Highlights: Federer edges out Nadal in thriller

Roger Federer wins his 18th Grand Slam title, and first for five years, with a thrilling five-set victory over Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final.

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Cabal/Spears Win Mixed Doubles Crown

Cabal/Spears Win Mixed Doubles Crown

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How It Happened: Federer Beats Nadal For Australian Open Title

How It Happened: Federer Beats Nadal For Australian Open Title

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Federer beats Nadal to win 18th Grand Slam title

Roger Federer won his 18th Grand Slam title and first for five years with a thrilling five-set victory over Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final.

The 35-year-old Swiss won 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 to claim his fifth Melbourne title and extend his lead at the top of the all-time men’s major winners’ list.

Nadal, 30, remains tied in second with Pete Sampras on 14 Grand Slams following his first final since 2014.

Federer’s previous major title came at Wimbledon in 2012.

• Watch highlights of the final on BBC Two at 13:00 GMT, Sunday

“I’ve been coming here for almost 20 years now,” said the Swiss. “I’ve always enjoyed it and now my family does too.

“Thanks again for everything, to everybody. I hope to see you next year. If not, this was a wonderful run here and I can’t be more happy to win tonight.”

His achievement in ending that drought is all the more remarkable given this was his first tournament since Wimbledon last July, after which he took the second half of the season off to recover from a knee injury.

Federer becomes the first man in history to win five or more titles at three different Grand Slam events – five Australian Opens, five US Opens, seven Wimbledons.

Nadal was also on the way back from injuries that curtailed his 2016 season, but the Spaniard could not improve his winning record against Federer – the Swiss has now won 12 of their 35 matches and three of nine major finals.

“I worked very hard to get where I am today,” said Nadal. “I fight a lot, probably Roger deserved it a little bit more than me today.

“I’m just going to keep trying. I feel I am back at a very high level.”

Final lives up to the hype

The return of one of the great tennis rivalries to the Grand Slam final stage led to huge anticipation for the final, and it lived up to the billing over three hours and 37 minutes.

A match of wild momentum swings ended with a purple patch from Federer that saw him win the last five games, and clinch the title thanks to confirmation from a Hawkeye challenge.

Federer leapt in the air in celebration and, after consoling close friend Nadal, broke down in tears as his wife Mirka and team celebrated in the stands.

“Tennis is a tough sport,” said Federer. “There are no draws. If there were I would have been happy to accept one tonight and share it with Rafa.

“Everybody says they work very hard – I do the same – but I try not to shout about it. I’d like to thank my team. It’s been a different last six months. I didn’t think I’d make it but here I am.”

Federer finishes with a flourish

There were moments of genius from both players – a stunning forehand angled winner from Nadal as he dominated the fourth set, a breathtaking 26-stroke rally in the fifth that ended with a crushing Federer forehand – but in the end the attacking instincts of Federer held sway.

He dropped just four points on serve in the first set, breaking serve after a brilliant drive volley in game seven, only for Nadal to race 4-0 clear in the second.

Federer recovered one of the breaks but it was not enough as Nadal served out to love to level the match, and then heaped on the pressure early in the third.

With the momentum slipping away, Federer came up with three aces on break points to nudge ahead in the first game – and it proved to be a decisive moment.

A magical half-volley forehand helped Federer get the break in the next game and he rolled through the set for the loss of just one game.

Neither had been able to produce their very best consistently and it was Federer’s turn to leak forehand errors as he fell behind in the fourth set, and Nadal appeared the stronger as they headed into a decider.

Federer needed an off-court medical time-out, just as he had before the fifth set of his semi-final against Stan Wawrinka, and he had treatment to his thigh on the changeover as he fell 3-1 behind.

Despite his physical issues, Federer continued to press on the Nadal serve, earning break points in each game until he finally converted a sixth to level at 3-3.

The Rod Laver Arena crowd roared as the Swiss swept through a service game and then broke again in a dramatic game, winning a 26-stroke rally that will rank among the best ever.

Closing out a Grand Slam final was never going to be easy after five years, and Federer had to recover from 15-40 before firing a forehand onto the line and waiting for Hawkeye to confirm it was a historic winner.

Federer v Nadal in Grand Slam finals

2006: French Open – Nadal won 1-6 6-1 6-4 7-6 (7-4)

2006: Wimbledon – Federer won 6-0 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (2-7) 6-3

2007: French Open – Nadal won 6-3 4-6 6-3 6-4

2007: Wimbledon – Federer won 7-6 (9-7) 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 2-6 6-2

2008: French Open – Nadal won 6-1 6-3 6-0

2008: Wimbledon – Nadal won 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (8-10) 9-7

2009: Australian Open – Nadal won 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-2

2011: French Open – Nadal won 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 5-7 6-1

2017: Australian Open – Federer won 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3

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Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal Australian Open 2017 Analysis and Prediction

The biggest rivalry in tennis will once more take centre stage on Sunday when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal face off in…

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Federer and Nadal set up dream Australian Open 2017 final

The most famous rivalry in tennis will once more take centre stage in a grand slam final. Roger Federer and Rafael…

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'I just want to win' – Serena on Grand Slam ambitions

Serena Williams was thrilled to win a record 23rd Grand Slam title at the Australian Open but would not speculate on how many more she could secure.

The American, 35, beat sister Venus 6-4 6-4 to overtake Steffi Graf in the list of Open-era major champions.

She is now just one behind Australia’s Margaret Court in terms of all-time Grand Slam singles victories.

“I never had a number. That’s the beauty of it,” said Williams, who won her first major at the 1999 US Open.

“When I started this journey, I just wanted to win a Grand Slam.

“Then I just wanted to win. Every time I step on the court, I want to win. It’s just really remarkable.”

• Read more: Is Serena the greatest? Pick your favourite…

Williams drew level with Germany’s Graf on 22 major singles titles at last year’s Wimbledon, but then lost in the semi-finals of the US Open.

She won her seventh Australian Open title without dropping a set in Melbourne.

“It’s such a great feeling to have 23,” she said. “It really feels great.

“I’ve been chasing it for a really long time. When it got on my radar, I knew I had an opportunity to get there, and I’m here.

“It’s a great feeling. No better place to do it than Melbourne.”

The experience was all the more special because it was shared with Venus, who at 36 was making her first Grand Slam final appearance since 2009.

The sisters became the oldest women to appear in a major final since the Grand Slams accepted professional players in 1968.

“We’re both, like I say, 30-fun,” Serena joked. “Now I just feel like I’m satisfied with where I am, although I always want to win.”

As well as the title, Serena regained the world number one ranking from Germany’s Angelique Kerber – but she did not know that was on the line as her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, kept it from her.

“That was a bonus. I didn’t know actually. It feels good. I like being on top, so I really like that feeling,” she said.

“In the beginning of the tournament, I was like, ‘If I win, will I be number one?’ Patrick said, ‘No, no, no.’

“Today on the court when they were like, ‘And number one’, I was like, ‘Whoa, really?'”

Venus ‘ready to kill it’ in 2017

After reaching her first Grand Slam final since 2009, Venus Williams will head into the rest of the season in confident mood.

She will rise from 17th to 11th in the world rankings after her run to the final in Melbourne.

“Ready to kill it this year,” she said. “That’s my goal. It’s a great start to the year. I’m looking forward to the rest of year.

“This is like tournament number two and it’s already a lot of work. I’m looking forward to tournament number three and four. It’s going to be awesome.”

Venus, who has had to cope with auto-immune disease Sjogren’s syndrome in recent years, played down the suggestion she and Serena are the greatest sporting siblings of all time.

“I don’t think we’re going for the greatest story in sports,” she said.

“We’re just going for some dreams. In the case that we are, what an honour, what an honour.”

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Australian Open: Serena Williams beat sister Venus in final

Serena Williams beats sister Venus in straight sets to win her seventh Australian Open and an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam singles title.

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Is Serena the greatest? Pick your favourite…

Who is the greatest female tennis player of the Open era?

It is a question fans love to debate.

Of course, it is difficult to compare across eras, with technology and professionalism evolving since the Open era – which allowed professionals to compete alongside amateurs – began in 1968.

Is the number of Grand Slam wins what really matters? Serena Williams has won the most in the Open era – her victory in the Australian Open taking her to 23.

“Serena is the greatest of all-time because this era is so much more competitive than previous eras,” says BBC Sport presenter Sue Barker, herself a former French Open champion.

Do you agree? From our shortlist, pick your 1-7 using our interactive tool – and if you still can’t decide, Sue’s analysis below might help.

We will announce your greatest on Monday, 30 January.

My greatest female champion

Pick your greatest champion by ranking the seven women who have won the most Open Era major titles.

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Billie Jean King8 Grand Slam titles, 1968-1975

Chris Evert18 Grand Slam titles, 1974-1986

Margaret Court11 Grand Slam titles, 1969-1973

Martina Navratilova18 Grand Slam titles, 1978-1990

Monica Seles9 Grand Slam titles, 1990-1996

Serena Williams23 Grand Slam titles, 1999-

Steffi Graf22 Grand Slam titles, 1987-1999

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Serena Williams – 23 titles in the Open era

Barker: “Serena has won 23 in an era which is so much more competitive than previous eras. The first, second and third-round matches at Grand Slams are more competitive than they used to be.

“The pace she generates, her serve is without question the greatest ever, and put that with her movement and her power, she pushes her opponents constantly on the back foot.”

Steffi Graf – 22

Barker: “She is the greatest athlete that has ever played the game. Steffi made everything look effortless and incredibly graceful. The big forehand was her trademark.

“She was great for the game and we needed someone like her to take the game forward. However, I do feel she was in an era where she was not well challenged because Gabriela Sabatini went away and then so did Monica Seles after her stabbing. We never saw a great rivalry develop.”

Martina Navratilova – 18

Barker: “Martina was the first person who changed the physical side of the women’s game. While we all just went for a three-mile run, she started doing training off court – she did specific gym exercises and built up muscles which we hadn’t seen before. She dominated, and the other players had to change.

“Her serve-volley was exceptional. I don’t think there has been a better serve-volleyer in the women’s game at the top level.”

Chris Evert – 18

Barker: “She was mentally so incredibly hard. To try to get past Chrissie you knew you were going to suffer – you were going to run and run and run. She never broke down, she didn’t make an error and played the big points so well.

“She didn’t miss and never got nervous – that’s why they called her ‘The Ice Princess’. She never look flustered. Mentally she was incredibly strong and solid in every department.”

Margaret Court – 11 (plus 13 before the Open era)

Barker: “Margaret was from a very different era. It is difficult to compare because it was a different game then – it wasn’t a hard-hitting game. She was tall and had an incredible wingspan, she could almost touch either sideline! She had great reach so just trying to pass her was very difficult.

“However, most of her Grand Slams were won in Australia – and I sound a little bit disrespectful here – when it was only Australians playing it because no-one went there. I think the records that came later from the others were greater.”

Monica Seles – 9

Barker: “Monica could have been one of the greatest ever if the stabbing had not happened. She was just beginning to get the better of Steffi.

“I feel tennis was robbed of that incredible rivalry because she was never the same player when she came back – which was totally understandable.”

Billie Jean King – 8 (plus four before the Open era)

Barker: “Billie Jean is the greatest in terms of the whole sport, combining her Slam wins with everything else she has done off the court in terms of promoting the sport.

“Tennis is probably the best known women’s sport because of everything she has done for the game. She was a great champion and moved the game forward.”

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'It's very special' – Federer & Nadal renew 13-year rivalry

Roger Federer says he will not let his long-standing rivalry with Rafael Nadal affect his performance in the Australian Open final on Sunday.

The 35-year-old Swiss has met Nadal, 30, in eight Grand Slam finals, most recently at the French Open in 2011.

Federer, attempting to secure his 18th Grand Slam title, has not beaten 14-time major winner Nadal in the final of a Slam since Wimbledon in 2007.

“I’ve got to have a sort of a nothing-to-lose mentality,” said Federer.

“I know this court allows me to play a certain game against Rafa that I cannot do on centre court at the French Open.”

• Live scores, results and order of play
• Serena beats Venus to win record 23rd Grand Slam
• BBC coverage of the Australian Open

Spain’s Nadal has won six of the duo’s Grand Slam final meetings, including beating Federer in five sets to win the Australian Open in 2009.

The two will meet on court for the 35th time in Melbourne from 08:30 GMT.

“He’s an incredible tennis player,” said Federer, who described himself as Nadal’s number one. “He’s got shots that no other one has. When you have that, you are unique and special.”

Should Nadal win on Sunday, he will be the first man in the Open era – and third overall – to win all four Grand Slam titles twice. Federer, meanwhile, is trying to become the first man to win three of the major titles five times.

“It’s exciting for both of us that we are still there and fighting for important events,” said Nadal. “It’s very special.”

‘I didn’t think about being where I am now’

The rivalry began at the Miami Masters in 2004, when a 17-year-old Nadal beat Federer, then the world number one, 6-3 6-3.

Nadal has won 23 of their 34 meetings, but Federer triumphed in their last – in Basel in 2015.

Three of their Grand Slam finals have gone to five sets, as did both of their semi-finals earlier this week.

Nadal took four hours 56 minutes to beat Grigor Dimitrov on Friday, a day after Federer was taken to five sets by compatriot Stan Wawrinka.

Both players had injury-affected seasons in 2016, with Federer sidelined for six months with a knee problem, and a wrist injury forcing Nadal to withdraw from the French Open.

“When you have to go from Roland Garros without going on court, I remember myself crying in the car. That was a tough moment,” Nadal said.

“I didn’t think about being where I am today. It is special to play with Roger again in a final of a Grand Slam.”

Federer looks to roll back the years

Sunday’s match will be Federer’s 100th at the Australian Open.

He is the oldest man to reach a Grand Slam final since Ken Rosewall, a US Open finalist in 1975 aged 39 years and 310 days.

And victory would make him the second oldest man to win a Grand Slam title in the Open era – Rosewall having won three major titles after his 35th birthday.

“Rosewall wrote me a letter this week to wish me well again,” said Federer. “He does it every year at the Australian Open.

“To be in the same breath like these guys, it’s a great feeling. I love these guys. It means a lot to me to have equalled something like this.”

Nadal v Federer – previous Grand Slam finals

2006: French Open – Nadal won 1-6 6-1 6-4 7-6 (7-4)

2006: Wimbledon – Federer won 6-0 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (2-7) 6-3

2007: French Open – Nadal won 6-3 4-6 6-3 6-4

2007: Wimbledon – Federer won 7-6 (9-7) 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 2-6 6-2

2008: French Open – Nadal won 6-1 6-3 6-0

2008: Wimbledon – Nadal won 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (8-10) 9-7

2009: Australian Open – Nadal won 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-2

2011: French Open – Nadal won 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 5-7 6-1

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