Fed wins Nadal thriller to clinch 18th Slam, Serena surpasses Graf
ROGER Federer was in tears as he won a thrilling, fiveset Australian Open final against his great rival Rafael Nadal to clinch a record-extending 18th Grand Slam title yesterday.
Federer won a classic, fluctuating encounter 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in three hours 38 minutes to move four major tit les ahead of Nadal and Pete Sampras on the a ll-time winners’ list.
“Tennis is a tough sport, there’s no draws. But if there was going to be one I would have been very happy to accept a draw tonight and share it with Rafa, really,” Federer said, as he accepted the trophy from Australian legend Rod Laver.
“Keep playing please, Rafa. Tennis needs you.”
After an astonishing comeback from six months out with injury, the Swiss became the oldest man in the post-1968 Open era to win a major since Ken Rosewall at the 1972 Australian Open.
It was Federer’s fifth Australian title in his sixth final, and ended a long, seven-year wait to win again in Melbourne after his 2010 triumph over Andy Murray.
It was the 35th meeting between the two long-time rivals with Nadal now leading 23-12 and 6-3 in major finals, including his five-set win over Federer in the 2009 Australian final.
Jumping for joy
And it was a final to suit the occasion as momentum shifted from one side to the next before Federer finally seized control in the deciding set.
“It’s amazing how well he’s playing after being away for so long. For sure, you have been working a lot to make that happen. I am very happy for you,” Nadal told the crowd.
“It was a good month for me, amazing month for me, really enjoyed it. I worked very hard to be where I am today. Probably Roger deserved it a little bit more than me.”
“I’m just going to keep on trying. Feel like I’m back to a very high level. I’ll keep fighting this season.”
Federer, playing aggressively and with a flatter backhand than normal, took the match to Nadal and got the only service break to take the opening set.
Nadal fought back with two breaks to level before Federer got the bit be- tween his teeth with a double break in the third set. The Spaniard hit back in the fourth set with a service break in the fourth game to take the final into a fifth set.
He again broke the Swiss early in the final set but Federer stirred himself and broke Nadal twice to win an epic encounter as he served out for a brilliant victory, jumping for joy as he did so and crying tears of joy.
A final between Federer and Nadal had been wholly unexpected but the veterans seized their chance after top seeds Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic made early exits.
Federer becomes the first man in history to win five or more titles at three different Grand Slam events. He has won five Australian Opens, seven Wimbledons, five US Opens and one French Open.
Serena digs deep
An ecstatic Serena Williams on Saturday said that winning a record 23rd Grand Slam at the tournament where it all began, and against her sister Venus, was “the stuff that legends are made of ”.
The 35-year-old had to dig deep to see off Venus and finally surpass Steffi Graf ’s Open era mark, overcoming a nervy and error-strewn start when she smashed a racquet before reeling in a tense 6-4, 6-4 victory at the Australian Open.
In doing so, she also won a seventh Melbourne title and returned to world No1.
“It’s a great feeling. No better place to do it than Melbourne,” Serena said. “My first Grand Slam started here, and getting to 23 here, but playing Venus, it’s stuff that legends are made of.
“I couldn’t have written a better story. I just feel like it was the right moment. Everything kind of happened. It hasn’t quite set in yet, but it’s really good.”
The American made her Grand Slam debut in Melbourne back in 1998 – knocked out in round two by Venus – and won the first of her major titles at the US Open a year later.
Newly engaged, she deliberately avoided any talk of Graf ’s record during the tournament, a strategy she said helped her relax.
“I’ve been chasing it for a really long time. It feels like, really long time,” she said of the record, happy to talk now it has been secured.
With the record now in the bag, she insisted there were no new goals, despite being just one shy of the alltime Grand Slam titles achieved by Margaret Court, who watched her match courtside on Saturday.
“I never had a number. That’s the beauty of it,” she said.
“When I started this journey, I just wanted to win a Grand Slam. Then I just wanted to win. Every time I step on the court, I want to win.”
Her career, though, has involved plenty of impressive numbers. The Williams sisters have won an incredible 30 Grand Slams between them.