It took five sets and over three and a half hours for Federer to best Nadal and claim his 5th Australian Open. (6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3)
Federer is now the first man in history to have won five or more titles at three different Grand Slam events, with five Australian Opens, fives US Opens and seven Wimbledons.
This victory is more special, given his last title win was Wimbledon in 2012 and he took the second half of last year off due to a knee injury.
Federer says this win is perhaps the sweetest of them all.
“It all started for me here. I played the quallies here in '99, the juniors in '98. Won my first match maybe against Michael Chang here back in 2000. I go way back. Always loved coming here, you know. When you win down here, the journey home is not a problem. When you lose, it's just brutal. That's why I feel very fortunate tonight.”
Federer won the match’s last five games and the match point was decided thanks to a Hawk-Eye challenge.
Federer jumped into the air in celebration, consoled his opponent, and then broke down in tears.
He says winning against one of his oldest rivals in Nadal made the win extra special.
“It would have been nice for both of us to win, but there's no draws in tennis. It's brutal sometimes. He should be happy. I would have been happy again to be in the finals, like I said on the court. I think this one will take more time to sink in. When I go back to Switzerland, I'll think, Wow. The magnitude of this match is going to feel different. I can't compare this one to any other one except for maybe the French Open in '09. I waited for the French Open, I tried, I fought. I tried again and failed. Eventually I made it. This feels similar.”
For Nadal, it was 31 months since he passed a quarter-final at a major.
Disappointed he couldn’t take the title, he says his marathon semi-final against Grigor Dimitrov played a factor in the loss.
“Is true that probably remain a little bit of speed today compared to the last day in my legs probably, little bit. But that's normal after what happened one day and a half ago. Like this I think I tried. I didn't play bad. But is true was difficult to play a lot because he really went for the shots, almost for every shots.”
Nadal also echoed the sentiments of Federer, in that he was honoured to play a final in one of tennis’s greatest rivalries.
“At the end of the day is another title. There is a winner, there is a loser. In these kind of matches, anyone can win. Being honest, in these kind of matches, I won a lot of times against him. Today he beat me. Just congratulate him. Is not more than another important title for him, another important two weeks for me. Even if didn't finish the way that I wanted, have been an important two weeks for me. The only thing that I can do is congratulate him and go back home with very positive feelings for me.”
Federer is now the oldest male in the professional era to win a Grand Slam since Ken Rosewall at the US Open in 1970.
The fairy tale victory may not even be his last, with the Swiss great refusing to rule out a comeback next year.
“You never know when your next Grand Slam is going to be, if ever. You never know if you're going to have an opportunity at this stage, I felt I could thank so many people at once. It's a live audience. It's a moment for me to be appreciative of them. Yeah, I mean, look, I've had a tough year last year. Three five-setters are not going to help. I just meant it the way I meant it. There wasn't something planned behind it, that this is my last Australian Open. I hope can I come back, of course. That's my hope right now.”
Tournament director Craig Tiley says it was the dream final for the Australian Open.
“Roger’s playing some really good tennis. He came and played really well. So did Rafa. And I think they’re both unexpected themselves in the final. And so that was a great outcome for the event. And the Williams sisters last night so having Serena Williams win the women’s, and Roger wins the men is a great tournament and I think we’ve really kicked off the year to a very strong start to the sport and I hope it can be backed up the rest of the year.”
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