Men's Final Highlights Australian Open Tennis

They first met 13 years ago. They have played 34 times. Rafa leads

23-11. COMMENTATOR: Rafa rules in

Melbourne. They have come face to face in eight Grand Slam finals.

Rafa leads 6-2. Federer's magnificent run ends. Nadal is the

top man. Between them, they have five Australian Open crowns. Rafa

one Roger four. Together, they have 31 Grand Slam titles. Rafa 14, Roger

17. Not even Rafa can stop Roger's reign. They are two of only eight

men who have achieved the career Grand Slam. In a sport defined by

rivalries, we have had the great Australians of the 60s. Bjorn Borg,

Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe in the 70s and 80s. Sampras and Agassi in

the 90s. But Federer Nadal is perhaps the daddy of them all. They

make the game look so easy. So bad and down the hatches. It is Roger

four versus Rafa again. Are you ready?

That is how the numbers stack up. But this match wasn't about titles

and records. This, for tennis, was a celebration. It was the Grand Slam

final that everybody wanted but never believed they would see again.

Here were two great champions fighting for their legacies in what

was probably their most important final ever. There was not a spare

seat in the Rod Laver Arena as the two players made their way to court.

And first, as the lower ranked player, Federer was introduced.

And then another huge cheer, for Rafa.

What Roger and Rafa have proved here is that greatness and years. It was

history in the making for both players. Can Federer extend his lead

in Grand Slam titles to 18 or can Nadal narrow the gap to just two? We

join the match in the opening set, three games all, Nadal to serve. The

commentators are John Lloyd and Andrew Castle.

COMMENTATOR: Yes, the matte black racket of Roger Federer. Bigger

racket head than it used to be. Timing the ball better since he

changed. APPLAUSE

Oh! Here is an opportunity, 0-15. New racket in hand and 98 square

inches, this racket. He just has the feel on the backhand side. He was

struggling with the timing for a few months or so and decided to change.

He is somebody that does like to play quickly. Nadal the absolute

opposite. No, not this time. Nadal's racket

much lighter and a smaller grip. Very powerful frame, polyester

strings, the ball shooting off the racket face.

The 2014 French Open, that was Nadal, in this great rivalry.

Oh! What a point, that is ridiculous! He looked in trouble for

so much of that rally. He looked like he was playing catch up but

then when he got the chance, he just exploded. Took the top-spin volley.

Brilliant shot. That is a way! First blood to Roger

Federer, in the last game with these tennis balls. Rafa is going to have

a look at that. The last time Federer beat Nadal in a slam was

2007 at Wimbledon. He has never beaten him in the final of a slam

outside of The Championships in NSW 19. -- in SW19. Welcome he has taken

a step towards that victory, he has the break in the opening set.

Roger Federer, one of the sports stories of the year so far to see

both of these players... Look at their seedings, 17 and nine. These

guys haven't played, it's been six months since Roger Federer was out

here. Nadal curtailed his last season with a bad wrist. We thought

that was it, he's had so many physical problems. Knee surgery for

Roger Federer, six months of and now they are in the final of the first

Grand Slam of the year! No two players have contested more

Grand Slam finals than these two. What a shot.

Ten winners to one. He is taking the ball on. Big-time.

What a game. You break to go for- three up, step up to the line

thinking, don't mess it up... That was clinical. 27 minutes. And

Federer has come out here with the intensity of old.

STUDIO And two games later, Roger went on

to serve out the set in style. Federer in fact only dropping one

point on his first serve in that opener. So Roger takes the first set

six games to four. Now we move onto the second set and we rejoin it with

Nadal leading 1-0. well, the decibel level has gone up

from Nadal. The clenched fist, is a chance at 0-30. Moving fine, after

his brutal semifinal, over five hours begins Grigor Dimitrov. Not a

lot of time for recovery but a couple of sleeps.

Is anything into the Nadal forehand. You offer him a target and he will

generally hit it. Should have made him play the ball, he will be

thinking. Still, 15-30, he would have taken that at the start of the

game. That is truly good fortune. 15-30, a

dead net cord. Well, we've seen some of those net cords that have

actually hit the net and gone over the baseline, so that one was pretty

fortunate. But again! He picked the right spot, Nadal, on the Federer

approach. 50-50. I don't really understand why Federer is going in

on the left-hand side on the approach, the left-hander loves to

put it down the line. So, here we go.

Break point, a first. Just about three quarters of an hour played.

Went in the forehand again. He fights it off.

He as got a good backhand volley. Nadal very good with that one. He

steered it a bit and gave Federer another shot at it. Almost had it.

APPLAUSE And Nadal attacking the Federer

backhand, lining it up with the top-spin, and it pays off. Over

three quarters of an hour but the breakthrough is his at the beginning

of the second set. And Federer is going to have to dig deep. One of

the great surprises to Federer himself has been his physical energy

levels, he has been fine. He's been out for six months! It's much

different playing to practising in terms of what you have to give, but

for Federer, the cadres are still good. Even after the match with

Berdych, he was very clean and clinical and quick, but the match

against Nishikori, he said he came back well after that. But this is a

different order of test because of the emotions.

It's the purity of the strike off the Federer racket today which has

impressed so much. Keeping his weight low and going through the

ball, the timing of it, it is like a forward defensive from Viv Richards

rating to the boundary. It's the sound of the racket that is so

impressive. Nadal making more errors than he would like. Break point.

Two errors on the forehand side. The feet perhaps not working quite like

they were, with Nadal wearing Federer down. We certainly didn't

see those forehands in the set. His forehand was amazing. Maybe just

trying to force the action. There is only so long you can keep doing

that. One of the features of this

Australian Open has been the speed of the court. And the tennis balls

as well. It's been quicker than in previous years. The balls seem to

get less fluffy and move quicker through the air and off the surface.

Federer would like that. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Fantastic. What a volley that was. Against somebody normal, that

passing shot probably would have been good enough, but what happened

from Federer! The overhead a mere formality. It was the volley,

unreal. He's probably never getting to that volley, let alone forcing it

back that deep and forcing Nadal to put up the forehand lob. Brilliant

point. LINE JUDGE: Out! Taxing rally for

Federer. Just a little exhalation of air, he just turned away before he

breathed out there. That is hard, physically. I just wonder, with 53

minutes played, I know it's early doors, but how much is left in that

tank? He'll be fine. LINE JUDGE: Out!

UMPIRE: Advantage Nadal. One of the happiest sites in tennis,

when you look down and you see a ball landing over your own baseline.

Thank you! That is a way that Federer had his

chances to get back level pegging, there, but Nadal has consolidated

the break. Important game, 3-0 Nadal.

STUDIO What a tussle, Nadal got ahead and

then held on and here he is with a set point at 5-3. That arrow from

Federer and now they are tied at one set all. We hope for a classic and

this was building nicely. Let's see how set number three would unfold.

What a lovely way to start the set. Exactly!

This fearsome forehand. For five years ago it was the best shot in

tennis. He lost a little bit of his potency, but he seems to have got it

back now. Well, that was a surprise! He

actually got the volley that he was looking for. It was perhaps dipping,

was it any the height of the net? It was one that he will feel he should

have made. A second serve? Having been 40-0 up, I'm worrying about his

energy levels and the concentration, the whole thing, after six months

out of the game. Keep an eye on it. 40-0 back to deuce. Yeah, it's a

tank that might be saying no, get back to the petrol station. He was

taking on board some nutrients about 15 minutes ago, ten minutes ago.

Concentration... If he does flag, the crowd will be

there to elevate him on their shoulders, I promise you. Something

is not right now. The trouble is, you know that it's

Nadal down the other end and he is moving to his forehand side and you

think, better get there quick. Exactly. He just sort of took his

eye off it a bit. Oh no! Two volley errors, two

forehand errors. He had 40-0 in the game and he has also saved two break

points. His first serve right now is what is helping him to hang in.

APPLAUSE He can't keep doing that every time

he gets break point down, can he? That was like, just give me one

chance to get my racket on the ball... You can feel the ticks and

the electricity running through Nadal. This is a big moment in this

match. Well, it was a great ball. People

thought it might be going out. The crowd on that backhand. But it's

amazing, when you are down courtside and you watch these two players play

and you see that top-spin, you do think the ball is going out and the

last-minute the ball just drops. It's amazing, how many times you

think it's going to go way out. That was something Steve McQueen

would have been happy with, The Great Escape. He had 40-0 but also

break points against. Federer holds, just.

Riding the wave from the previous game when he managed to hold from

multiple break points down, taking the ball early, feeling the

adrenaline now. Any tips of energy seem to have disappeared from

Federer. -- get. Magnificent backhand. Nadal

continues to throw everything at him. Once again, the backhand, he is

on top of it. Taking it as early as he can. That one was relatively

simple for a man of his calibre. Coach to Roger Federer, he has

clearly had a big impact here. He has worked with so many fine coaches

in the past. They would certainly have said, do

not allow the ball to play you, either on the wide serve like that

or the hooked forehand. Don't let it rise up, take you off the playing

surface. I don't believe that rally! That is

a shot you cannot coach. There were about five of them in there, John.

Exactly. The last one. Nadal smacked it so hard indeed. Unbelievable, to

fit a clean winner from that position. Timing has to be so

precise -- to hit. Suddenly Federer with a chance now. Break point.

Federer just moved a little to his left. He was in the tramlines.

Taking away Nadal's wide serve on the second. Nadal serves into the

body. Federer rounds it down the centre of a court. What a

fascinating match these two play. Federer seemingly out of gas in the

previous games. The serve saved him in Game one of

the set. Break points on the left side.

Rafa Nadal that far back, any opponent will look at that and

think, I will go ahead and volley. Too much court to cover from back

there on the next shot. What a passage of play this has

been. Break points down, big serves out wide to Nadal's forehand and now

takes over this game. Fantastic, isn't it? The dog has -- Nadal is

not going anywhere. His level will not change too much. But Federer has

had a surge of power and energy to take the lead.

SUE BARKER: Federer stayed in charge. He only had to save one

break point. Here he is. Now the momentum very much with

Federer. Roger just one set away from his 18th Grand Slam final. Two

hours of play just over, we entered the fourth set and we rejoin it with

Nadal leading 2-1. Nadal defending the backhand side.

That half of the court was entirely open. Disappointing start for

Federer. Something for Nadal to hook into here.

And now 0-30. How quickly it happens, the start of the game is so

big, so easy to get a little bit complacent. It is about the fifth

time he has completely mis-hit forehand side.

Fantastic recovery from Federer. The forehand from Nadal took over. He

did well to hook it back. The foot speed of Nadal to get around

beforehand. Two options, he can go the off forehand or down the line,

pick the right shot. Big trouble now.

And the tone was set on the very first point of that game, the

forehand from Federer. After that, Nadal does not need a written

invitation. Unable to find the magic to dig this service game out. I

wonder if we are going five here. That would be something the sports

world would enjoy. SUE BARKER: Nadal break serve and in

the next game he holds 4-1 with possibly the point of the

Championship. What a shock! Or most a squash shot

from Rafa. Standing ovation from the crowd for both players after that

and Rafa was right back in the match because he went on to take the

fourth set 6-3. The two great champions, fitting finale at the

Australian Open. It is quite fitting we go down out of the fifth and

final set that would decide the Championship.

ANDREW CASTLE: Three unforced errors from Nadal. Federer is going to need

to find inspiration. Brilliant. Just refused to miss,

Nadal. They played five five set matches. It is 3-2 to Nadal. He lost

the last couple, Australian Open final here, and the great one at

Wimbledon in 2008. It has been ten years since Federer

beat Nadal in five sets. Ten years! Both players, there has to be

fatigued, just because of the circumstances in getting to the

finals. This is one set for the Australian Open, they will push

through the pain barrier. Whatever it takes. They are both warriors.

Wow, what a forehand. Nadal is about to strike an important blow, 15-40,

two break points. Less time out for Rafa Nadal with

the wrist injury. But time-out nevertheless.

Glorious. He was looking at the forehand reverse to Nadal's forehand

and he said, no, I will keep it there. Nadal tried everything to get

Federer off-balance. He could not get enough on any of the shots to

put Federer to defend. Once he gets the chance to take over, with that

pace, the forehand, it is the weapon, it used to be just winners

whenever he hit it. While it seemed to lack pace for a couple of years,

now it is back to its best. No, it is a way! Take it easy, not

home yet. But a break of serve. Right at the start of the fifth and

deciding set. Nadal with his nose in front. When Federer was taking his

time-out, Nadal was pretty much doing his laundry, jumping up and

down, taking on carbohydrate gels and hydrating with various different

fluids. Dad, coach, girlfriend. Agent. And he has had a big job to

do over the preceding 43 hours before this match after a monster

five set semifinal with regard it. He is the masseuse. -- with Grigor

Dimitrov. He has recovered magnificently from that contest.

Just count that errors from Nadal. Any sort of mistake, I think he is

going to make very few. It is up to Federer. What can he

find? He cannot look at the unforced error

account in isolation. You have to look at the winners. It is the ratio

that is crucial. Just a couple of those forehands

from Nadal landing a bit short. He could not put it where the first

time. The second time, that one lands a bit short. Getting it round

the outside of the balls. He flicks the ball away crosscourt.

He wouldn't still be thinking about that second point and the forehand

halfway up the net, would he? 15-0. That was the crucial point in this

game, an unusual mistake. Break point now, second one.

Oh, you're kidding me! This is a tough ball to handle. One of those

drills. The coaches, they have a basket of balls and they feed them

into that area and Nadal has to run around it and whipped the forehands.

He has done it thousands of times. Almost in his sleep.

Oh, what a time for that! People say that the net cords, they always even

out. No, doesn't matter how many there are, it is when they occur,

crucial points. That was a big time for it to happen.

How is that...? Federer hit the most brilliant return. He is thinking,

OK, now I am going to be in a good position. And that is what happened

to him! Nadal right away just hit the flick shot and put Federer right

back under pressure. At break point down.

That forehand on the line. First serve. Forehand. What a combination.

He is setting up such an attack. Not opening the door.

And that is away. Three break points saved in the second game of the

fifth set after break. Really important holds. 2-0.

SUE BARKER: Federer throwing everything at Nadal. Federer had

another break point but still could not find a way to break Rafa's

serve. Let us rejoin it with Rafa serving at 3-2.

ANDREW CASTLE: That is a stunning rally from Federer to start off this

service came from Nadal. 18 shots of pure quality, three or four times in

that rally he was in trouble. The extra leg strength pushing himself

to keep the ball deep. He took charge and exploded with a backhand

again. He has hit that shot so well today.

Fantastic length from Nadal in response.

Phenomenal serve. Federated well to get the ball back in play. --

Federer. He was so far off the court. Stabilised oneself with the

right foot. He had to cover his backhand side. Nadal finding his

target. No chance of him missing that one.

Unusual, isn't it? The tension. Electing not to attack the Federer

backhand. Did it dip in with the enormous paean on it, the top-spin?

-- rpm. It is break point. Third game in a row. Nadal's serve.

CHEERING That is scintillating. At 15-30, the

wide serve, followed by the winning forehand. Break point down, body

forehand serve, whack, goes away, this guy does not make mistakes on

big points very often. Just marginally, Federer might have

had the rub of the green when it comes to net cords so far.

Nadal made a bit of room on the forehand side, left the crosscourt

open, but you have got to hit it and it was a hammer blow. Another break

point. And it is away this time Federer

does breakthrough. APPLAUSE

Standing ovation. In the middle of a set.

Doesn't have to come right out of the

He would love that. Another standing ovation, two straight games, the

longest set of the match. I want a lot more of this, don't you?

This is about the 14th round of a 15 round championship boxing match!

They have been slugging each other for well over three hours now.

Federer and Nadal. You couldn't possibly have picked this final

after what they have both been through. 4-3 in the fifth set. Nadal

has lost the last two Games. He was a break up.

GP ball from Federer. He meant that. Well, that's just genius. No one

else would have the imagination do hit that shot at this stage in the

match. And also have the ability to do it!

APPLAUSE It looks like it is 1-1 in the first

set. Three hours and 24 minutes played.

Oh! Pressure, tension. Well, if it's getting to Nadal, you know it's

there. He can't believe it. Five points from the title.

Rafa! UMPIRE: Thank you.

CHUCKLES Look at the attitude!

Oh! Well, he's gone for that shot in this match often, to conserve taking

it early, but that one had a bit extra on it.

Nadal double faulted early on in this game. That was a good second

serve, well directed. Three straight now, back to deuce.

Oh! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

That's one of the best points ever! Longest rally by miles and the Best

by miles. That's ridiculous. Is that what you've got to do? No way.

For the break point of the game coming up. -- the fourth break

point. Oh! This is just awesome. You just

knew that if this went to five sets they would play their best stuff in

the fifth! That's just the way they are, two champions.

The first four sets were just a measly starter, weren't they... This

is the main course all right! Doesn't say much for his bad leg!

He's just lying on adrenaline at the moment. -- so much for his bad leg!

Look at the eyes. Fifth break point of this game.

CHEERING And this time the breakthrough

comes! And the umpire says new tennis balls. That is a big aid to

Federer as he serves. For an 18th Grand Slam title. He hasn't won one

of these, the eight's biggest prizes, since Wimbledon 2012, that

memorable final with Murray. This was never going to happen, it

couldn't happen. You can't take this much time off and do this. But

nobody told him that. Just a -- vicious forehand is there

from Nadal. The great Spaniard will not go away.

The pace and spin... 0-30. That's just so good! No hesitation

coming into the net. 30-15. He has to hit an ace just to

win a point in this game so far. At different points Rafa has been quite

devastating. Oh! I mean, that was a great

forehand from Nadal. He kept it deep. How did Federer find that

angle and that power from that position on the court? That was a

good forehand by Rafa. Leg power, rotation of the hips.

LINE JUDGE: Out! UMPIRE: Mr Federer is challenging

the call on the service line. The ball was called out. Good Lord.

Really? Nadal is not sure. He gets a good serve!

Thank goodness for the electronic line calling.

UMPIRE: Mr Federer is challenging the call on the service line. Well,

if this is in committed that call affect Nadal's return? It is out,

second serve. That one, by his standards, was a

fairly comfortable forehand. The challenge was a strange one. After

he missed that first serve, it was way out. He's nervous. Even the

great ones, even the greatest get nervous.

Not really nervous! Oh! Once again... Or he's nervous for about

one second. Readjust and plays the ace. It is is 100th match at the

Australian Open. Oh! Another one! He has rolled this

forehand and Rafa is not sure, again. It is the match if it goes

past and, if it's in. And that is it, it's going to be over! That is

it! Federer wins the Australian Open and it is one of the sports stories

of all time. It just couldn't happen! I'm not

surprised by this. It is all about Roger Federer at

this point but more, it is about both of them and what they have

contributed to the game and to the sport. There has to be more from

both of these players. The next time the tennis world gathers will Beer

the French Open. -- will be at the French Open. Did he really believed

he was going to come back and do this, even himself? I'm not so sure

he did. Just an outstanding sportsman. Grand Slam number 18. He

further extends his lead in the record books. At more than that,

it's just about the heart and soul. That face, these achievements, that

is why you practice, why you do what you do. Fantastic tennis match from

Federer and Nadal, as we were hoping for.

Ladies and gentlemen, our runner-up, Australian Open 2017, Rafael Nadal!

How cruel the sport can be. You throw everything at your opponent,

so close, 3-1 up in the fifth and final set. That will certainly play

on his mind in the days to come. He received his runner-up trophy from

the man this stadium is named after, Rod Laver. He is a class act and

always so sporting in defeat. Well, good evening everybody. First

of all I will just say can grudge relations to Roger and all his team.

Just amazing, the way that he is playing after such a long time

without being on the tour. It's just very difficult to make that happen.

For sure, you have been working a lot to make that happen, so I feel

very happy for you. I'm just going to keep trying now. I feel that I am

back and at a very high level, so I want to keep fighting the whole

season. Do have a great season and for sure to come back here for so

many years. To have this trophy with me. It is the third time that I have

this. It is beautiful, but... But that trophy is still much better!

Thank you very much everybody. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

And now the holder of 18 Grand Slam singles titles and the 2017 champion

of the Australian Open, Roger Federer.

I'm out of words and Rafa said so many great things, but of course I

would like to also congratulate Rafa on an amazing comeback. I don't

think either one of us thought we were going to be in the finals of

Australia when we sought each other at the Academy four or five months

ago. And here we stand in the finals. I'm happy for you and I'm

happy to -- I would have been happy to lose too, to be honest. The

comeback was perfect as it was. Tennis is a tough sport, there's no

draws, but if there was going to be one, I would have been very happy to

except one tonight and share it with Rafa, really. I know everybody says

they work very hard, I did the same, I really tried not to shout about it

because we have got some serious legends and toughest guys in the

game like Rafa here tonight. But I would just like to thank my team

because it has been a different last six months, let's the honest. I

wasn't sure if I was going to make it here, but here I am and we've

made it, so I would just like to thank you guys. Thank you. Thank you

for being here tonight, with your presence, it means so much more.

Thanks again for everything, to everybody. And of course I hope to

see you next year. If not, this was a wonderful run here and I couldn't

be more happy tonight. Thank you very much, guys. Well, the speeches

were as impressive as the tennis, but what an absolute classic. We

talked about this being the dream final, and will it live up to the

billing? It more than lived up to the billing, it was one of their

classic encounters. It's a shame for Rafa, Andrew, isn't it? He threw

everything at Roger. I think Rafa was absolutely amazed to lose that.

You lost the last five games playing quite well! Just one or two points

here and there he might have done something slightly differently. You

could see him at the prizegiving ceremony going through it in his

brain, added he lose this match? How did he lose those five games? The

answer is it was just inspiration from this magnificent sportsman.

Trying to put this into some sort of perspective is from the only thing I

can think of, Jack Nicklaus at the 1986 Masters, 24 years or so after

he won his first major championship, shooting a 30 on the back nine to

win the Masters at the age of 46. I consider this to be right up there

with one of those great sports achievements. He is 35, hasn't

played for six months, fitness was obviously a question. He had surgery

on the knee and he comes back and it's all very well hitting his shots

but hitting them when you need them and having the clarity of thought

without any self-doubt, it was very impressive. It's one of the sports

stories of the year, is it even February yet? Not even of the year,

maybe ever! Nobody expected him to come back and it's great for the

game, isn't it? I've been reading through a lot of the newspapers

worldwide and everyone was stopping to watch this for what they mean to

the sport. Everyone was wanting this final and they didn't to happen. You

look at the beginning of the year and you are thinking Djokovic and

Murray, they are above everyone else. Now you've got Nadal and

Federer back in the mix! You've got Nadal coming up to the French Open,

he's favourite, and why not Federer for Wimbledon now on the grass? He

could take four months off and go in without another tournament! He was

pretty successful here. You look at the Williams sisters and Rafa,

planning their schedule, this could be a -- a game changer for the

sport. He is now on 18, Serena is on 23 and one behind Margaret Court. It

illustrates the era we are watching. Andy Murray is world one right now

and he's got to fight these sort of guys off. It's captivating. And then

and Kyle doing very well and Johanna Konta as well. But just rewind that

last 20 minutes and that is how good you have to be. We were talking

about Djokovic catching Federer, or Rafa catching Federer on 18 titles.

It's going to be tough. He was absolutely shattered. For anyone to

catch Roger Federer now, I don't think so. You look at the fitness

from Roger his third five set match during this tournament. Fitness

wise, he's right back there, isn't he? It tells you a lot about

managing your schedule. Take six months off. There's always the

argument about fitness versus rashness. He came back because he

wanted to play. The motivation is still to hit the ball. The money

ceased to be an issue when he won his first slam 15 years ago beating

Mark Philippoussis at Wimbledon. It's about the joy of hitting the

ball and feeling fresh for the challenge each time, in direct

contrast to Andy at the moment who has been playing so much. Going to

be a fascinating year, isn't it? Andy and John, thank you very much.

That's it for the day that we have more tennis coming up for you next

week. We have Canada against Great Britain and it is live coverage from

Ottawa and we will be there on Friday from 8pm on the red button.

That is it, what a final we have had in Melbourne. Shame there has to be

one winner only. That was Roger. He is a legend and his legend grows and

grows. COMMENTATOR: Federer wins the

Australian Open! It is one of the sports stories of all