien,pero ahora es horrible...:-( Sorry then!Take care dude!Viva Espana!Vamos Rafa y "come on Roger":-) Jess X(francia)
Idiots listen. Sampras was good when grass was faster and the hard courts were fast, but slow it down and look at his clay record. Sampras at his best wouldn't stand a chance against Federer and Nadal. Stop knocking Nadal, he is super fit, and strong, with great ability. He deserves every accolade.
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