Roger Federer defeated Rafael Nadal in a hard-fought five-setter in the Men's singles final at the Australian Open 2017 to win his 18th Grand Slam title on Sunday.
While not a lot of people would have given the two players a chance to go the distance, who were coming back from injury layoffs and also suffering a title drought in the last few seasons, they battled on and reached the title match on Sunday at Rod Laver Arena and added another chapter to their intense rivalry.
Not surprisingly, Federer and Nadal produced another classic with both of them fighting for every single point and not willing to go away after suffering setbacks. Despite coming with quite a lot of unforced errors, the 17th seed was leading 2-1 at the end of the third set after which the Spaniard buckled up and switched on his "beast mode" to force a decider and even break his opponent early in it.
Also read: WWE Royal Rumble 2017 live stream: Where to watch matches online, TV listings, time and entrants
However, Federer, with his many of his famous backhand winners, broke back and never looked back from there to win the match, that went for three hours and 37 minutes, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. With the win on Sunday, the 34-year-old became the second oldest man after Ken Rosewall to claim a Grand Slam singles title.
Both the men displayed the immense respect they had for each other after the marathon final. Federer revealed that he did not expect the both of them to be back at a Grand Slam final after their injury setbacks in the last year and added that he would have been happy to lose the title to Nadal, who according to him played top-quality tennis.
IBTimes Singapore has compiled some of the best reactions after Federer clinched glory in Melbourne.
#Federer: "Tennis is a tough sport, there's no draws but if there was I'd be happy to share it with Rafa tonight."#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/PbmQObhoq4
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2017
So proud of @RafaelNadal.Your fighting spirit and competitiveness is a treat for all tennis fans to watch unfold. Thank you!
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) January 29, 2017
Rafa #Nadal: "Roger deserved it a little bit more than me" #ausopen pic.twitter.com/by9qJSl9qy
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2017
What an incredible Men's @AustralianOpen Final!! Love both @rogerfederer & @RafaelNadal They never disappoint. Congrats 2 the GOAT Roger!
— Karrie Webb (@Karrie_Webb) January 29, 2017
Federer's acceptance speech. Nadal's face at the end.The match itself. I'm sorry, but the rest of 2017 is going to be an anticlimax #AusOpen
— Baradwaj Rangan (@baradwajrangan) January 29, 2017
Done and dusted!#AusOpen https://t.co/SiECKykfYI
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2017
What a great and amazing match to wake up for. Thank you Roger, thank you Rafa. @AustralianOpen
— Milos Raonic (@milosraonic) January 29, 2017
After 7 long years...Roger #Federer and Norman are reunited ?#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/eIDdVG3v2S
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2017
??? #AusOpen #Federer pic.twitter.com/8sGRAqbDYy
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2017
17th seed isn't such a disadvantage in Slams... ask Sampras (US Open 2002) and Roger (Australian Open 2017) #AusOpen2017 #rogerfederer
— S Rajesh (@rajeshstats) January 29, 2017
The kind of admiration a Roger Federer fan has for Rafael Nadal, he can never have for Murray or Djokovic.#AusOpen #Fedal2017 #Fedex
— Nikhil (@FineLogic) January 29, 2017
Hasn't held up a Grand Slam trophy for four and a half years. He ends the drought against the longest odds possible #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/IbC2MsfWDb
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) January 29, 2017
The ability of sport to take you on a journey, to showcase respect, resilience, discipline, beauty, will never cease to amaze me. #AusOpen
— Kurt Fearnley (@kurtfearnley) January 29, 2017
E F S A N E ! #AusOpen #RogerFederer pic.twitter.com/3i9Dmd3FZm
— Tribünsel (@tribunselcom) January 29, 2017
Such success and such humility. Mark of a true hero. #rogerfederer You are one of the greatest sportsmen that ever walked on this earth.
— ruchi kokcha (@ruchikokcha) January 29, 2017
FEDER-EL
??#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/phY4UXgHbc
— Superman (@SupermanTweets) January 29, 2017