Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal produced some of the greatest tennis matches of all time.
Their contrast in styles provided fans with drama and entertainment of the highest order as they battled for the sport’s biggest titles.
The Spaniard won the majority of the matches played between the two at Grand Slam events.
But there was one particular major final that the pair played in which Roger Federer emerged victorious and it was another five-set classic.
Roger Federer wanted to share his 2017 Australian Open victory with Rafael Nadal
At the 2017 Australian Open, Federer and Rafael Nadal played one another in a Grand Slam final for the first time since 2011.
The Swiss Maestro had not beaten his rival at a major since Wimbledon in 2007, and he was coming off a major knee surgery from the year before.
Nadal entered the match as the favourite and with the score locked at two sets apiece, he opened up a 3-1 lead in the fifth set and looked to be heading towards a second title at Melbourne Park. But Federer produced a special comeback to win five successive games and win the match 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3.
Federer jumped in the air with glee after winning his first Grand Slam in almost five years and during the trophy presentation, he wished he could share the trophy with Nadal after they produced another great battle.
“I don’t think either one of us believed that we would be in the finals of Australia when we saw each other but here we stand,” he said.
“Tennis is a tough sport. There are no draws. But if there was going to be one I would have been very happy to accept a draw tonight and share it with Rafa. Really.”
Roger Federer’s run to the 2017 Australian Open title?
Due to Federer ending his 2016 early due to injury, he was seeded 17th when he competed at the 2017 Australian Open.
This was his lowest seeding at a Grand Slam since the 2002 US Open and at age 35 coming off a major injury, little was expected from Federer Down Under eight years ago.
But he had other ideas as he began the campaign with a four-set victory over Jurgen Meltzer, before securing straight sets wins over Noah Rubin and Tomas Berdych.
Federer played three five-set matches during this title run, first against Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals, which he came back to win after losing the first set.
Federer then dispatched Mischa Zverev 6-1, 7-5, 6-2, before facing his compatriot Stan Wawrinka in the semi-finals.
Federer was pulled back to two sets apiece after opening up a two-set lead. However, he held his nerve to seal victory and progress to the final, where he ended his losing streak against Nadal in Grand Slams.
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