Live Blog: Federer Beats Nadal in 5 Sets, Wins His 18th Grand Slam
Nadal holds a 23-11 edge over Federer, including semifinal wins at the Australian Open in 2012 and 2014.
The Dream Final
A Grand Slam final nearly six years in the making is now less than an hour away at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park.
Federer, with a leading 17 Grand Slam men's singles titles, has gone further in the tournament than he ever expected after being out for six months with a left knee injury. Nadal, too, spent extended injury time on the sidelines in 2016.
The mixed doubles final will open the action at Rod Laver, with American Abigail Spears and Juan Sebastian Cabal playing Sania Mirza of India and Ivan Dodig.
Player Talk
There was a lot of mutual respect going around before the Australian Open final on Sunday between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
"Rafa's definitely presented me with the biggest challenge in the game," Federer said after his semifinal win over U.S. Open champion Stan Wawrinka. "I'm happy we've had some epic, epic battles over the years ..."
Nadal said neither player could have imagined making the final of the year's first Grand Slam after coming back from their respective injuries in 2016 — Federer, his left knee; Nadal, his left wrist. Both men took time off last season and had difficult draws in Melbourne because of their lower rankings.
"For me, it's a privilege," Nadal said. "It's a very, very special thing, I think, for both of us to be in the final of a major again, have another chance to compete against each other after a couple of years having some problems."
Nadal, who has won 14 Grand Slam singles titles, has dominated Federer, who has a leading 17 men's majors, in their head-to-head matches. Nadal has a 23-11 record overall and has won nine of their 11 Grand Slam matches.
Nadal to Serve First
1-1
Rafa Nadal served first in this Australian Open final, managing to hold serve with ease. Federer, in return, struggled a bit but we’re 1-1 in the first.
Neck to Neck
We’re 15 minutes into this Men’s Final and both players have managed to stay on each others heels.
Just the one double fault from Nadal and one winner. While Federer’s got no errors on his serve and 4 points off winners.
8th Winner for Federer
Lots of crosscourt backhands and Roger Federer has his first two break points of the match.
40-15 in the 7th.
Roger Federer Breaks Nadal
A return wide down the line and Roger Federer has his first break of the match. 4-3 in the first to the Swiss master.
Federer 5 - 3 Nadal
Ace down the line and Roger Federer holds to love.
Can this be happening?
Roger Federer Serves for the Set
Rafael Nadal wins the first point of the game but Roger Federer marches on from there.
40-15 and the arena is on their feet.
An ace and Roger leads the 2017 men’s final by a whole set.
Nadal 2 - 0 Federer
40-30 in the second game of the second set and Rafa Nadal has his first break point of the match.
A long rally and Roger Federer comes out on top but Rafa managed to bounce back and get himself another break point. The Swiss hits a crosscourt backhand into the net and Nadal has his first break of the match.
Nadal Takes 3-0 Lead
The Spaniard needs a second break point to snatch the advantage back from Federer but he manages. His returns stay high into Federer’s backhand, forcing an error. A slive into the set and Nadal has the lead.
A cool hold in the next game and we’re 3-0 in the second set.
Nadal 4 - 0 Federer
Roger Fights Back
Rafa’s holding serve with ease and breaking as easily. But we’re in the fifth game and Roger is back on. Races to a 30-0 lead.
Nadal though, again, finds a way back. 30-30
Break point and Federer has Nadal running all sides of the baseline. He manages to get him wide on the forehand side. Federer has a whole court to chose from and he choses right.
He’s got the break.
Nadal 5 - 3 Federer
Roger Federer is getting back his rhythm and the players look on a more even footing now.
He holds to love.
Nadal Levels The Match
Roger may be back but Nadal’s solid serve isn't going anywhere either. Holds to love and has the set.
6-3
SECOND SET SUMMARY
Rafael Nadal has won the second set 6-3 to level the Australian Open final against Roger Federer at one set each.
Federer won the first set 6-4, conceding just four points on serve. In the second, Nadal got breaks in Federer's first two service games to take a 4-0 lead before dropping serve himself for the only time in the set.
The 35-year-old Federer is aiming to increase his record to 18 Grand Slam singles titles. The 30-year-old Nadal is aiming for his 15th.
Both players are returning from lengthy injury layoffs and are meeting in a Grand Slam final for the first time since the 2011 French Open.
Federer Holds in 10 Minutes
40-0 up at one stage, Roger is made to work a lot for this game. The opener in the third.
He eventually closes to the game with a half-volley backhand from the baseline.
Federer 3 - 0 Nadal
Federer has the advantage on Nadal’s serve, opening up a neat 30-0 lead.
Nadal manages to make it 30-30 but two straight points off the Swiss’ racquet and we have the first break of the third set.
To follow that, Roger holds to love in the third game.
We. Have. A. Match!
Four Deuces
This one’s a tough hold of serve for Rafael Nadal. Roger Federer has the other side and the stadia on their toes.
The Spaniard though manages to pull through. A 142 km/h crosscourt backhand winner to go deuce and then on the stretch before closing out the game. Brilliant from the Spaniard. A great serve followed by a solid guard up front of his side of the net.
Federer though, holds his own service game to love.
Federer 5 - 1 Nadal
Federer Takes Two Set Lead
Federer is points away from taking a firm lead in this men’s final. It goes his way when he asks for a referral on a Nadal shot that was called in. 30-15 is the scoreline after he gets the ruling his way.
But that was the easy part. Set point. Break point. Set point. Break point.
A gently hit drop-volley just over the net does the trick.
Roger Federer is now one match from winning the Australian Open.
THIRD SET SUMMARY
Federer saved three break points with aces in an opening game that lasted more than eight minutes to hold, then broke Nadal in the next to take control of the third set. He had three break-point chances to take a 4-0 lead but Nadal held serve after 14-point game.
Federer won the next three games and served out. He is potentially one set away from an 18th Grand Slam title.
Federer won the first set 6-4 and Nadal won the second set 6-3.
Nadal Breaks Federer
Roger Federer is now serving at 1-2 in the fourth set but he’s in trouble.
40-0 down.
40-15 down.
He’s got Federer walking at the net and the Swiss has to stretch for a point. Sending the backhand right into the net.
Nadal 4 - 2 Federer
Big big game for both players. Nadal even has one break point but twi aces from Federer’s racquet avert trouble, for now.
We Are Going To a Fifth
The Australian Open men's final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal is going to a fifth set.
Nadal broke Federer in the fourth game of the fourth set to take a 3-1 lead and then held in his next service game by chasing down a Federer backhand and lunging for a forehand slice crosscourt winner that brought the crowd to its feet.
Nadal held serve the rest of the way to take the set 6-3.
Nadal has a 19-8 career five-set record, while Federer's record is 26-20. Both men have already played two five-set matches in the tournament.
Federer Broken in First Game
This isnt good.
After taking an injury time-out, Roger Federer returns to the arena and is broken in the very first game of the fifth set.
Leading 30-15, a forhand winner earns him two break points. Federer pulls one back and an unforced error off his racquet gifts the opening game to the Spaniard.
Federer 1 - 2 Nadal
Federer Holds
Roger Federer holds to 15 but he has a big task at hand. Nadal still leading 3-2 with the Swiss ace having conceded the one break deficit.
ROGER BREAKS!
Two big points and Federer has won both, off Nadal’s serve. He’s leading 30-0.
But this is the final and Nadal is almost unplayable as he has a whole court to return a shot into. 30-30.
A few deuces later. Roger Federer has a break point. AND NADAL MISSES THE LINE!
Federer has broken the Nadal serve. We are 3-3 in the decider.
Federer 4 - 3 Nadal
Federer For The Win!
A rare double fault from Nadal’s racquet gives Federer three break points.
40-0 but Nadal has still steam left in him. Powering returns and Federer has no reply.
40-40 AND WE HAVE THE MOST AMAZING POINT OF THE TOURNAMENT! Baseline to baseline, one champion to another.
But Federer ultimately gets it right in the spot, down the line. Advantage Federer.
Nadal gets it back to deuce. Federer fights out another ‘advantage’
AND HE’S BROKEN NADAL!
Roger Federer will serve for the championship.
Federer Serves For the Match
Can you breathe?
Nadal has himself two break points and this match may still have more in it. Federer though serves an ace. 40-30 to Rafa.
FOREHAND WINNER! THAT forehand winner and Federer’s drawn level.
What’s next. Another winner. Advantage Federer. The umpire said ADVANTAGE FEDERER!
Nadal manages to get things level and we are down to a second championship point.
Roger Federer serves and manages to find a forehand winner! The umpire calls in and Federer CELEBRATES!
Oh! Nadal is challenging the ball!
And the hawk-eye shows that the ball clips the line!
ROGER FEDERER is the 2017 Australian Open Champion!!! The Swiss wins his 18th Grand Slam title!
He finally manages to beat Nadal in a Grand Slam after ten long years!
Federer Wins 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
Roger Federer has won his 18th major title by beating Rafael Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to capture the Australian Open.
Federer was down a break early in the pivotal fifth set, but came back to break the Spaniard in the sixth game to level the set at 3-all.
The crowd cheering wildly with every winner he hit, Federer then broke Nadal again in the eighth game to go up 5-3. Nadal had chances in the next game, but couldn't convert on two break point chances and Federer closed it out on his second match point.
Federer jumped up and down and screamed in celebration after clinching the match, then held back tears as he sat in his change-over chair.
Federer captured his first major title since Wimbledon in 2012 and his fifth Australian Open trophy. Nadal had been bidding for his second title in Melbourne and his 15th overall at Grand Slams.
It's been a lovely month for me: Rafael Nadal
I would have been happy to lose to Rafa: Roger Federer
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