Rafa glory in epic Australian Open final

By Mike Hedge, 2 Feb 2009 Mike Hedge is a Roar Rookie

Tagged:: Australian Open, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Tennis

Related coverage

Tennis news

With a tear, a hug and an on-court performance he will undoubtedly regret, Roger Federer has had to accept he is the world’s second best tennis player.

And his chances of reclaiming the supremacy he held for a record four and a half years is surely remote unless injury halts Rafael Nadal.

The game’s greatest money winner lost his Australian Open final early on Monday to a 22-year-old whose place as the world’s best player is as clearly defined as Federer’s place as the second best.

Nadal beat Federer 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-3 in the first Australian final in 20 years to go to five sets and only the second ever to go the full distance.

The match that promised to be an epic probably became more, particularly for Nadal.

The Spaniard played his final two matches of the Open on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the semi-final and final taking a combined 9 hours 37 minutes.

But any notion that his semi-final would take a physical toll was to prove mistaken.

Nadal finished the match as physically sound as his opponent.

Mentally, he was in better shape.

Federer, as he did when he won the second of his three Australian Opens in 2006, broke down at the presentation, this time as he received the runner-up trophy.

“It hurts me to lose,” he said.

“It just overwhelms you and you can’t go into the locker room and have a cold shower.”

“I don’t want to have the last word. This guy deserves it. You played incredible. You deserved it, man,” Federer told Nadal.

“I’d like to thank the legends for coming out. You know how much it means to me.”

Then Nadal suggested in his gracious victory speech that Federer may well join the pantheon of the men whom he idolises so much.

“I know how you feel right now, it’s really tough,” he said.

“But you remember you are a great champion. You are one of the best of history.”

With his trophy under one arm, he threw the other around his rival in a moment that was more uncomfortable than touching, but nevertheless well meant.

It at least calmed the loser enough to say his “thank yous” and collect a cheque for A$1 million.

Nadal got one for A$2 million and extended his lead in the rankings.

Until this morning, Federer seemed only a match or two away from deposing Nadal from the position he claimed last August.

But the Spaniard proved here his defeat of Federer at Wimbledon last year and at the past three French Opens is a true reflection their relative abilities.

Nadal also showed that he is a champion who has gained acceptance with every tournament – for all his grunting, his questionable wardrobe and his constant difficulties with his underwear.

And with his first grand slam win on a hard court, along with his total dominance on clay and his obvious liking for the Wimbledon grass, he has the best chance of any player in 40 years to do what Laver did and sweep all four grand slams.

Factbox of Australian Open men’s champion Rafael Nadal (prefix denotes seeding):

RAFAEL NADAL (ESP)

Age: 22
Ranking: 1
Plays: left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US20,814,797 PLUS $AUD2 million
Career titles: 32
Grand slam titles: 6 Nadal (Australian Open 2009; French Open 2005-08; Wimbledon 2008)
Career win-loss record: 338-78
Australian Open win-loss record: 21-4

ROAD TO TITLE

1st rd: bt Christophe Rochus (BEL) 6-0 6-2 6-2
2nd rd: bt Rocko Karanusic (CRO) 6-2 6-3 6-2
3rd rd: bt Tommy Hass (GER) 6-4 6-2 6-2 6-2
4th rd: bt 13-Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 6-3 6-2 6-4
QF: bt 6-Gilles Simon (FRA) 6-2 7-5 7-5
SF: bt 14-Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (1-7) 6-4
F: bt 2-Roger Federer (SUI) 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-2

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Nadal leads Federer 13-6 (5-2 at grand slams)

2004 Miami, hard, Nadal 6-3 6-3
2005 Miami, hard, Federer 2-6 6-7(4-7) 7-6(7-5) 6-3 6-1
2005 French Open, clay, Nadal 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-3
2006 Dubai, hard, Nadal 2-6 6-4 6-4
2006 Monte Carlo, clay, Nadal 6-2 6-7(2-7) 6-3 7-6(7-5)
2006 Rome, clay, Nadal 6-7(0-7) 7-6(7-5) 6-4 2-6 7-6(7-5)
2006 French Open, clay, Nadal 1-6 6-1 6-4 7-6(7-4)
2006 Wimbledon, grass, Federer 6-0 7-6(7-5) 6-7(2-7) 6-3
2006 Masters Cup, Shanghai, hard, Federer 6-4 7-5
2007 Monte Carlo, clay, Nadal 6-4 6-4
2007 Hamburg, clay, Federer 2-6 6-2 6-0
2007 French Open, clay, Nadal 6-3 4-6 6-3 6-4
2007 Wimbledon, grass, Federer 7-6(9-7) 4-6 7-6(7-3) 2-6 6-2
2007 Masters Cup, Shanghai, hard, Federer 6-4 6-1
2008 Monte Carlo, clay, Nadal 7-5 7-5
2008 Hamburg, clay, Nadal 7-5 6-7(3-7) 6-3
2008 French Open, clay, Nadal 6-1 6-3 6-0
2008 Wimbledon, grass, Nadal 6-4 6-4 6-7(5) 6-7(8) 9-7
2009 Australian Open, hard, Nadal 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-2

Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.

The Crowd Says (24) | Page 1 of Comments

The Link said | February 2nd 2009 @ 7:50am | Report comment

Two great champions, brilliant and humble at the same time, a credit to the game.

Who said sportsmanship was dead?

Reply
Jason Cave said | February 2nd 2009 @ 8:08am | Report comment

One of the best Australian Open finals ever played. This final had everything and more. Well done to both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for putting on a fantastic display of high-powered tennis. And a lot better to watch than the women’s final the night before.

Reply
The Cougar said | February 2nd 2009 @ 8:49am | Report comment

Agreed. Freakish tennis at times, and two great role models who are amazingly skilled and tough competitors, but also have humility and dignity to match.

Reply
sheek said | February 2nd 2009 @ 9:40am | Report comment

Why should Federer regret this match?

He played his heart out, & was beaten by a better player on the day. You can’t do anymore than that. Sure, he had his chances to claim a psychological blow & advanatge in the 3rd set, but Nadal found a way to survive. Champions do that.

A privilege to see.

Reply
Spiro Zavos said | February 2nd 2009 @ 5:18pm | Report comment

The curious thing about the Federer-Nadal rivalry is that Nadal now has Federer’s measure on all surfaces, clay (the French Open), grass (Wimbledon) and now hard court (the Australian Open). But in the US Open last year, Andy Murray defeated Nadal quite easily. I thought that the way Murray defeated Nadal, the tactics etc would be a pointer to Federer to how he should play Nadal, who has won five titles now defeating Federer in the final.
The experiment of Federer not having a coach needs to be stopped, I believe. He should go back to Tony Roche, a left-hander like Nadal, to get a game plan to defeat a player who stands metres behind the service line and rarely comes to the net. Surely there are tactics like playing the ball short and forcing Nadal forward (what Murray did) which would force Nadal out of his comfort zone.

Reply
Boss said | February 2nd 2009 @ 5:29pm | Report comment

Did everyone swith off television sets post match?

For someone heralded for his chivalrous sportsmanship, Roger Federer certainly claimed alot of unheralded attention in a moment that belonged to a far more humbled champion in Rafael Nadal after Championship point last night.

Roger has long held the limelight as ‘Mr Tennis’; both on and off court. His adoration for the tradition and greats of the game is ever-present and admirable, yet I have to question if any of the game’s respect for him will be lost after his actions at the Presentation. 14 Grand Slams was Federer’s dream, but what about all the dreams lost in the 13 Grand Slams he currently has to his name?

Federer will long be presented as a ‘humble’ champion, yet I think it’s fair to say that Federer is also a realist, and knows how great he is – he rattles off his own statistics better than an excel spreadsheet could manage at times! His passion is unquestionable. He is “in love” with the game and wants to cement his passion in all the record books understandably, but last night his disappointment overshadowed a man that is on track to re-write all the history books!

Rafael Nadal is one of the fiercest competitors in men’s tennis, and despite a phenomenal five set victory over a man he describes as “a true champion”, Rafa remained tasteful the moment the Championship was decided.

There was no bouncing up and down, no tears, no jumping into the Yarra. Cast your mind back to Roger Federer beating Marcos Baghdatis at the Aus Open – there were uncomposed tears of joy.

Last nights defeat might have “killed” Roger, as the loss of something we truly love shatters us all, but surely infront of the likes of Rod Laver, Tony Roache, Murray Rose and John Newcombe, Fed could have held himself together a little better. After all, he had the utmost respect and understanding of his loss at the other end of the court in Rafa the entire night, and I think follolwing his gracious gestures toward Fed, (who initially could not even congratulate his opponent) he should long be heralded one of the most humbled sportsman in world sport to date.

Boss.

Reply
ohtani's jacket said | February 2nd 2009 @ 5:53pm | Report comment

Spiro, Federer tried the drop shot in this match. He tried a fair number of things. The problem is Nadal never tires. He looked fresher at the end of the match than he did in the third set. When Federer won the fourth set, he was probably expecting Nadal to tire, but instead he started upping his service game.

Reply
dasilva said | February 2nd 2009 @ 6:45pm | Report comment

Boss

Yeah I agree. Federer crying in the final of “God it’s killing me” seems very ungracious. Like he can’t handle losing a tennis match and he is sulking over it. His tears were more suited after winning the match not losing it and it seems like he was hogging the limelight from Nadal.

Reply
Benjamin Conkey said | February 2nd 2009 @ 6:57pm | Report comment

Give the guy a break. He’s an emotional person. The fact that Rod Laver was there was part of the reason..as he has so much respect for ‘Rocket’s’ incredible career..and you could see that once he composed himself and began his second speech he almost broke up again when he mentioned Rod.

He clearly realised that it wasn’t his moment, which is why he spoke again before Nadal because he wanted Nadal to have ‘the final say..because he deserves it’.

In the end you have to take your hat off to Nadal. The best counter-puncher of all-time..the way he hits winners on the defence is freakish.

Reply
onside said | February 2nd 2009 @ 7:17pm | Report comment

If this match was not the Australian open there would be little written about the emotional side of these two men.
Its all very Australian. Tennis is front and centre when either 1.an Australian or born again Australian is playing
in a grand slam tournament or,2.its the finals of the Australian open. Then the circus moves on. In a weeks time
most people that attended the tournament will have no idea in which country this group of athletes are playing .
Crickets the same,if Australia is not playing ,its a non event.”Lara made a hundred and forty three against India ”
” Oh yeah,who are Collingwood playing tommorow”.And so it goes.

Reply