Tags: australian open 2009, rafael nadal, roger federer, Sports, tennis, tennis finals
Rafael Nadal produced a display of incredible defiance to beat Roger Federer 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-2 and win his first Australian Open title.
The Spaniard, 22, recovered from his marathon semi-final to ruin Federer’s attempt to equal Pete Sampras’s record of 14 Grand Slam titles.
Nadal saved 13 of 19 break points as he refused to yield in a stunning match.
The world number one has now won six Grand Slam titles – including four at the French Open and one at Wimbledon.
He took his record against Federer to 13 wins in 19 matches, and five in seven Grand Slam finals between the pair, in a worthy successor to their last meeting at Wimbledon in July.
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