Rafa Nadal captured the Australian Open title with an enthralling 7-5 3-6 7-6 3-6 6-2 win over Roger Federer on Sunday, denying the Swiss a chance to win a record-equalling 14th grand slam title. The world number one became the first Spaniard to win the Australian Open and chalked up his fifth straight victory over Federer, including last year's French Open and Wimbledon finals. The victory took the 22-year-old's grand slam tally to six and left him needing only to win the U.S. Open to complete the full set while reducing Federer to tears.
"God, it's killing me," Federer sobbed during the presentation ceremony.
"Rafa congrats, you played incredible, you deserve it man. (You) played another fantastic final."
Nadal offered a consoling word to his great rival after receiving the winner's trophy and a cheque for A$2 million (US$1.28 million) from the only person to have twice completed the Grand Slam.
"For me to receive this trophy from Rod Laver is a dream for me," Nadal said. "It was an amazing two weeks for me."
"Roger, sorry for today. I really know how you feel right now.
"It's really tough (but) remember you are a great champion, one of the best in history and you have proved that."
Sunday's final at Melbourne Park lived up to all expectations as the two best players of their generation slugged it out for almost 4-½ hours in a classic encounter packed with magical shotmaking and intense drama.
The momentum swung back and forth throughout before Nadal struck the killer blow when he broke in the fourth game of the deciding set when 27-year-old Federer slapped a backhand into the net then again in the eighth game to seal a famous victory.
Nadal, showing no signs of fatigue despite his five hour, 14 minute victory over compatriot Fernando Verdasco in the semi-finals, started the match full of energy and was still running as strongly as ever at the end.
OVERCOOKED BACKHANDS
He broke Federer in the opening game and despite twice losing his own serve, he wrapped up the first set in 58 minutes after the Swiss master overcooked two backhands.
Nadal was again the first to break in the second set when Federer mistimed a forehand over the baseline but the three-times Australian Open champion won the next four games to level the match.
The pair maintained their extraordinary standard of play in a third set that was even more enthralling than the first two.
There were no service breaks in the set but Nadal saved three break points in the ninth and 11th games while world number two Federer survived a set point to force the tiebreaker.
While Nadal lost the first point on his serve, he regained his composure to win four on the trot after they were level at 3-3 to grab a two sets to one lead.
The pair traded breaks early in the fourth set before Federer, who needs one more grand slam title to equal American Pete Sampras's record of 14, saved five break points in the fifth game then broke Nadal in the next to seize the initiative.
Federer safely held his two games to force the match into a deciding fifth, the first time an Australian Open final had gone the distance since Mats Wilander beat Pat Cash in 1988, the same year the tournament switched from Kooyong to its current site.
Source: YAHOO NEWS
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
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"God, it's killing me," Federer sobbed during the presentation ceremony.
"Rafa congrats, you played incredible, you deserve it man. (You) played another fantastic final."
Nadal offered a consoling word to his great rival after receiving the winner's trophy and a cheque for A$2 million (US$1.28 million) from the only person to have twice completed the Grand Slam.
"For me to receive this trophy from Rod Laver is a dream for me," Nadal said. "It was an amazing two weeks for me."
"Roger, sorry for today. I really know how you feel right now.
"It's really tough (but) remember you are a great champion, one of the best in history and you have proved that."
Sunday's final at Melbourne Park lived up to all expectations as the two best players of their generation slugged it out for almost 4-½ hours in a classic encounter packed with magical shotmaking and intense drama.
The momentum swung back and forth throughout before Nadal struck the killer blow when he broke in the fourth game of the deciding set when 27-year-old Federer slapped a backhand into the net then again in the eighth game to seal a famous victory.
Nadal, showing no signs of fatigue despite his five hour, 14 minute victory over compatriot Fernando Verdasco in the semi-finals, started the match full of energy and was still running as strongly as ever at the end.
OVERCOOKED BACKHANDS
He broke Federer in the opening game and despite twice losing his own serve, he wrapped up the first set in 58 minutes after the Swiss master overcooked two backhands.
Nadal was again the first to break in the second set when Federer mistimed a forehand over the baseline but the three-times Australian Open champion won the next four games to level the match.
The pair maintained their extraordinary standard of play in a third set that was even more enthralling than the first two.
There were no service breaks in the set but Nadal saved three break points in the ninth and 11th games while world number two Federer survived a set point to force the tiebreaker.
While Nadal lost the first point on his serve, he regained his composure to win four on the trot after they were level at 3-3 to grab a two sets to one lead.
The pair traded breaks early in the fourth set before Federer, who needs one more grand slam title to equal American Pete Sampras's record of 14, saved five break points in the fifth game then broke Nadal in the next to seize the initiative.
Federer safely held his two games to force the match into a deciding fifth, the first time an Australian Open final had gone the distance since Mats Wilander beat Pat Cash in 1988, the same year the tournament switched from Kooyong to its current site.
Source: YAHOO NEWS
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| Country: | Spain | ||
| Birth Date: | 3 June 1986 | ||
| Birthplace: | Manacor, Mallorca, Spain | ||
| Residence: | Manacor, Mallorca, Spain | ||
| Height: | 6 ft. 1 in. (1.85 meters) | ||
| Weight: | 188 lbs. (85.5 kilos) | ||
| Plays: | Left | ||
| Year Turned Pro: | 2001 | ||
| Current 52 week rank for singles: | 1 | ||
| Current ATP Champions Race Position: | 26 | ||
| Current doubles rank: | 80 | ||
| High rank for singles: | 1 | ||
| High rank date for singles: | 18 August 2008 | ||
| High ATP Champions Race Position: | 1 | ||
| High ATP Champions Race Position Date: | 6 June 2005 | ||
| High rank for doubles: | 26 | ||
| High rank date for doubles: | 8 August 2005 | ||
| Career matches won: | 337 | ||
| Career matches lost: | 78 | ||
| Year to date matches won: | 2 | ||
| Year to date matches lost: | 1 | ||
| Career prize money: | $20,814,797 USD | ||
| Year to date prize money for singles: | $27,650 USD | ||
| Year to date prize money for doubles: | $29,500 USD | ||
| ||||||||||||||||
| Rafael Nadal ESP (1) |  | 7 | 3 | 77 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||||
| Roger Federer SUI (2) | 5 | 6 | 63 | 6 | 2 | |||||||||||
Match Statistics | Serve Statistics | |||
| |||||||||||||||||
| Rafael Nadal ESP (1) | | 64 | 6 | 77 | 61 | 6 | |||||||||||
| Fernando Verdasco ESP (14) | 77 | 4 | 62 | 77 | 4 | ||||||||||||
| Match Statistics | Serve Statistics | |||
| |||||||||||||||||
| Rafael Nadal ESP (1) | | 6 | 7 | 7 | |||||||||||||
| Gilles Simon FRA (6) | 2 | 5 | 5 | ||||||||||||||
| Match Statistics | Serve Statistics | |||
| |||||||||||||||||
| Rafael Nadal ESP (1) | | 6 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||
| Fernando Gonzalez CHI (13) | 3 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| Match Statistics | Serve Statistics | |||
| |||||||||||||||||
| Rafael Nadal ESP (1) | | 6 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||
| Tommy Haas GER | 4 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Match Statistics | Serve Statistics | |||
| |||||||||||||||||
| Rafael Nadal ESP (1) | | 6 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||
| Roko Karanusic CRO | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Match Statistics | Serve Statistics | |||
| |||||||||||||||||
| Rafael Nadal ESP (1) | | 6 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||
| Christophe Rochus BEL | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Match Statistics | Serve Statistics |
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
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