Roger Federer says he can’t promise he’ll be back after ending all arguments with a vintage victory over Rafael Nadal in a riveting, rollercoaster Australian Open final.
Defying Father Time and Nadal’s decade-long dominance of one of sport’s most enduring rivalries, Federer became the oldest men’s grand slam champion in 45 years with a captivating 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 win on Sunday night.
The 35-year-old’s extraordinary triumph – from a service break down in the deciding set and in his first tournament back after six months out to rehabilitate his surgically repaired left knee – earned the mighty Swiss a fifth Open crown and an incredible 18th slam.
Pulling four clear of Nadal and Pete Sampras on the all-time grand slam title leaderboard, Federer’s most improbable revival emphatically confirms his status as the sport’s greatest modern-day player.
“Roger Federer has solidified himself as the greatest of all time,” lauded former world No.1 John McEnroe.
In matching Jack Nicklaus’s magical 18 golf majors at an age most are long retired and his peers are at the peak of their own powers, the incomparable father of four also staked his own claim to being maybe even the greatest athlete the world has seen.
He’s undoubtedly the Pele, Ali, Nicklaus, Jordan, Bolt and Peter Pan of tennis after crowning his spectacular comeback with his first grand slam win triumph over Nadal since Wimbledon 2007.
Turning 36 in August, Federer is the oldest man to land a slam since Ken Rosewall won the 1972 Australian Open at 37.
His seven-year wait between his fourth and fifth Melbourne Park successes was also the longest in almost half a century of open-era tennis.
“I’m out of words,” Federer said.
“I’d like to congratulate Rafa on an amazing comeback.
“I don’t think we both – either one of us – believed we would be in the finals in Australia when we saw each other at your academy sort of four, five months ago.
“Here we stand in the finals. I’m happy for you. I would have been happy to lose too, to be honest. My comeback was perfect as it was.
“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.”
The classic rematch of their five-set final in Melbourne in 2009, won by Nadal, was the 35th instalment of their epic career series and ninth on one of tennis’s four biggest stages – but first in six years.
Officials took the unprecedented step of opening up Margaret Court Arena and telecasting the showstopper on a big screen inside the 7500-seat stadium.
The two legends didn’t disappoint, Federer surviving endless ebbs and flows – including a medical time-out for treatment on a leg injury before the deciding set – and then a 2-0 deficit to prevail on his second championship point after three hours and 38 tension-filled minutes.
His victory provided the ultimate climax to his milestone 100th Australian Open match and record 28th grand slam final.
“It’s a beautiful moment in my career,” he said.
But the realist said while he hoped to return to Melbourne Park for a 19th Open tilt, at 36 may not happen.
“If not, this was a wonderful run here and I can’t be more happy to have won tonight,” Federer said.
“Knowing that I have only so much tennis left in me, if I do get injured, you know, maybe if I miss next year, who knows what happens.
“You never know when your next grand slam is going to be, if ever. You never know if you’re going to have an opportunity at this stage.”
