Rafael Nadal was one of tennis’ greatest ever players, reaching number one in the world, and winning over 20 Grand Slam titles.
Few players carved themselves a greater legacy in tennis than Nadal, who won 22 Major titles during his career.
The Spaniard held the ATP number one ranking for a mightily impressive 209 weeks, as he dominated the sport for several years.
Nadal retired from tennis earlier this year, having struggled with injuries during the past few seasons.
The 38-year-old won many tournaments throughout his career, and competed in his fair share of legendary matches, but few were better than his title in Australia 16 years ago.
Rod Laver told Rafael Nadal that no fans left the stadium after he won the Australian Open in 2009
Speaking after his maiden Australian Open win in 2009, Nadal revealed what legendary Aussie tennis star Rod Laver told him during the trophy presentations.
“Well, he told me the first four sets was amazing rhythm,” he said.
“He just congratulated me.
“He told me [it] was a very good fight, especially after the semi-finals, was a very tough confrontation, and well, he congratulated me.
“He said, well, 15,000 people are here, and nobody left ten minutes after the final.
“I asked him how many people was on court when he played here.”
Nadal went on to say what his uncle, Toni Nadal always used to tell him about Laver.
“My uncle always told me Rod Laver was the best because he won two times the Grand Slam,” he said.
“The whole Grand Slam, the four in a row, and for like six or seven years he didn’t play, so for that reason he can be [the best].”
Laver won all four Grand Slams in 1969 and remains the only man to have done so in tennis’ Open Era.
What happened in the 2009 Australian Open final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer?
Roger Federer entered the 2009 Australian Open final as a three-time champion down under, and perhaps a slight favorite against Nadal.
The Spaniard was in fine form himself, however, winning two Grand Slams the year prior, and looking to take home a maiden title in Australia.
A battle between the top two seeds was highly anticipated, and it didn’t disappoint, as Nadal and Federer played a classic match in front of the adoring Melbourne crowd.
Nadal took the first set as his Swiss rival struggled with his serve, double-faulting at the most crucial of moments.
Federer continued to struggle with his serve in the second but began engaging in some highly aggressive baseline rallies, which saw him level up the match, despite having a first serve percentage below 40%.
The third set was an absolute nailbiter, with nothing separating the players as they headed to a tie-breaker.
Again, Federer’s serve deserted him, as he double-faulted down set point, gifting Nadal a 2-1 lead, and putting the Spaniard within touching distance of a first hard-court Slam title.
He would have to wait a little bit longer, however, as Federer took things up a gear in the fourth, battling hard to keep his Australian Open dreams alive, clinching the set 6-3.
Federer’s resistance finally broke in the fifth, as he looked exhausted, and Nadal continued to pile on the pressure eventually winning the Australian Open title, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2.
Finishing just after midnight, the pair were overcome by emotion, having played in another Grand Slam classic.
It was Nadal’s first title on Rod Laver Arena, and his last for 13 years, before he finally doubled his tally against Daniil Medvedev in 2022.
A legendary win for Nadal, against a legendary opponent, which soon saw him congratulated by perhaps Australia’s greatest-ever legend, Laver.
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