The analytics of Roger Federer’s dramatic victory at the Australian Open fly in the face of what we think matters most to succeed in our sport. Federer manufactured a stunning 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Rafael Nadal, despite having a losing record from the back of the court.

When you look at practice courts all over the world, the baseline is king. Federer won only 44.6 per cent (70/157) from the back of the court in the Melbourne final. But he thrived in the less popular front of the court, winning 73 per cent (29/40) at net.

Serve and volley is basically a forgotten tactic, but Federer won a substantial 77 per cent (10/13) to enjoy one of the sweetest Grand Slam titles of his career.

Nadal is widely acknowledged as far superior in longer rallies than pretty much every other player on tour, but Federer got the upper hand in the short, medium and long rallies against the Spaniard.

Rally Length Won / Lost

0-4 Shots Federer 95 / Nadal 89 (+6)

5-8 Shots Federer 37 / Nadal 34 (+3)

9+ Shots Federer 18 / Nadal 16 (+2)

The first four sets were a tantalising entree. The fifth set was the main meal and Federer was sitting at the head of the table.

Federer won 80 per cent (12/15) of first-serve points in the fifth set and a resounding 57 per cent (8/14) on second serve. He also made more returns – 82 per cent (31/38) – than he had during any other set in the match. When the ball needed to go in the court, that’s exactly what he made happen.

Federer didn’t back into the fifth set victory. He grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and willed it out of the balmy summer Melbourne evening.

Federer hit 23 winners in the deciding set, which was the most of any of the five sets played. What stood tall under the spotlight of potential Grand Slam glory was his backhand.

Federer had accumulated six backhand winners in the first four sets, but he crushed eight in the deciding fifth set. Everyone on the planet thought that this shot would capitulate against Nadal, who has broken it down in previous encounters better than anyone in the world.

It seemed a foregone conclusion that the Nadal forehand would own the Federer backhand. Someone simply forgot to tell the Swiss legend how the story used to end.

Federer also hit eight forehand winners in the deciding fifth set, adding to the 20 he had already struck in the first four sets.

Federer targeted Nadal’s backhand return in the deuce court, serving 27 first serves out wide and 20 down the middle. In the ad court, Federer went more with the centre serve, hitting 21 down the middle and 16 out wide to Nadal’s forehand.

Nadal’s slight edge came when Federer hit a second serve, with the Spaniard winning 59 per cent (20/34) of baseline points when Federer started the point with his second-serve delivery.

Federer also struggled from the back of the court against Nadal’s second serve, only winning 39 per cent (11/28) of baseline points when the Spaniard started the point with a second serve.

Our eyes want us to believe that Nadal runs around the back of the court far more than Federer, but their distance run in the final was almost identical. Federer averaged 11.14 metres per point to Nadal’s 11.44 metres. Federer ran a total of 3,218 metres to Nadal’s 3,306 metres. That equates to the Spaniard running just 88 metres more over the three hour and 38 minutes.

When Federer won the first point of his service game, he won all 14 of the games. When he lost the first point of his service game, he won just four of eight, which was similar to Nadal’s five of 10. It was these small margins on big points that contributed to the victory.

Federer was magnificent on all levels. He has now 18 Grand Slam titles. After not playing a tour-level match since Wimbledon, this is possibly the sweetest of them all.

Read More: Roger Revels In ‘Beautiful Moment’

ATPWorldTour.com reflects on the Melbourne fortnight

1. ROGER AND RAFA AREN’T DONE YET

With Rafael Nadal’s ongoing wrist issues causing him to cut this past season short in October, and Roger Federer sitting out after Wimbledon to continue rehabbing following knee surgery, some critics wondered if their bodies could withstand the rigours of professional tennis. Those doubts were swiftly erased by both players with their form this tournament.

Federer and Nadal recaptured the level of tennis that has brought them countless titles throughout their careers, firing winners at will and tracking down shots that seemed impossible to reach. Perhaps most importantly, they showed no issues with fitness or stamina, prevailing in a pair of five-set matches en route to the final before producing their own epic five-set classic in the championship match. With both players now back inside the Top 10 of the Emirates ATP Rankings, it’s possible they could both be challenging for the top spot by the end of the season. Federer and Nadal are also hoping their strong start to the year will aid in a return to the ATP Finals in London.

2. THE ZVEREV BROTHERS ARE PRIMED FOR SUCCESS

Alexander Zverev and Mischa Zverev both enjoyed outstanding results this fortnight, but their paths to success in Melbourne have been radically different. Alexander is one of the emerging #NextGenATP stars and appears destined for greatness. The No. 24 seed gave Nadal all he could handle in the third round before the Spaniard prevailed in a marathon five-set match, but gained plenty of fans with his aggressive baseline play and ability to work a crowd.

Meanwhile, 29-year-old Mischa has endured a laundry list of injuries that saw him outside of the Top 1,000 of the Emirates ATP Rankings in 2015. But after revitalizing his career and re-entering the Top 60 this past season, he captivated fans this tournament with a magical run to the quarter-finals that included a win over World No. 1 Andy Murray. His vintage serve-and-volley tactics delighted fans and proved that as long as he can continue to remain healthy, he can do plenty of damage on the ATP World Tour.

Watch: Zverev’s Comeback Story

3. THE DEPTH IN MEN’S TENNIS IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH

The days where the top two seeds could be penciled in for major titles are long gone. From Denis Istomin’s shocking second-round upset over two-time defending champion and second seed Novak Djokovic, to Zverev’s victory over Murray, unseeded players are proving they’re also capable of making big runs at important tournaments. The trend even extended to doubles, with Aussie wild cards Marc Polmans/Andrew Whittington reaching the semi-finals.

Watch: Istomin Reacts To Victory Over Djokovic

4. MURRAY, DJOKOVIC NO. 1 BATTLE PUT ON HOLD (FOR NOW)

Although Murray was disappointed with his early exit in Melbourne, he maintained his No. 1 standing by still advancing farther in the tournament than Djokovic. The Brit has minimal points to defend over the next two months, while Djokovic will defend ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles in Indian Wells and Miami. Should there be a change in the top spot, it wouldn’t happen until the clay-court season at the earliest.

5. NEXT GEN ATP STARS ANNOUNCE THEIR ARRIVAL

Zverev wasn’t the only #NextGenATP star to make his presence felt this tournament, with several other emerging stars also producing solid tennis over the past two weeks. Among them are Ernesto Escobedo, Noah Rubin, Andrey Rublev, Frances Tiafoe and Alexander Bublik, who all came through qualifying and won their first-round matches in the main draw. Bublik recorded the biggest upset over No. 16 seed Lucas Pouille. Another honorable mention goes to a future #NextGenATP star in 17-year-old Aussie Alex De Minaur, who saved a match point in winning his opening round five-set battle over Gerald Melzer. 

Watch: Bublik Is King Of Tricks

The talk of history could wait for Roger Federer.

Hours after the Swiss had won his 18^th Grand Slam title, padding his own record, the 35 year old wasn’t interested in discussing what it meant to add another victory to his historic tally and increase the distance between he and Rafael Nadal and Pete Sampras, both of whom have 14 Grand Slam crowns.

Instead, Federer was more interested in talking about what had just happened on Rod Laver Arena. “For me it’s all about the comeback, about an epic match with Rafa again. Doing it here in Australia, that I’m so thankful to Peter Carter and Tony Roche, and just people… My popularity here, their support, that I can still do it at my age after not having won a slam for almost five years. That’s what I see,” Federer said. “The last problem is the slam count. Honestly, it doesn’t matter.”

It was a match cherished by all Federer fans, no doubt, but by all tennis fans as well: Two of the all-time greats battling for more than three and a half hours for the Australian Open title, the first Grand Slam of the season. Last November, the two were in the same position as well, except resting. Federer sat in Switzerland, rehabbing his left knee. Nadal was in Spain, undergoing the same delicate process for his left wrist.

For both men, it had also been more than a year since they had last played for a Grand Slam title: Federer, 2015 US Open, which he lost; and Nadal, 2014 Roland Garros, which he won. The wait made the win that much more meaningful for Federer.

“The magnitude of this match is going to feel different. I can’t compare this one to any other one except for maybe [2009 Roland Garros],” said Federer, who won the Paris title after three consecutive runner-up finishes in 2006-08. “ I waited for the French Open, I tried, I fought. I tried again and failed. Eventually I made it. This feels similar.”

The Melbourne title was also Federer’s first Grand Slam title with coach Ivan Ljubicic. “It’s obviously special for the entire team. It was [Ljubicic’s] first Grand Slam final as a player or as a coach. Obviously he was nervous all day. I tried to calm him down,” Federer said, smiling. “The same thing with my physio, too. I think I can sense that this is not something that he’s seen so many times. Whereas Severin [Luthi, Federer’s other coach], he was totally relaxed about it.

“It’s beautiful for all of us. I know how happy they are because they are more than just a coach or a physio or whatever. They’re all my friends. So we spent a lot of time talking about am I going to get back to 100 per cent, and if I did, what would it require to win a Grand Slam. Now we made it. We’re going to be partying like rock stars tonight. I can tell you that.”

The team all contributed to the win, too, Federer’s 18^th and one of his most memorable yet. “I told myself to play free. That’s what we discussed with Ivan and Severin before the matches. You play the ball, you don’t play the opponent. Be free in your head, be free in your shots, go for it. The brave will be rewarded here. I didn’t want to go down just making shots, seeing forehands rain down on me from Rafa. I think it was the right decision at the right time,” Federer said. “I had opportunities early on in the fifth, as well, to get back on even terms. I could have been left disappointed there and accepted that fact. I kept on fighting. I kept on believing, like I did all match long today, that there was a possibility I could win this match.”

Read More: Nadal: ‘Playing Like This, Good Things Can Happen’

It was a rivalry renewed for the 35th time and it more than lived up to the hype and expectations. Roger Federer edged Rafael Nadal in a rollercoaster five-set thriller for the Australian Open crown on Sunday, prevailing 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in three hours and 37 minutes.

The victory was sweet for Federer, claiming another slice of history with an unprecedented 18th major title. For Nadal, his own opportunity to surge into the record books was denied.

The Spaniard was bidding to become the first player in the Open Era to capture all four Grand Slam titles on multiple occasions. But, speaking to the assembled media following the match, Nadal refused to view the defeat in a negative light. After concluding his 2016 ATP World Tour campaign early due to a wrist injury, he believes that the final run in Melbourne will propel him to even greater things in 2017.

“I feel happy,” Nadal said. “I played a great quality of tennis during the whole month [in Brisbane and Melbourne]. That’s great news for me. The only goal for me is keep going. I believe that if I have my body in the right conditions, I can have a great year because I feel that I am playing well.

“I cannot predict what’s going on in the future. That’s always the same thing. I just think that I am playing well. I worked hard to be where I am. I believe that playing like this, good things can happen. It can happen here on this surface. If I am able to play like this, to have matches like I did the other day, and recover well as I recovered, then the opponents don’t get that many free points and I am playing solid from the baseline. If I made that happen, I think I can keep having success on hard courts, but on clay can be special.”

Nadal has many positives to take from a strong start to the season. The Spaniard entered Melbourne Park after a quarter-final finish at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp and proceeded to kick his game into another gear.

A pair of straight-set victories over former Top 20 players Florian Mayer and Marcos Baghdatis was followed by a gritty, five-set triumph over #NextGenATP star and 24th seed Alexander Zverev. Nadal rallied from a two-sets-to-one deficit to reach the Round of 16 and he was not done there. The Mallorca native recorded consecutive Top 10 wins on a hard court for the first time since the 2015 ATP Finals, downing Gael Monfils and Milos Raonic, before edging a resurgent Grigor Dimitrov in a pulsating semi-final encounter.

Nadal admits that reaching his first final in nearly 10 months has provided much-needed confidence in his game. Belief in his abilities at this stage of his career is paramount.

“Being honest, last year I felt great coming here, but not as well as this year,” Nadal added. “I felt great. But I lost in the first round. This year I won an important match against Zverev in the third round. That’s important. I won great matches against great players.

“I competed well against everybody. That’s the most important thing for me. That makes me feel happy. Of course, winning an event like this is so important. For me, if I won that one, it would have been amazing. But the real thing is what makes me more happy, more than the titles, is going on the court and feeling that I can enjoy the sport.

“Today I am enjoying the sport. Last year I only had the chance to enjoy the sport between Indian Wells and Madrid, because in Madrid I got injured in the quarter-finals. That’s the real feeling.

“At this moment in my career, more than titles, for sure if I am playing well, I believe that I am going to win titles. More than all these kinds of things is being healthy enough to work the way I need to work, to fight for the things I want to fight for. I’m going to keep trying to do that and to work the same way.”

Nadal is scheduled to resume his 2017 ATP World Tour campaign next month at the 500 events in Rotterdam and Acapulco. He is making his first appearance at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament since 2009, where he continues his quest for his first hard-court crown since Doha 2014, and will be seeking a third title at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, taking part in the Latin American Golden Swing for the fifth straight year. 

“I said before the tournament started that I felt that I was practising great. Then you need to do it in the matches and I did. I have great satisfaction. I cannot say that I am sad. I wanted to win, yes, but I am not very sad. I did all the things that I could. I worked a lot during all these months. I kept working and I competed well.

“I enjoyed the competition. I won against the best players in the world, and I competed well against everybody. That’s the most important thing for me and that gives me confidence to keep playing and that’s what I’m going to try.”

One of the greatest rivalries in the history of tennis will add a 35th chapter in Sunday’s Australian Open final when Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer battle for the first major title of 2017. The players have won a combined 31 Grand Slam titles but Nadal last triumphed at Roland Garros in 2014 and Federer has not held a major since Wimbledon 2012. Federer is seeking to extend his all-time record-haul to 18, while Nadal is hoping to move into outright second position all time with a 15th major.

Nadal leads the FedEx ATP Head2Head series 23-11 and holds a 9-7 edge on hard courts. When the players last met more than a year ago in the 2015 final of the Swiss Indoor Basel, Federer’s three-set win elevated his record in hard-court finals against Nadal to 3-2, adding to his victories at the 2010 ATP Finals and the 2005 Miami Open. The Basel result snapped Nadal’s five-match winning streak against the Swiss.

Nadal has won all three meetings with Federer at the Australian Open, taking semi-final victories in 2014 and 2012 and their five-set epic in the 2009 final.

Here is an in-depth look at all of their previous clashes.

2015 Swiss Indoors Basel final, Basel, hard, Federer d. Nadal 63 57 63
The long wait for one of the greatest rivalries of all time to be renewed finally ended, with Federer and Nadal drawn to clash for the ATP World Tour 500 series title in Basel. It had been 21 months since they last faced off on the hard courts of the Australian Open and both competitors were eager to notch another victory in the clash of titans. After more than two hours on court, it was Federer who claimed his sixth title of the season, seventh in his hometown and 88th of his career, clawing past his rival in a high-octane affair.

Predicated on an attacking mentality, both players looked to open the court and keep rallies short throughout. After splitting the first two sets, a Nadal double fault in the third game of the decider would give Federer a break chance to claim a potentially decisive break, but the Spaniard dispelled any such notion. He would win the battle, but the Swiss would win the war, grabbing the decisive break for 5-3 and serving it out a game later after two hours and three minutes on court. The former Basel ballboy out-aced Nadal 12-0 and struck 44 total winners. He converted on three of seven break points.

2014 Australian Open semi-final, Melbourne, hard, Nadal d. Federer 76(4) 63 63
Nadal and Federer had met on the same court exactly two years ago, when Nadal prevailed in four sets before losing out to Novak Djokovic in a near-six-hour finale. As they returned to Rod Laver Arena, it was with renewed hope for Federer that he might get his first Grand Slam win over Nadal since the 2007 Wimbledon final.

With Stefan Edberg in his corner and a larger racquet head paying dividends, Federer came into the semi-finals feeling confident on the back of impressive victories over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Andy Murray. With Nadal also struggling with a troublesome blister on his left palm, would this be Federer’s chance to reach his 25th major final?

In short, no. Nadal produced an awesome display, punctuated with remarkable passing shots, to which Federer had no answer. While Nadal excelled, he needed to, to combat the high level of aggression from Federer. The Swiss did not relent in coming to the net, despite often being thwarted by Nadal’s passing shots, and stepped in to hit over his backhand returns, instead of slicing them all.

But with Nadal looking to chase down Federer’s tally of 17 major titles, the Spaniard afforded Federer no mercy as he claimed the victory in two hours and 23 minutes, setting a final clash with Stanislas Wawrinka.

2013 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals semi-final, London, indoor hard, Nadal d. Federer 75 63
Federer had won all four of their previous encounters at the season finale, most recently in the 2010 title match at The O2, but Nadal defeated the six-time champion in straight sets to reach his 14th final of a remarkable year.

After three straight service breaks, Nadal closed out a hold to love with his eighth forehand winner to end the 43-minute first set. Federer, who needed to be aggressive, struck 11 winners and committed 15 unforced errors in a high-quality opener. In the second set, Federer committed a forehand error in the fifth game to give Nadal the break. Nadal tightened up his game and at 5-3, created one match point opportunity at 30/40. Federer serve and volleyed, but Nadal’s backhand return was low enough to get Federer into trouble. He hit a backhand volley long to end the 80-minute encounter.

2013 Western & Southern Open quarter-final, Cincinnati, hard, Nadal d. Federer 57 64 63
In arguably their most riveting encounter since their 2012 Australian Open semi-final, Nadal outlasted Federer after three sets of high quality tennis. The Spaniard needed five match points to close out the 32-year-old Swiss, extending his winning streak on hard courts in 2013 to 13-0 and moving one step closer to a 37th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final.

Federer executed a highly aggressive game plan early on, which included topping many backhand returns and attacking the net with authority. He would capture the first set on a late break at 5-5 30/40, but Nadal would refuse to succumb to his rival, turning the tables late in the second set. As Federer’s unforced error count rose to 44, Nadal continued to apply pressure on his serve with deep angled returns with significant pace. The World No. 3 took an immediate lead in the third set, breaking for 2-0 and holding serve from there to the finish line. In a dramatic final game, Federer rallied from 0/40 and eventually saved four match points before Nadal rifled a forehand down the line to close it out.

Nadal improved to an overall record of 21-10 against Federer with the win, ending the five-time Cincinnati champ’s bid to repeat.

Federer vs Nadal:
Matches 21-30 | Matches 11-20 | Matches 1-10

Tennis fans, media and players worldwide were gripped as the 35^th installment of the Roger Federer – Rafael Nadal rivalry saw the pair face off in a classic five-set battle in the Australian Open final on Sunday evening. See how they reacted on social media to what immediately became a trending storyline around the world.

Worldwide Trending

Social Reaction

??? #AusOpen #Federer pic.twitter.com/8sGRAqbDYy

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2017

Thank you both, don't you ever quit tennis!! GRANDEEE ROGER ? So inspiring!!

— Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) January 29, 2017

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What a match @AustralianOpen ??!!! Amazing @rogerfederer ?!!!!! 18?!!!!!! ????

— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) January 29, 2017

What a great and amazing match to wake up for. Thank you Roger, thank you Rafa. @AustralianOpen

— Milos Raonic (@milosraonic) January 29, 2017

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Roger – Rafa ???????????. Gracias !!! @AustralianOpen

— Juan Monaco (@picomonaco) January 29, 2017

Congratulations @RogerFederer on Grand Slam win No. 18! As a huge fan of tennis and you, don't stop there. pic.twitter.com/PVDuEzJnI6

— Jack Nicklaus (@jacknicklaus) January 29, 2017

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I just hope that you guys never leave us..Bravo @rogerfederer Today's match was so inspiring..❤

— Feliciano López (@feliciano_lopez) January 29, 2017

The king is back @rogerfederer

— Sasha Bublik (@AlexanderBublik) January 29, 2017

That's the most amazing thing I've ever seen! Congratulations @rogerfederer ! Absolute privilege to watch

— Ryan Harrison (@ryanharrison92) January 29, 2017

Everyone stop right now .. take 6 months off. Come back. Win ….. can't believe what I watched. Congrats to my friend @rogerfederer

— andyroddick (@andyroddick) January 29, 2017

And to @RafaelNadal … one of the classiest champions I've ever known. Tennis is lucky for having you in it … GRANDE

— andyroddick (@andyroddick) January 29, 2017

Just finished DVR @AustralianOpen final. Epic match, one for the ages! Amazing from both @rogerfederer & @RafaelNadal. Congratulations RF ?

— Kevin Anderson (@kevinanderson18) January 29, 2017

This is tennis ?❤! Thanks so much guys for everything you showed us during all this years! pic.twitter.com/6xjE2SvRYW

— Fernando Verdasco (@FerVerdasco) January 29, 2017

.@rogerfederer is honestly my biggest hero. So happy for him right now?

— Denis Shapovalov (@denis_shapo) January 29, 2017

???? #Champion pic.twitter.com/H5KRuaMwYo

— Santiago Giraldo (@SantiGiraldoSG) January 29, 2017

#be18ive #peRFect #18 #crack #AusOpen RF

— Santiago Gonzalez (@gonzalezsanty) January 29, 2017

Wow Roger and rafa… So much class!!!! ?

— Somdev Devvarman (@SomdevD) January 29, 2017

If you aren't motivated to play 24 hours of tennis tomorrow you are playing the wrong sport. Simply thank you to the Fed/Rafa rivalry.

— Noah Rubin (@Noahrubin33) January 29, 2017

Incredible final it was.That 5thset every point I was on the edge of my seat.Champions all the way @rogerfederer @RafaelNadal #FedererNadal pic.twitter.com/xrkQ3eHbys

— Rohan Bopanna (@rohanbopanna) January 29, 2017

Still speechless. What a match. Thx to both guys!! Congrats @rogerfederer on ?18. Simply amazing

— Alexander Peya (@AlexanderPeya) January 29, 2017

I feel so ? right now for the legend of our sport @rogerfederer. Huge ?? for the fifth #AusOpen ? and for ? all of us with your ?! https://t.co/pIQ8pVwto1

— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@StefTsitsipas) January 29, 2017

The world of tennis should be so proud to have Rafa and Roger as ambassadors for our sport!!!

— Thomas Johansson (@tompatennis) January 29, 2017

Thank you @rogerfederer and @RafaelNadal for an amazing final.? Great drama and phenomenal tennis to watch.??☄️????? #AusOpen #FedererNadal

— Jonas Bjorkman (@BjorkmanTennis) January 29, 2017

Still speechless. What a match. Thx to both guys!! Congrats @rogerfederer on ?18. Simply amazing

— Alexander Peya (@AlexanderPeya) January 29, 2017

6 months out and straight to win @AustralianOpen… we all aware what a insane feat that is??at 35..#justchecking huge congrats to Federer

— jamie delgado (@DelgadoJamie) January 29, 2017

Absolutely spectacular, greatness personified by both @rogerfederer & @RafaelNadal thank you #truelegends

— Paul Annacone (@paul_annacone) January 29, 2017

Congrats to the one and only @rogerfederer for making history once again!And bravo @theljubicic for winning his 1st Slam!#neverstopfighting

— Riccardo Piatti (@RPiatti) January 29, 2017

I wish @rogerfederer & @RafaelNadal could stay pro for another 30 years.. most entertaining matches to watch ever? #AusOpen #goats

— Casper Ruud (@CasperRuud98) January 29, 2017

Congratulations @rogerfederer and well played @RafaelNadal. ???? #AusOpen https://t.co/kDbI38KXzW

— Stan Smith (@stansmithonline) January 29, 2017

I'm so glad I played tennis in the greatest era of all time. Congrats to my friends @rogerfederer and @RafaelNadal and Thank You!!!

— Mardy Fish (@MardyFish) January 29, 2017

And the final word from Roger Federer…

1️⃣8️⃣? pic.twitter.com/Ap8aZGhBNf

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) January 29, 2017