10 January 2024 , 11:09
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Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal competed in nine Grand Slam finals - the last of those coming in 2017.
The two men, who arguably had the greatest rivalry in tennis, were both well into their 30s with some prepared to write them off. That was until they reignited their narrative by making the final of the Australian Open after winning their respective semi-finals in five sets.
In a fitting end to their story, it was another five-set thriller that would decide who added to their haul of Grand Slams. Federer would come out on top, sealing a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 success. Nadal was a break up in the fifth, leading 3-2 whilst he prepared to serve, only to lose the next four games.
Federer has been on both ends of the scoreline in the past and claimed he would've shared the title with the Spaniard: "Tennis is a tough sport, there’s no draws. But if there was going to be one I would have been very happy to accept a draw tonight and share it with Rafa. Really."
Federer would go on to claim a further two Grand Slams, the last of those coming at the Australian Open in 2018. Nadal meanwhile won another eight and has two more than his Swiss rival, who finished his career with a haul of 20, placing him third on the all-time list.
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Nadal said after his loss at Melbourne in 2017: “Today was a great match. Roger deserved it a bit more than me. I’m just going to keep trying. I feel I am back at a very high level, so I’m going to carry on fighting the whole season.”
Federer and Nadal first squared off in a Grand Slam final in 2006 as the Spaniard began dominating on clay. His French Open title was secured and he would go on to beat the Swiss star in the following two years.
The Swiss icon emerged triumphant in an epic finalThe Wimbledon final of 2006 was the second time they met and the first outside the French Open. Federer maintained his grass dominance, winning again in 2007 before Nadal finally broke the mould in 2008 in one of the greatest ever Wimbledon finals, winning the fifth 9-7.
Nadal won his first Australian Open in 2009, beating Federer in another five set thriller. The Spaniard continued his clay dominance with a comfortable French Open victory in 2011 before a six-year gap until they bought the curtain down at the Australian Open.
The pair faced each other 40 times throughout their entire careers with Nadal leading 24-16. Federer has labelled the Spaniard as his toughest opponent: "I struggled against Rafa the most. Yeah, just because of his topspin and lefty, you know".