As the Fed and Rafa met up on Sunday in Melbourne for the 35th time in a glorious rivalry which has seen 9 Grand Slam finals now, the Swiss belied his past record against his Spaniard nemesis and bagged his 18th Grand Slam title and 5th Australian Open trophy.
Catch up on all the action you may have missed here as we take you through the Australian Open 2017 men's final at the Rod Laver Arena.
(* denotes server)
Roger Federer moves up to #10 in ATP tour world rankings. Rafael Nadal is #6.
At 35, Federer is now the second-oldest Major winner in the Open Era after Ken Rosewall (1970 US Open, 1971 and 1972 Australian Open), who was 38 when he won the 1972 Australian Open.
"If there were a draw in tennis, I’d have happily accepted that result. Keep playing Rafa, tennis needs you," says the ever-gracious Fed. How is this man not the president of some country already?
Nadal: "Congrats to Roger and his team. It's amazing how he has been playing after all this time away from the tour. It is an amazing month for me. I'm going to keep fighting.
"I'll let Roger grab the trophy and I'll see you next year!"
Roger Federer is the Australian Open 2017 champion
Ok. Faculties back to stable? So, let's recap. Roger Federer had a 11-23 record against Rafael Nadal, an injured quadricep, AND was a break down in the final set. How you win from that sort of a situation against a Spaniard who never showed any signs of weakening all match long, is beyond me. Unlike the title of Greatest Of All Time for Roger Federer.
Did we ever doubt the man? Will we ever doubt the man? Someone needs to make #FedTheGOAT go viral.
Federer holds.
Nadal climbs to 0-30 before Federer serves up his 10th ace of the match. Now, Nadal moves to 15-40 with a backhand overhead 'squash' on a Federer lob at the net. Federer returns with a forehand winner, to make it Deuce. Again.
Now, Nadal has sent it long on a service-return, and it's Advantage-Federer. Championship-point-Federer.
Then a couple of challenges, and...
Federer does a hop-skip-bounce as the screen flashes that he has won the challenge. And that is it. The Fed has his 18th Grand Slam title.
Federer breaks (the Internet, almost).
Federer is on song here now, as he races to 0-40 on the break. Nadal comes back with three powerful groundstrokes, one of which beats Federer and the next two force him to send it long.
And it is deuce. Again. Talk about an unrelenting rivalry.
Now, Federer takes the advantage. And how. In a rally that lasts more than 20 strokes at least (who can count really when the back-and-forth is so mesmeric), Federer makes the serving Nadal sprint around the court before squeezing a forehand into the open-court.
Then Nadal, of course, comes back with an ace. Deuce.
Then Federer has Nadal err, with a forehand stroke. Advantage Federer, as he pumps his fist.
And then, it was 5-3, with Federer serving for the Championship. His 18th.
Federer holds. And takes the lead in the fifth set!
Now Federer has his swagger back. He races to a love-hold with a loopy ace that Nadal could have gotten but for the fact that he lost the three earlier points in a stunning and demoralising whirlwind.
Federer breaks (!). And comes up level with Nadal, the early leader in the decider.
This will be a crucial game for Federer (wife Mirka's face has been descending into the balustrade for the past few minutes). And he races to 30-0, before Nadal comes back with his unique brand of aggression. And now, as he makes it deuce with a violently struck forehand-on-the-hop, the Spaniard bounces on his heels. Flirts with the advantage, but it's back to deuce with a faulty backhand. And now, Federer unleashes a sprightly backhand that flashes across the court and past Nadal. Advantage Fed. And the Swiss milks it to break and go level in the final set.
Federer holds (thankfully for him).
With all the treatment, and Nadal's crunch-time rejuvenation, and his deflating past record against the Spaniard, Federer must be feeling the heat. But he won't be demoralised as he gets a 15-hold under his belt in this fifth and final set. He can't afford to let opportunities go at this stage of the match and career-defining instance. Wow, talk about pressure.
Nadal holds.
No, Fed! You don't send a routine forehand volley long at this stage at Deuce, and then expect Nadal not to consolidate the advantage.
Federer manages to hold (his nerve and hopes together).
Now, Nadal holds.
In the context of this game, getting the break so early was immensely important, and even bigger is holding the next game. What will Federer come back with? He is looking a tad fatigued and his fallibility against Nadal has been visible over the last hour or so.
Nadal breaks.
Nadal begins with a streak of determination. He slams it down the line, then forces Federer to net it, and then another down-the-line scorcher gives him two break points, and Nadal breaks when Federer sends his forehand wide.
Federer appears to be having some issues with his groin, and is getting medical treatment. Either way, the breather ahead of the decider will be welcome.
Nadal holds, claims Set #4, takes it into the decider
In this crucial game, Nadal races to 40-0 and then completes the love-hold, to take the Australian Open men's final into the decider.
Federer holds.
Federer now needs to take a knee and restabilise himself, as he knocks yet another inside-out forehand long, before flaying a backhand wide.
A steep serve forces Nadal to net the service-return and then the Fed makes good the advantage to take the game.
Nadal holds.
Nadal needs this set. As do we, for we don't know when these two behemoths may meet again, and want this match to go the distance.
Nadal flies to 40-0 and then closes it with an ace.
Federer holds. But only just.
Federer's famous fallibility against Nadal is showing now. He sends Rafa across to the diagonal court and gets a juicy lob and a fully open court, but smashes it right out. But he fights back with an ace down the T and gets to deuce.
Now, Nadal has tried a preposterous hook shot on the move, looking to curve it back in from outside the sidelines, but it goes long. And Federer then gets the game.
Nadal holds (and how!).
Nadal quickly races to 40, but Federer fights back to deuce. A challenge from Federer for a wide cross-court backhand goes Nadal's way. But Federer then lashes a forehand winner into open court.
Finally, Nadal takes the game, thanks in part to Federer's errors, with a shot that has not yet been named and I have no words to describe on such short notice. So, please bear with me.
Nadal breaks (with so much grit you can see chunks of tooth on the court).
Federer hasn't got his famous inside-out advancing forehand groundstroke out very often this match. He tries one now and it goes way wide. Almost a shank.
Now, Nadal takes the mile and fires a forehand down the line to give himself three break points. And Nadal closes the game as Federer nets a backhand volley.
Nadal holds (very comfortably).
Right. Can Nadal take it into the fifth set here?
Power back to the fore from Rafa. Absolutely smashes his serves into Federer's racquet and takes the third game of the third set comfortably.
Federer holds.
Federer closes the hold to 15 with a routine backhand pass.
Nadal holds.
After a lot of grunts and groans, Nadal opens with a win in the fourth set.
Federer holds, puts a sleeping baby in its crib, takes the third set 6-1.
Federer's cross-court lengths are cut-throat — how in the world is Nadal supposed to travel all the way across the baseline and catch a yorker?
After some routine advantageing-and-deuceing, at least 3 break points averted, Federer ends Nadal's misery this set with a caressed volley at the net. Like putting a baby into its crib.
Federer (double) breaks.
Federer's movement and anticipation pay off this game, as he comes back from 30-0 down to claim it with an emphatic backhand. Oh, and some happy couple seems to have gotten engaged on the big-screen at the Rod Laver Arena. Hopefully their union will be nothing as hostile as the one they are witnessing right now.
And a blink-and-miss love-hold for Federer.
Federer comes right back this game, with loopier-than-usual groundstrokes to absolutely eliminate the net. He's had it with the errors, it appears.
Nadal holds (desperately).
And now, Federer's backhand is flowing like a silken river in spate, as he sends a cross-court winner careening past Nadal and the trail of dust in its wake. Then some classic baseline play disorients Nadal to take Federer to 40-15. Nadal comes back with a flick to 40-30, and then forces Federer to send a service-return way long to make it deuce.
But Federer is now working the angles with a whizzing cross-court forehand. Now, Nadal fires in a couple groundstroke winners of his own, before netting a forehand back to deuce. He does not want to give Federer that double-break.
Nadal takes the advantage with an ace, before Federer returns a backhand winner to a staggering, stumbling Nadal.
Nadal takes the advantage back with a muscular double-handed forehand, and then a simple serve-lob-smash routine to open his account in this third set.
And now Federer holds (in supreme fashion).
And that's the break consolidated, as Federer moves with the agility of a jaguar that has taken ballet lessons. And a rapid-fire series of volleys, aces and groundstrokes later, he has held his serve to love.
Federer breaks.
That one was an outstanding point here from Federer. He absolutely steered it, like a hypnotist, with a series of flowing groundstrokes, a forehand chop-slice to take the pace off the ball, and then a rollicking slap into the open court as Nadal perspires and gasps for breath.
Now, Federer gives us a tutorial in how to hit a forehand groundstroke down the line with precision.
And then, he smacks a winner to take the second game. One of the more clinical sessions from the Fed here on display now.
Federer holds.
At Deuce, Federer moves in for the jugular volley, but — wait for it — nets it. Then, Nadal goes long with his backhand (for a change) and gives the Swiss the advantage. Then, as the Fed gets an acute angle with his backhand, Nadal can only get low enough to net it.
Nadal holds, takes the second set 6-3, levels the match.
Aargh. That Federer really needs to sort out these errors, sending yet ANOTHER backhand into the net, and then a forehand long. Nadal is like, "Thanks a ton, bruh!", and shoiws he needs no more encouragement to close the second set out 6-3.
Federer holds.
What a scorcher of a backhand into the open court from Federer to take himself to 40-15.
Another Nadal hold. Yawn (anything but).
Nadal holds to love and can breathe easier as the second set looks in his pocket. Once you draw level, you restart on even footing.
Federer holds.
Defence to the fore here, as the two titans play out an intransigent rally till 40-0. Nadal fights back to 30, helped by a double-fault. But the Fed survives.
Federer breaks.
Oh my word. That Federer forehand from chest-height. Nadal underestimates the spin on that slice from the Fed, and moves lethargically only to speed up later and allow his momentum to take him too far to make it back to return another forehand into the open court from the Fed. One break down for the Swiss. He needs at least one more to stay alive in this set.
Nadal breaks.
Federer's errors are mounting this set. But Nadal is simply on the rampage here, slapping a backhand past Federer right under his nose, and he is now looking to clinch a double-break. Federer climbs back to 30-40, but Nadal has his double-break. This virtually clinches the set for him?
Nadal holds.
Someone's got their mojo back. Nadal absolutely thumps that across Federer's body to go to 30-love. But a netted forehand next up gives Federer the point, and the Swiss levels to 30-all with a beautiful shot, and takes the lead 30-40 by forcing a long backhand from Nadal. But Nadal fights back to deuce with sheer determination.
The Fed looks at his racquet quizzically as he sends a forehand balloon way long and then makes it back to deuce with a baseline yorker.
Woof. Now, when the Fed advances menacingly, your heart races. And yes. He has duly forced a lob from Nadal and then smashed it across to no-man's land to take the advantage.
Now, Nadal comes back, and then takes advantage forcing Federer to go long. And then he flicks a moth off his shoulder, and takes the game with another powerful groundstroke. Muscle over mind, with this left-hander.
Nadal breaks.
Nadal thinking now. He draws Federer to the net with a lob and then anticipates the smash-return to send it back beyond Federer. At deuce, Nadal's powerful arms become sponge-like as he dabs a volley an inch over the net, and then thrashes a forehand with an "Oomph!" to break Federer for the first time in the match.
Nadal holds.
Federer holds, and takes first set 6-4.
And just when it looked like Nadal was fighting back after the glitch, Federer pounces on the prey, and finishes the first set off with a clinical display.
Nadal holds.
Nadal comes back with sparkling forehand groundstrokes of his own now. Serves to 40-15, before sending a backhand wide to Federer's right, then bamboozles Federer with a spank while the Swiss tries to make it back to the centre of the baseline.
Federer holds.
Federer is on the prowl now. Leave alone his classic serve-and-volley. His forehand feels like a whiplash as he wallops it into areas where Nadal would need to be a Higgs-Boson particle to reach, and unfortunately, Nadal is human, hence not omnipresent.
Federer breaks.
Another Fed backhand that goes for a sixer. He really needs to soften his hands (if that's even possible). But maybe there's no need for that really, as the Swiss goes up 30-15 with a cracking backhand that Nadal can only weakly lob into the deuce-court sideline. Then, woof, a clinical forehand volley that Nadal is not even in the area-code to return.
Aha. First blood is drawn. Nadal challenges a wide backhand, and loses his serve.
Federer hoilds.
Federer looks beautiful with his balance as he knocks his forehand wide of Nadal to go to 30-love. Then he crashes an ace down Nadal's throat. And takes the game with another forehand bash. The two players are matching each other so closely it feels childish. Nadal holds, Federer holds. Nadal holds to love, Federer holds to love.
Nadal holds. This time to 40-love. This is a holding company right here.
Federer holds.
Federer's backhand seems to be too powerful, if that's even a thing, going long most of the time. But then with the final point, he clinches a backhand that Nadal can't send back.
And now Nadal holds.
Federer looking strong with his forehand here. He spanks one right down the line to take the first point. He loses the game as the net padding gets in the way.
Federer levels with a hold.
And the Fed brings his forehand out. The Fed's backhand is his strong suit, really, but Nadal had answers. The Swiss powers to 40-15 and holds to 30.
Nadal takes the first game.
The Spaniard begins powerfully. Fires his groundstrokes into Federer's backhand, and the ball ricochets long on more than one occasion.
Nadal spins, Federer calls heads, Nadal wins, Nadal serves. Reads pretty much like their head-to-head, right?
This is the fifth Major final in the Open Era with two 30-somethings. Also, the first since Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi clashed in the 2002 US Open. This is Nadal's 21st Major final and Federer's 29th.
All-time Major finals record
Federer 17-10, Novak Djokovic 12-9, Rafael Nadal 14-6, Ivan Lendl 8-11
Match impact
If Nadal wins, he will be #4 in the ATP rankings. If he loses, #6. If Federer wins, he will be #10. If he loses, #14. If Nadal wins, he will become only the third man to win all four Grand Slam tournaments more than once. The other two being Roy Emerson and Rod Laver. If Federer wins he will become the second-oldest Major winner in the Open Era after Ken Rosewall (1970 US Open, 1971 and 1972 Australian Open). Nadal has played and lost in 28 hard-court tournaments since his last title at Doha in 2014.
Last the two met at a Grand Slam final was at the French Open in 2011, which Nadal triumphed in, carrying on his impressive record against his experienced rival.
Here's how their 13-year tussle has played out so far:
Nadal leads 23-11 Overall Nadal leads 14-7 in Finals Nadal leads 3-0 at Australian Open Nadal leads 9-2 in Majors Nadal leads 6-2 in Major Finals
It may be a clash between a 9th-ranked and a 17th-ranked, but the contenders are Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. And that makes this match-up anything but mediocre.
At the turn of the decade, when this tussle was in its prime, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were titans. In recent years, a new crop of professionals on the ATP tour have supplanted the two from the top perch.
Yet, as the Fed and Rafa meet up at for the 35th time in a glorious rivalry which has seen 8 Grand Slam finals so far, the Swiss is vying for his 18th Grand Slam title, while the Spaniard isn't far behind, eyeing his 15th.
Follow live updates as we take you through the Grand Slam final at the Rod Laver Arena.
