:00:39. > :00:48.They first met 13 years ago. They have played 34 times. Rafa leads
:00:49. > :00:52.23-11. COMMENTATOR: Rafa rules in
:00:53. > :01:00.Melbourne. They have come face to face in eight Grand Slam finals.
:01:01. > :01:05.Rafa leads 6-2. Federer's magnificent run ends. Nadal is the
:01:06. > :01:12.top man. Between them, they have five Australian Open crowns. Rafa
:01:13. > :01:21.one Roger four. Together, they have 31 Grand Slam titles. Rafa 14, Roger
:01:22. > :01:26.17. Not even Rafa can stop Roger's reign. They are two of only eight
:01:27. > :01:30.men who have achieved the career Grand Slam. In a sport defined by
:01:31. > :01:36.rivalries, we have had the great Australians of the 60s. Bjorn Borg,
:01:37. > :01:42.Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe in the 70s and 80s. Sampras and Agassi in
:01:43. > :01:49.the 90s. But Federer Nadal is perhaps the daddy of them all. They
:01:50. > :01:55.make the game look so easy. So bad and down the hatches. It is Roger
:01:56. > :01:57.four versus Rafa again. Are you ready?
:01:58. > :02:05.That is how the numbers stack up. But this match wasn't about titles
:02:06. > :02:08.and records. This, for tennis, was a celebration. It was the Grand Slam
:02:09. > :02:13.final that everybody wanted but never believed they would see again.
:02:14. > :02:15.Here were two great champions fighting for their legacies in what
:02:16. > :02:20.was probably their most important final ever. There was not a spare
:02:21. > :02:24.seat in the Rod Laver Arena as the two players made their way to court.
:02:25. > :02:32.And first, as the lower ranked player, Federer was introduced.
:02:33. > :02:47.And then another huge cheer, for Rafa.
:02:48. > :02:53.What Roger and Rafa have proved here is that greatness and years. It was
:02:54. > :02:58.history in the making for both players. Can Federer extend his lead
:02:59. > :03:03.in Grand Slam titles to 18 or can Nadal narrow the gap to just two? We
:03:04. > :03:08.join the match in the opening set, three games all, Nadal to serve. The
:03:09. > :03:13.commentators are John Lloyd and Andrew Castle.
:03:14. > :03:22.COMMENTATOR: Yes, the matte black racket of Roger Federer. Bigger
:03:23. > :03:23.racket head than it used to be. Timing the ball better since he
:03:24. > :03:47.changed. APPLAUSE
:03:48. > :03:55.Oh! Here is an opportunity, 0-15. New racket in hand and 98 square
:03:56. > :03:59.inches, this racket. He just has the feel on the backhand side. He was
:04:00. > :04:07.struggling with the timing for a few months or so and decided to change.
:04:08. > :04:08.He is somebody that does like to play quickly. Nadal the absolute
:04:09. > :04:42.opposite. No, not this time. Nadal's racket
:04:43. > :04:45.much lighter and a smaller grip. Very powerful frame, polyester
:04:46. > :05:10.strings, the ball shooting off the racket face.
:05:11. > :06:03.The 2014 French Open, that was Nadal, in this great rivalry.
:06:04. > :06:19.Oh! What a point, that is ridiculous! He looked in trouble for
:06:20. > :06:23.so much of that rally. He looked like he was playing catch up but
:06:24. > :06:27.then when he got the chance, he just exploded. Took the top-spin volley.
:06:28. > :06:58.Brilliant shot. That is a way! First blood to Roger
:06:59. > :07:03.Federer, in the last game with these tennis balls. Rafa is going to have
:07:04. > :07:08.a look at that. The last time Federer beat Nadal in a slam was
:07:09. > :07:17.2007 at Wimbledon. He has never beaten him in the final of a slam
:07:18. > :07:25.outside of The Championships in NSW 19. -- in SW19. Welcome he has taken
:07:26. > :08:07.a step towards that victory, he has the break in the opening set.
:08:08. > :08:13.Roger Federer, one of the sports stories of the year so far to see
:08:14. > :08:19.both of these players... Look at their seedings, 17 and nine. These
:08:20. > :08:25.guys haven't played, it's been six months since Roger Federer was out
:08:26. > :08:32.here. Nadal curtailed his last season with a bad wrist. We thought
:08:33. > :08:35.that was it, he's had so many physical problems. Knee surgery for
:08:36. > :08:38.Roger Federer, six months of and now they are in the final of the first
:08:39. > :08:57.Grand Slam of the year! No two players have contested more
:08:58. > :09:07.Grand Slam finals than these two. What a shot.
:09:08. > :09:17.Ten winners to one. He is taking the ball on. Big-time.
:09:18. > :09:27.What a game. You break to go for- three up, step up to the line
:09:28. > :09:35.thinking, don't mess it up... That was clinical. 27 minutes. And
:09:36. > :09:40.Federer has come out here with the intensity of old.
:09:41. > :09:45.STUDIO And two games later, Roger went on
:09:46. > :09:49.to serve out the set in style. Federer in fact only dropping one
:09:50. > :09:56.point on his first serve in that opener. So Roger takes the first set
:09:57. > :09:58.six games to four. Now we move onto the second set and we rejoin it with
:09:59. > :11:03.Nadal leading 1-0. well, the decibel level has gone up
:11:04. > :11:14.from Nadal. The clenched fist, is a chance at 0-30. Moving fine, after
:11:15. > :11:19.his brutal semifinal, over five hours begins Grigor Dimitrov. Not a
:11:20. > :11:27.lot of time for recovery but a couple of sleeps.
:11:28. > :11:38.Is anything into the Nadal forehand. You offer him a target and he will
:11:39. > :11:44.generally hit it. Should have made him play the ball, he will be
:11:45. > :11:46.thinking. Still, 15-30, he would have taken that at the start of the
:11:47. > :12:18.game. That is truly good fortune. 15-30, a
:12:19. > :12:22.dead net cord. Well, we've seen some of those net cords that have
:12:23. > :12:29.actually hit the net and gone over the baseline, so that one was pretty
:12:30. > :12:37.fortunate. But again! He picked the right spot, Nadal, on the Federer
:12:38. > :12:41.approach. 50-50. I don't really understand why Federer is going in
:12:42. > :12:44.on the left-hand side on the approach, the left-hander loves to
:12:45. > :12:47.put it down the line. So, here we go.
:12:48. > :13:00.Break point, a first. Just about three quarters of an hour played.
:13:01. > :13:40.Went in the forehand again. He fights it off.
:13:41. > :13:49.He as got a good backhand volley. Nadal very good with that one. He
:13:50. > :14:16.steered it a bit and gave Federer another shot at it. Almost had it.
:14:17. > :14:27.APPLAUSE And Nadal attacking the Federer
:14:28. > :14:31.backhand, lining it up with the top-spin, and it pays off. Over
:14:32. > :14:35.three quarters of an hour but the breakthrough is his at the beginning
:14:36. > :14:39.of the second set. And Federer is going to have to dig deep. One of
:14:40. > :14:45.the great surprises to Federer himself has been his physical energy
:14:46. > :14:48.levels, he has been fine. He's been out for six months! It's much
:14:49. > :14:54.different playing to practising in terms of what you have to give, but
:14:55. > :14:59.for Federer, the cadres are still good. Even after the match with
:15:00. > :15:06.Berdych, he was very clean and clinical and quick, but the match
:15:07. > :15:10.against Nishikori, he said he came back well after that. But this is a
:15:11. > :15:51.different order of test because of the emotions.
:15:52. > :18:07.It's the purity of the strike off the Federer racket today which has
:18:08. > :18:15.impressed so much. Keeping his weight low and going through the
:18:16. > :18:20.ball, the timing of it, it is like a forward defensive from Viv Richards
:18:21. > :18:24.rating to the boundary. It's the sound of the racket that is so
:18:25. > :19:12.impressive. Nadal making more errors than he would like. Break point.
:19:13. > :19:21.Two errors on the forehand side. The feet perhaps not working quite like
:19:22. > :19:27.they were, with Nadal wearing Federer down. We certainly didn't
:19:28. > :19:31.see those forehands in the set. His forehand was amazing. Maybe just
:19:32. > :19:33.trying to force the action. There is only so long you can keep doing
:19:34. > :20:04.that. One of the features of this
:20:05. > :20:10.Australian Open has been the speed of the court. And the tennis balls
:20:11. > :20:19.as well. It's been quicker than in previous years. The balls seem to
:20:20. > :20:30.get less fluffy and move quicker through the air and off the surface.
:20:31. > :20:39.Federer would like that. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
:20:40. > :20:43.Fantastic. What a volley that was. Against somebody normal, that
:20:44. > :20:48.passing shot probably would have been good enough, but what happened
:20:49. > :20:54.from Federer! The overhead a mere formality. It was the volley,
:20:55. > :21:00.unreal. He's probably never getting to that volley, let alone forcing it
:21:01. > :21:03.back that deep and forcing Nadal to put up the forehand lob. Brilliant
:21:04. > :21:47.point. LINE JUDGE: Out! Taxing rally for
:21:48. > :21:54.Federer. Just a little exhalation of air, he just turned away before he
:21:55. > :22:03.breathed out there. That is hard, physically. I just wonder, with 53
:22:04. > :22:04.minutes played, I know it's early doors, but how much is left in that
:22:05. > :22:19.tank? He'll be fine. LINE JUDGE: Out!
:22:20. > :22:42.UMPIRE: Advantage Nadal. One of the happiest sites in tennis,
:22:43. > :22:44.when you look down and you see a ball landing over your own baseline.
:22:45. > :23:01.Thank you! That is a way that Federer had his
:23:02. > :23:07.chances to get back level pegging, there, but Nadal has consolidated
:23:08. > :23:07.the break. Important game, 3-0 Nadal.
:23:08. > :23:13.STUDIO What a tussle, Nadal got ahead and
:23:14. > :23:19.then held on and here he is with a set point at 5-3. That arrow from
:23:20. > :23:25.Federer and now they are tied at one set all. We hope for a classic and
:23:26. > :23:47.this was building nicely. Let's see how set number three would unfold.
:23:48. > :24:44.What a lovely way to start the set. Exactly!
:24:45. > :24:51.This fearsome forehand. For five years ago it was the best shot in
:24:52. > :24:53.tennis. He lost a little bit of his potency, but he seems to have got it
:24:54. > :25:47.back now. Well, that was a surprise! He
:25:48. > :25:54.actually got the volley that he was looking for. It was perhaps dipping,
:25:55. > :25:59.was it any the height of the net? It was one that he will feel he should
:26:00. > :26:04.have made. A second serve? Having been 40-0 up, I'm worrying about his
:26:05. > :26:11.energy levels and the concentration, the whole thing, after six months
:26:12. > :26:17.out of the game. Keep an eye on it. 40-0 back to deuce. Yeah, it's a
:26:18. > :26:23.tank that might be saying no, get back to the petrol station. He was
:26:24. > :26:26.taking on board some nutrients about 15 minutes ago, ten minutes ago.
:26:27. > :26:45.Concentration... If he does flag, the crowd will be
:26:46. > :26:56.there to elevate him on their shoulders, I promise you. Something
:26:57. > :27:11.is not right now. The trouble is, you know that it's
:27:12. > :27:16.Nadal down the other end and he is moving to his forehand side and you
:27:17. > :27:18.think, better get there quick. Exactly. He just sort of took his
:27:19. > :28:05.eye off it a bit. Oh no! Two volley errors, two
:28:06. > :28:10.forehand errors. He had 40-0 in the game and he has also saved two break
:28:11. > :28:21.points. His first serve right now is what is helping him to hang in.
:28:22. > :28:43.APPLAUSE He can't keep doing that every time
:28:44. > :28:47.he gets break point down, can he? That was like, just give me one
:28:48. > :28:55.chance to get my racket on the ball... You can feel the ticks and
:28:56. > :28:57.the electricity running through Nadal. This is a big moment in this
:28:58. > :29:18.match. Well, it was a great ball. People
:29:19. > :29:24.thought it might be going out. The crowd on that backhand. But it's
:29:25. > :29:28.amazing, when you are down courtside and you watch these two players play
:29:29. > :29:35.and you see that top-spin, you do think the ball is going out and the
:29:36. > :29:36.last-minute the ball just drops. It's amazing, how many times you
:29:37. > :30:04.think it's going to go way out. That was something Steve McQueen
:30:05. > :30:13.would have been happy with, The Great Escape. He had 40-0 but also
:30:14. > :31:03.break points against. Federer holds, just.
:31:04. > :31:14.Riding the wave from the previous game when he managed to hold from
:31:15. > :31:18.multiple break points down, taking the ball early, feeling the
:31:19. > :31:21.adrenaline now. Any tips of energy seem to have disappeared from
:31:22. > :31:41.Federer. -- get. Magnificent backhand. Nadal
:31:42. > :31:47.continues to throw everything at him. Once again, the backhand, he is
:31:48. > :31:48.on top of it. Taking it as early as he can. That one was relatively
:31:49. > :32:40.simple for a man of his calibre. Coach to Roger Federer, he has
:32:41. > :32:42.clearly had a big impact here. He has worked with so many fine coaches
:32:43. > :32:58.in the past. They would certainly have said, do
:32:59. > :33:06.not allow the ball to play you, either on the wide serve like that
:33:07. > :33:08.or the hooked forehand. Don't let it rise up, take you off the playing
:33:09. > :33:53.surface. I don't believe that rally! That is
:33:54. > :34:00.a shot you cannot coach. There were about five of them in there, John.
:34:01. > :34:07.Exactly. The last one. Nadal smacked it so hard indeed. Unbelievable, to
:34:08. > :34:18.fit a clean winner from that position. Timing has to be so
:34:19. > :34:40.precise -- to hit. Suddenly Federer with a chance now. Break point.
:34:41. > :34:49.Federer just moved a little to his left. He was in the tramlines.
:34:50. > :34:55.Taking away Nadal's wide serve on the second. Nadal serves into the
:34:56. > :35:02.body. Federer rounds it down the centre of a court. What a
:35:03. > :35:03.fascinating match these two play. Federer seemingly out of gas in the
:35:04. > :35:29.previous games. The serve saved him in Game one of
:35:30. > :35:37.the set. Break points on the left side.
:35:38. > :35:57.Rafa Nadal that far back, any opponent will look at that and
:35:58. > :36:01.think, I will go ahead and volley. Too much court to cover from back
:36:02. > :36:17.there on the next shot. What a passage of play this has
:36:18. > :36:23.been. Break points down, big serves out wide to Nadal's forehand and now
:36:24. > :36:33.takes over this game. Fantastic, isn't it? The dog has -- Nadal is
:36:34. > :36:40.not going anywhere. His level will not change too much. But Federer has
:36:41. > :36:44.had a surge of power and energy to take the lead.
:36:45. > :36:46.SUE BARKER: Federer stayed in charge. He only had to save one
:36:47. > :37:02.break point. Here he is. Now the momentum very much with
:37:03. > :37:07.Federer. Roger just one set away from his 18th Grand Slam final. Two
:37:08. > :37:10.hours of play just over, we entered the fourth set and we rejoin it with
:37:11. > :37:39.Nadal leading 2-1. Nadal defending the backhand side.
:37:40. > :37:43.That half of the court was entirely open. Disappointing start for
:37:44. > :37:57.Federer. Something for Nadal to hook into here.
:37:58. > :38:04.And now 0-30. How quickly it happens, the start of the game is so
:38:05. > :38:07.big, so easy to get a little bit complacent. It is about the fifth
:38:08. > :38:38.time he has completely mis-hit forehand side.
:38:39. > :38:46.Fantastic recovery from Federer. The forehand from Nadal took over. He
:38:47. > :38:52.did well to hook it back. The foot speed of Nadal to get around
:38:53. > :38:55.beforehand. Two options, he can go the off forehand or down the line,
:38:56. > :39:25.pick the right shot. Big trouble now.
:39:26. > :39:33.And the tone was set on the very first point of that game, the
:39:34. > :39:39.forehand from Federer. After that, Nadal does not need a written
:39:40. > :39:46.invitation. Unable to find the magic to dig this service game out. I
:39:47. > :39:54.wonder if we are going five here. That would be something the sports
:39:55. > :39:58.world would enjoy. SUE BARKER: Nadal break serve and in
:39:59. > :39:59.the next game he holds 4-1 with possibly the point of the
:40:00. > :40:21.Championship. What a shock! Or most a squash shot
:40:22. > :40:25.from Rafa. Standing ovation from the crowd for both players after that
:40:26. > :40:31.and Rafa was right back in the match because he went on to take the
:40:32. > :40:35.fourth set 6-3. The two great champions, fitting finale at the
:40:36. > :40:39.Australian Open. It is quite fitting we go down out of the fifth and
:40:40. > :41:04.final set that would decide the Championship.
:41:05. > :41:11.ANDREW CASTLE: Three unforced errors from Nadal. Federer is going to need
:41:12. > :42:04.to find inspiration. Brilliant. Just refused to miss,
:42:05. > :42:09.Nadal. They played five five set matches. It is 3-2 to Nadal. He lost
:42:10. > :42:13.the last couple, Australian Open final here, and the great one at
:42:14. > :42:37.Wimbledon in 2008. It has been ten years since Federer
:42:38. > :42:43.beat Nadal in five sets. Ten years! Both players, there has to be
:42:44. > :42:47.fatigued, just because of the circumstances in getting to the
:42:48. > :42:50.finals. This is one set for the Australian Open, they will push
:42:51. > :43:06.through the pain barrier. Whatever it takes. They are both warriors.
:43:07. > :43:12.Wow, what a forehand. Nadal is about to strike an important blow, 15-40,
:43:13. > :43:28.two break points. Less time out for Rafa Nadal with
:43:29. > :43:46.the wrist injury. But time-out nevertheless.
:43:47. > :43:55.Glorious. He was looking at the forehand reverse to Nadal's forehand
:43:56. > :44:00.and he said, no, I will keep it there. Nadal tried everything to get
:44:01. > :44:06.Federer off-balance. He could not get enough on any of the shots to
:44:07. > :44:10.put Federer to defend. Once he gets the chance to take over, with that
:44:11. > :44:17.pace, the forehand, it is the weapon, it used to be just winners
:44:18. > :44:19.whenever he hit it. While it seemed to lack pace for a couple of years,
:44:20. > :44:39.now it is back to its best. No, it is a way! Take it easy, not
:44:40. > :44:45.home yet. But a break of serve. Right at the start of the fifth and
:44:46. > :44:56.deciding set. Nadal with his nose in front. When Federer was taking his
:44:57. > :45:03.time-out, Nadal was pretty much doing his laundry, jumping up and
:45:04. > :45:10.down, taking on carbohydrate gels and hydrating with various different
:45:11. > :45:21.fluids. Dad, coach, girlfriend. Agent. And he has had a big job to
:45:22. > :45:24.do over the preceding 43 hours before this match after a monster
:45:25. > :45:32.five set semifinal with regard it. He is the masseuse. -- with Grigor
:45:33. > :46:11.Dimitrov. He has recovered magnificently from that contest.
:46:12. > :46:17.Just count that errors from Nadal. Any sort of mistake, I think he is
:46:18. > :46:24.going to make very few. It is up to Federer. What can he
:46:25. > :46:53.find? He cannot look at the unforced error
:46:54. > :46:57.account in isolation. You have to look at the winners. It is the ratio
:46:58. > :48:04.that is crucial. Just a couple of those forehands
:48:05. > :48:09.from Nadal landing a bit short. He could not put it where the first
:48:10. > :48:15.time. The second time, that one lands a bit short. Getting it round
:48:16. > :49:04.the outside of the balls. He flicks the ball away crosscourt.
:49:05. > :49:14.He wouldn't still be thinking about that second point and the forehand
:49:15. > :49:18.halfway up the net, would he? 15-0. That was the crucial point in this
:49:19. > :49:31.game, an unusual mistake. Break point now, second one.
:49:32. > :49:47.Oh, you're kidding me! This is a tough ball to handle. One of those
:49:48. > :49:51.drills. The coaches, they have a basket of balls and they feed them
:49:52. > :49:55.into that area and Nadal has to run around it and whipped the forehands.
:49:56. > :50:12.He has done it thousands of times. Almost in his sleep.
:50:13. > :50:25.Oh, what a time for that! People say that the net cords, they always even
:50:26. > :50:30.out. No, doesn't matter how many there are, it is when they occur,
:50:31. > :50:55.crucial points. That was a big time for it to happen.
:50:56. > :51:06.How is that...? Federer hit the most brilliant return. He is thinking,
:51:07. > :51:10.OK, now I am going to be in a good position. And that is what happened
:51:11. > :51:16.to him! Nadal right away just hit the flick shot and put Federer right
:51:17. > :51:27.back under pressure. At break point down.
:51:28. > :51:44.That forehand on the line. First serve. Forehand. What a combination.
:51:45. > :51:58.He is setting up such an attack. Not opening the door.
:51:59. > :52:04.And that is away. Three break points saved in the second game of the
:52:05. > :52:12.fifth set after break. Really important holds. 2-0.
:52:13. > :52:16.SUE BARKER: Federer throwing everything at Nadal. Federer had
:52:17. > :52:26.another break point but still could not find a way to break Rafa's
:52:27. > :52:46.serve. Let us rejoin it with Rafa serving at 3-2.
:52:47. > :52:58.ANDREW CASTLE: That is a stunning rally from Federer to start off this
:52:59. > :53:02.service came from Nadal. 18 shots of pure quality, three or four times in
:53:03. > :53:09.that rally he was in trouble. The extra leg strength pushing himself
:53:10. > :53:14.to keep the ball deep. He took charge and exploded with a backhand
:53:15. > :54:29.again. He has hit that shot so well today.
:54:30. > :55:02.Fantastic length from Nadal in response.
:55:03. > :55:12.Phenomenal serve. Federated well to get the ball back in play. --
:55:13. > :55:21.Federer. He was so far off the court. Stabilised oneself with the
:55:22. > :55:26.right foot. He had to cover his backhand side. Nadal finding his
:55:27. > :55:45.target. No chance of him missing that one.
:55:46. > :56:02.Unusual, isn't it? The tension. Electing not to attack the Federer
:56:03. > :56:09.backhand. Did it dip in with the enormous paean on it, the top-spin?
:56:10. > :56:42.-- rpm. It is break point. Third game in a row. Nadal's serve.
:56:43. > :56:54.CHEERING That is scintillating. At 15-30, the
:56:55. > :57:00.wide serve, followed by the winning forehand. Break point down, body
:57:01. > :57:04.forehand serve, whack, goes away, this guy does not make mistakes on
:57:05. > :58:03.big points very often. Just marginally, Federer might have
:58:04. > :58:20.had the rub of the green when it comes to net cords so far.
:58:21. > :58:45.Nadal made a bit of room on the forehand side, left the crosscourt
:58:46. > :58:47.open, but you have got to hit it and it was a hammer blow. Another break
:58:48. > :59:18.point. And it is away this time Federer
:59:19. > :59:30.does breakthrough. APPLAUSE
:59:31. > :00:16.Standing ovation. In the middle of a set.
:00:17. > :01:04.Doesn't have to come right out of the
:01:05. > :01:27.He would love that. Another standing ovation, two straight games, the
:01:28. > :02:42.longest set of the match. I want a lot more of this, don't you?
:02:43. > :03:03.This is about the 14th round of a 15 round championship boxing match!
:03:04. > :03:09.They have been slugging each other for well over three hours now.
:03:10. > :03:11.Federer and Nadal. You couldn't possibly have picked this final
:03:12. > :03:21.after what they have both been through. 4-3 in the fifth set. Nadal
:03:22. > :03:29.has lost the last two Games. He was a break up.
:03:30. > :03:38.GP ball from Federer. He meant that. Well, that's just genius. No one
:03:39. > :03:42.else would have the imagination do hit that shot at this stage in the
:03:43. > :04:14.match. And also have the ability to do it!
:04:15. > :04:30.APPLAUSE It looks like it is 1-1 in the first
:04:31. > :04:44.set. Three hours and 24 minutes played.
:04:45. > :05:22.Oh! Pressure, tension. Well, if it's getting to Nadal, you know it's
:05:23. > :05:40.there. He can't believe it. Five points from the title.
:05:41. > :05:50.Rafa! UMPIRE: Thank you.
:05:51. > :06:22.CHUCKLES Look at the attitude!
:06:23. > :07:19.Oh! Well, he's gone for that shot in this match often, to conserve taking
:07:20. > :07:26.it early, but that one had a bit extra on it.
:07:27. > :07:33.Nadal double faulted early on in this game. That was a good second
:07:34. > :08:23.serve, well directed. Three straight now, back to deuce.
:08:24. > :08:32.Oh! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
:08:33. > :08:39.That's one of the best points ever! Longest rally by miles and the Best
:08:40. > :08:57.by miles. That's ridiculous. Is that what you've got to do? No way.
:08:58. > :09:03.For the break point of the game coming up. -- the fourth break
:09:04. > :09:22.point. Oh! This is just awesome. You just
:09:23. > :09:26.knew that if this went to five sets they would play their best stuff in
:09:27. > :09:34.the fifth! That's just the way they are, two champions.
:09:35. > :09:39.The first four sets were just a measly starter, weren't they... This
:09:40. > :10:09.is the main course all right! Doesn't say much for his bad leg!
:10:10. > :10:17.He's just lying on adrenaline at the moment. -- so much for his bad leg!
:10:18. > :10:33.Look at the eyes. Fifth break point of this game.
:10:34. > :10:47.CHEERING And this time the breakthrough
:10:48. > :11:02.comes! And the umpire says new tennis balls. That is a big aid to
:11:03. > :11:09.Federer as he serves. For an 18th Grand Slam title. He hasn't won one
:11:10. > :11:16.of these, the eight's biggest prizes, since Wimbledon 2012, that
:11:17. > :11:25.memorable final with Murray. This was never going to happen, it
:11:26. > :11:30.couldn't happen. You can't take this much time off and do this. But
:11:31. > :11:43.nobody told him that. Just a -- vicious forehand is there
:11:44. > :12:53.from Nadal. The great Spaniard will not go away.
:12:54. > :13:37.The pace and spin... 0-30. That's just so good! No hesitation
:13:38. > :14:14.coming into the net. 30-15. He has to hit an ace just to
:14:15. > :14:16.win a point in this game so far. At different points Rafa has been quite
:14:17. > :14:44.devastating. Oh! I mean, that was a great
:14:45. > :14:52.forehand from Nadal. He kept it deep. How did Federer find that
:14:53. > :14:59.angle and that power from that position on the court? That was a
:15:00. > :15:12.good forehand by Rafa. Leg power, rotation of the hips.
:15:13. > :15:54.LINE JUDGE: Out! UMPIRE: Mr Federer is challenging
:15:55. > :16:06.the call on the service line. The ball was called out. Good Lord.
:16:07. > :16:12.Really? Nadal is not sure. He gets a good serve!
:16:13. > :16:24.Thank goodness for the electronic line calling.
:16:25. > :16:34.UMPIRE: Mr Federer is challenging the call on the service line. Well,
:16:35. > :16:40.if this is in committed that call affect Nadal's return? It is out,
:16:41. > :17:02.second serve. That one, by his standards, was a
:17:03. > :17:06.fairly comfortable forehand. The challenge was a strange one. After
:17:07. > :17:13.he missed that first serve, it was way out. He's nervous. Even the
:17:14. > :17:20.great ones, even the greatest get nervous.
:17:21. > :17:31.Not really nervous! Oh! Once again... Or he's nervous for about
:17:32. > :17:36.one second. Readjust and plays the ace. It is is 100th match at the
:17:37. > :18:00.Australian Open. Oh! Another one! He has rolled this
:18:01. > :18:07.forehand and Rafa is not sure, again. It is the match if it goes
:18:08. > :18:12.past and, if it's in. And that is it, it's going to be over! That is
:18:13. > :18:14.it! Federer wins the Australian Open and it is one of the sports stories
:18:15. > :18:23.of all time. It just couldn't happen! I'm not
:18:24. > :19:00.surprised by this. It is all about Roger Federer at
:19:01. > :19:03.this point but more, it is about both of them and what they have
:19:04. > :19:09.contributed to the game and to the sport. There has to be more from
:19:10. > :19:16.both of these players. The next time the tennis world gathers will Beer
:19:17. > :19:21.the French Open. -- will be at the French Open. Did he really believed
:19:22. > :19:27.he was going to come back and do this, even himself? I'm not so sure
:19:28. > :19:33.he did. Just an outstanding sportsman. Grand Slam number 18. He
:19:34. > :19:38.further extends his lead in the record books. At more than that,
:19:39. > :19:45.it's just about the heart and soul. That face, these achievements, that
:19:46. > :19:51.is why you practice, why you do what you do. Fantastic tennis match from
:19:52. > :19:55.Federer and Nadal, as we were hoping for.
:19:56. > :20:03.Ladies and gentlemen, our runner-up, Australian Open 2017, Rafael Nadal!
:20:04. > :20:10.How cruel the sport can be. You throw everything at your opponent,
:20:11. > :20:14.so close, 3-1 up in the fifth and final set. That will certainly play
:20:15. > :20:20.on his mind in the days to come. He received his runner-up trophy from
:20:21. > :20:24.the man this stadium is named after, Rod Laver. He is a class act and
:20:25. > :20:39.always so sporting in defeat. Well, good evening everybody. First
:20:40. > :20:43.of all I will just say can grudge relations to Roger and all his team.
:20:44. > :20:48.Just amazing, the way that he is playing after such a long time
:20:49. > :20:54.without being on the tour. It's just very difficult to make that happen.
:20:55. > :21:01.For sure, you have been working a lot to make that happen, so I feel
:21:02. > :21:09.very happy for you. I'm just going to keep trying now. I feel that I am
:21:10. > :21:20.back and at a very high level, so I want to keep fighting the whole
:21:21. > :21:26.season. Do have a great season and for sure to come back here for so
:21:27. > :21:33.many years. To have this trophy with me. It is the third time that I have
:21:34. > :21:38.this. It is beautiful, but... But that trophy is still much better!
:21:39. > :21:44.Thank you very much everybody. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
:21:45. > :21:49.And now the holder of 18 Grand Slam singles titles and the 2017 champion
:21:50. > :21:53.of the Australian Open, Roger Federer.
:21:54. > :22:47.I'm out of words and Rafa said so many great things, but of course I
:22:48. > :23:00.would like to also congratulate Rafa on an amazing comeback. I don't
:23:01. > :23:04.think either one of us thought we were going to be in the finals of
:23:05. > :23:09.Australia when we sought each other at the Academy four or five months
:23:10. > :23:17.ago. And here we stand in the finals. I'm happy for you and I'm
:23:18. > :23:23.happy to -- I would have been happy to lose too, to be honest. The
:23:24. > :23:27.comeback was perfect as it was. Tennis is a tough sport, there's no
:23:28. > :23:31.draws, but if there was going to be one, I would have been very happy to
:23:32. > :23:44.except one tonight and share it with Rafa, really. I know everybody says
:23:45. > :23:50.they work very hard, I did the same, I really tried not to shout about it
:23:51. > :23:54.because we have got some serious legends and toughest guys in the
:23:55. > :23:57.game like Rafa here tonight. But I would just like to thank my team
:23:58. > :24:01.because it has been a different last six months, let's the honest. I
:24:02. > :24:05.wasn't sure if I was going to make it here, but here I am and we've
:24:06. > :24:15.made it, so I would just like to thank you guys. Thank you. Thank you
:24:16. > :24:22.for being here tonight, with your presence, it means so much more.
:24:23. > :24:26.Thanks again for everything, to everybody. And of course I hope to
:24:27. > :24:30.see you next year. If not, this was a wonderful run here and I couldn't
:24:31. > :24:38.be more happy tonight. Thank you very much, guys. Well, the speeches
:24:39. > :24:42.were as impressive as the tennis, but what an absolute classic. We
:24:43. > :24:45.talked about this being the dream final, and will it live up to the
:24:46. > :24:50.billing? It more than lived up to the billing, it was one of their
:24:51. > :24:55.classic encounters. It's a shame for Rafa, Andrew, isn't it? He threw
:24:56. > :25:00.everything at Roger. I think Rafa was absolutely amazed to lose that.
:25:01. > :25:03.You lost the last five games playing quite well! Just one or two points
:25:04. > :25:07.here and there he might have done something slightly differently. You
:25:08. > :25:10.could see him at the prizegiving ceremony going through it in his
:25:11. > :25:16.brain, added he lose this match? How did he lose those five games? The
:25:17. > :25:19.answer is it was just inspiration from this magnificent sportsman.
:25:20. > :25:24.Trying to put this into some sort of perspective is from the only thing I
:25:25. > :25:28.can think of, Jack Nicklaus at the 1986 Masters, 24 years or so after
:25:29. > :25:33.he won his first major championship, shooting a 30 on the back nine to
:25:34. > :25:37.win the Masters at the age of 46. I consider this to be right up there
:25:38. > :25:41.with one of those great sports achievements. He is 35, hasn't
:25:42. > :25:45.played for six months, fitness was obviously a question. He had surgery
:25:46. > :25:48.on the knee and he comes back and it's all very well hitting his shots
:25:49. > :25:52.but hitting them when you need them and having the clarity of thought
:25:53. > :25:56.without any self-doubt, it was very impressive. It's one of the sports
:25:57. > :26:02.stories of the year, is it even February yet? Not even of the year,
:26:03. > :26:05.maybe ever! Nobody expected him to come back and it's great for the
:26:06. > :26:09.game, isn't it? I've been reading through a lot of the newspapers
:26:10. > :26:16.worldwide and everyone was stopping to watch this for what they mean to
:26:17. > :26:20.the sport. Everyone was wanting this final and they didn't to happen. You
:26:21. > :26:24.look at the beginning of the year and you are thinking Djokovic and
:26:25. > :26:28.Murray, they are above everyone else. Now you've got Nadal and
:26:29. > :26:32.Federer back in the mix! You've got Nadal coming up to the French Open,
:26:33. > :26:38.he's favourite, and why not Federer for Wimbledon now on the grass? He
:26:39. > :26:42.could take four months off and go in without another tournament! He was
:26:43. > :26:45.pretty successful here. You look at the Williams sisters and Rafa,
:26:46. > :26:54.planning their schedule, this could be a -- a game changer for the
:26:55. > :26:59.sport. He is now on 18, Serena is on 23 and one behind Margaret Court. It
:27:00. > :27:03.illustrates the era we are watching. Andy Murray is world one right now
:27:04. > :27:12.and he's got to fight these sort of guys off. It's captivating. And then
:27:13. > :27:18.and Kyle doing very well and Johanna Konta as well. But just rewind that
:27:19. > :27:30.last 20 minutes and that is how good you have to be. We were talking
:27:31. > :27:37.about Djokovic catching Federer, or Rafa catching Federer on 18 titles.
:27:38. > :27:40.It's going to be tough. He was absolutely shattered. For anyone to
:27:41. > :27:48.catch Roger Federer now, I don't think so. You look at the fitness
:27:49. > :27:50.from Roger his third five set match during this tournament. Fitness
:27:51. > :27:55.wise, he's right back there, isn't he? It tells you a lot about
:27:56. > :27:59.managing your schedule. Take six months off. There's always the
:28:00. > :28:02.argument about fitness versus rashness. He came back because he
:28:03. > :28:07.wanted to play. The motivation is still to hit the ball. The money
:28:08. > :28:11.ceased to be an issue when he won his first slam 15 years ago beating
:28:12. > :28:16.Mark Philippoussis at Wimbledon. It's about the joy of hitting the
:28:17. > :28:19.ball and feeling fresh for the challenge each time, in direct
:28:20. > :28:24.contrast to Andy at the moment who has been playing so much. Going to
:28:25. > :28:28.be a fascinating year, isn't it? Andy and John, thank you very much.
:28:29. > :28:32.That's it for the day that we have more tennis coming up for you next
:28:33. > :28:35.week. We have Canada against Great Britain and it is live coverage from
:28:36. > :28:41.Ottawa and we will be there on Friday from 8pm on the red button.
:28:42. > :28:48.That is it, what a final we have had in Melbourne. Shame there has to be
:28:49. > :28:49.one winner only. That was Roger. He is a legend and his legend grows and
:28:50. > :29:05.grows. COMMENTATOR: Federer wins the
:29:06. > :29:06.Australian Open! It is one of the sports stories of all