Roger Federer Beats Nadal To Lift The Australian Open

Roger Federer has won his 18th Tennis Grand Slam title at the just concluded Australian Open, on Sunday 29th of January, 2017.

It was a hard-fought victory for the 35-year old who had to come from behind to beat his fiercest rival, Rafael Nadal.

Roger Federer said he enjoyed proving he could still win a Grand Slam more than taking his tally to 18 with a dramatic victory over the Spaniard.

The Swiss, Federer, won 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to claim his Melbourne title.

"For me it's all about the comeback, about an epic match with Rafa again,"he said. "The last problem is the Slam count. Honestly, it doesn't matter".

"We're going to party like rock stars tonight. I can tell you that".

Five years after his last victory at Wimbledon, and 10 years since he beat Nadal in a Grand Slam final, Federer finally clinched title number with a thrilling five-set victory.

The victory came in his first tournament back following six months out with a knee injury, which he picked up when running a bath for his children at last year's Australian Open. 

It appeared as though another Grand Slam opportunity was slipping away when Nadal took the fourth set and then moved up 3-1 in the decider.

However, Federer came storming back with five games in a row and a brilliant display of attacking tennis.

"I told myself to play free," he said.

Nadal and Federer, after the match - Nadal lost a Grand Slam final to Federer first time in 10 years.

The victory makes Federer the first man to win three of the four Grand Slam titles at least five times each - but it was his lone victory at the French Open in 2009 that was in his thoughts on Sunday.

Heading into the tournament he had not won a major since 2014 French Open - the last time he had been past the quarter-final stage at a Grand Slam. 

"At the end of the day it's another title - there is a winner, there is a loser," said Nadal. "In these kind of matches, anyone can win. Being honest, in these kind of matches, I won a lot of times against him. Today he beat me. I just congratulate him".

Federer won the title in his first competitive tournament for six months. At the age of 35, he won three five-set matches: two against top-five players, and the third in the final against a man he had not beaten in a Grand Slam since Wimbledon final of 2007.