February 02, 2009

RAFAEL Nadal produced a win of magnificence in a match worthy of its history-making billing to become the first Spaniard to win the Australian Open.

In overwhelming Federer 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-2, he prevented Roger Federer from joining Pete Sampras in the history books as a holder of a record 14 grand slam titles in an epic lasting 4.23 hours.

Adding further significance to the effort, the six-time grand slam champion claimed his first grand slam on hardcourt. Given his dominance on clay having claimed the past four French Opens and his success at Wimbledon over Federer in another epic last year, it is not beyond the realms to suggest it is possible he can become only the second man to win the Grand Slam.

It will further the heartbreak for Federer, whose own attempt at joining Rod Laver was twice denied when he was unable to beat Nadal at Roland Garros but claimed the other three titles in 2006 and 2007. After the match Federer broke down in tears as he received his runner's up trophy from one of his heroes, Rod Laver.

Nadal's effort to position himself is extraordinary, for this was a final played at a heavenly level.

Only two nights earlier Nadal had conquered Fernando Verdasco in the longest-match ever played at Melbourne Park, an epic that greats such as Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall conceded was as fine as they had witnessed.

They may need to reconsider. Perfection must be the only word capable of describing some of the points played last night in front of a record crowd of 22,098, with more than 7000 fans jamming the outside area to watch on the big screen.

The pair's last grand slam outing came in a Wimbledon final labelled one of the greatest ever witnessed.

This was certainly the best seen here, even given the fine nature of Mats Wilander's victory over Pat Cash in the first final played on Rod Laver Arena in 1988, the only prior championship decider to reach five sets.

Tennis is often compared to a boxing encounter, such is the individual focus of the encounter, and the two foes would rival any adversary to have played the sport.

Whenever Federer was on the ropes, he would produce a counter-punch of magnificent proportions. Witness his level initially to finally find a path through Nadal's defence to level the match at a set-all with a blistering forehand.

To somehow overcome the emotional fatigue after conceding a break point at 2-all in the fourth set that one keen observer labelled among the best in tennis history, such was the breadth of court covered, the contrast and absurdity of every shot played, the sheer perfection of placement and movement with the match in the balance that ended with Nadal whipping a forehand winner up the line.

Nadal in a corner? It provoked effectively the response of a red-rag waved at a bull.

Despite the marathon encounter of two nights earlier, the conquistador of the Swiss master showed no signs of fatigue entering the fifth set with the final verging on four hours, rattling his opponent with his sustained brilliance to move to a 4-1 lead, an advantage he held to the end despite Federer staving off two match points with a boldness befitting the match.

This was more than a slug-fest, though the power and brutality of shot and movement were evident throughout. The inexhaustible belief in their own ability to succeed regardless of the situation is testament to mental powers more than remarkable.

For Nadal it was his ability to stand when the exhaustion of Friday night should have been apparent at the beginning of the fifth set. For Federer it was his ability to overcome early problems on serve. Nerves were apparent in his opening game as he dropped with a series of shanked groundstrokes.

While still playing extremely well, he still faltered four times in his opening nine service games, though this was more due to the elite level of Nadal's play than any real weakness of his own.

But when the world No.2 made the serve, he won four of every five points compared to Nadal's three from five by midway through the third set. It was a set that had to rate among the best played at the venue.

Leading 4-3 in the set Nadal showed signs of fatigue and sought help from the trainer - commentator Jim Courier commenting that he could not remember it happening previously to the Spaniard - and when play resumed it was Federer who further upped the pace, holding easily initially on serve before moving to three break points for a chance to serve for a two sets to one lead at 5-4.

Yet the first went with a crosscourt backhand winner. The second saved with a ferocious off forehand for the same result. A dumped forehand off a second serve from Federer surrendered the advantage.

A champion earns that tag as much for their resilience as their brilliance and Nadal, who claimed the game, is the definition.

Australian Open: F - Mens Singles, F Match 1 - Rod Laver Arena 01 Feb 09
Rafael Nadal (1) defeated 7 3 7(7) 3 6
Roger Federer (2) 5 6 6(3) 6 2