SPEECH NADAL

Roger Federer won his 18th Grand Slam title and put some extra distance on the all-
time list between himself and Rafael Nadal, the man he beat 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in a
vintage Australian Open final on Sunday night.

It was the 35-year-old Federer's first major title since Wimbledon in 2012, his first in
Australia since 2010.

Both players were returning from extended layoffs Federer for six months after
Wimbledon with an injured left knee; Nadal for a couple of months with an injured left
wrist

It's been a different last six months, I wasn't sure I was going to make it here but here I
am we made it, Federer said after accepting the trophy.

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. If there was going to be one, I would have
been happy to have it tonight and share it with Rafa, really.

Federer had lost six of the previous eight Grand Slam finals he'd played against Nadal,
and had only previously beaten the left-handed Spaniard in 11 of their 34 matches.

Nadal remains equal second with Pete Sampras on the all-time list, with the last of
Nadal's 14 majors coming at Roland Garros in 2014.

He missed his chance to be the first man in the Open era to win each of the four Grand
Slams twice. Instead, Federer became the first man in the Open era to win three Grand
Slam titles at least five times (Wimbledon 7, U.S. Open 5, Australian Open 5
and French Open 1).

After four sets, the fifth had all the tension and drama that these two players are famous
for.

Nadal saved three break points in the eighth game but lost momentum again when
Federer finished off a 26-shot rally the longest of the match with a forehand
winner down the line.

Consecutive forehand errors gave Federer the pivotal break for 5-3, but Nadal made him
work for the very last point.

Serving for the match, Federer had to save two break points with an ace and a forehand
winner.

At deuce, he was called for a double-fault but challenged the out call on his second
serve. The call was overturned, and he got to play two.

Not long after, he fired an ace to get his second match point and hit a forehand
crosscourt winner to finish off.
His celebrations were delayed, though, when Nadal challenged the call. Federer
watched the replay on the tournament screen, and leaped for joy when it showed his last
shot was in. His 100th match at the Australian Open ended with his fifth title at
Melbourne Park.

Congratulation to Roger Just amazing, the way he's playing after such a long time of
him not being on the tour, Nadal said. For sure, you have been working a lot to make
that happen. So congratulations.

Nadal spent two months recovering from a left wrist injury before heading to Brisbane
for a warmup tournament, breaking his usual routine. He reached the quarterfinals there,
and had no expectations of reaching the final in Australia.

I had some hard time not being able to compete in full condition. some injuries, well
not new for me, but still tough when it happens, Nadal said. I fight a lot these two
weeks. Today, a great match, probably Roger deserved it a little bit more than me.

No two players had met more often in Grand Slam finals in the Open era, and Nadal had
previously dominated. But they hadn't met in a major final since the 2011 French Open,
won by Nadal.

Three months ago, they were both on breaks when Federer joined Nadal in Mallorca for
the opening of the Spaniard's tennis academy and the pair joked about ever being able to
contend for majors again.

Yet here they were, first Grand Slam tournament of the season, renewing the classic
rivalry that saw them dominate tennis a decade ago.

QUESTIONS ABOUT FEDERER AND NADAL

Whats your opinin about nadal?

Whats your opinin about Federer?

Who do you think is better, Federer or Nadal?

Who is more skillfull?

Who is more physical?

Dont you think Nadal is better model than Ronaldo, Neymar?

What does Nadal represent for you? For Spain?