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...
Watch highlights as John Peers and Henri Kontinen defeat Bob and Mike Bryan to win their maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. Photo: Getty Images. Video courtesy Tennis Australia
Colombia’s Juan Sebastian Cabal and Abigail Spears of the United States captured the Australian Open mixed doubles title on Sunday after they defeated Croatia’s Ivan Dodig and Sania Mirza of India 6-2, 6-4 in 64 minutes. Cabal and Spears raced to a 4-0 lead, losing just six points. Although 2016 Roland Garros finalists Dodig and Mirza regrouped, winning the first three games of the second set, Cabal and Spears won five straight games from a 1-4 deficit for the title. Cabal reached the 2011 French Open men’s doubles final (w/Eduardo Schwank) and Spears tasted success for the first time having finished runner-up with Santiago Gonzalez in the 2013 and 2014 US Open mixed doubles finals. 🇨🇴 🇺🇸 @australianopen @absters10s #nowordstodescribe...
ATP World Tour legends pay tribute to Roger Federer's 18 Grand Slam victories, including his latest triumph at the Australian Open. Photo: Getty Images
Roger Federer recovered from a 1-3 deficit in the fifth set against his great rival Rafael Nadal to capture his 18th Grand Slam championship crown and his fifth Australian Open title on Sunday night. Federer, the No. 17 seed, defeated ninth seed and 2009 winner Rafael Nadal, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in three hours and 38 minutes. Throughout, it left the capacity crowd on Rod Laver Arena on the edge of their seats. The win marks Federer's first Grand Slam championship victory since he beat Andy Murray for the 2012 Wimbledon title. Federer is the first No. 17 seed to capture a Grand Slam championship crown since Pete Sampras, who clinched the 2002 US Open title in his final...