The two grand masters of men’s tennis served up another thrilling final in Melbourne this morning, but it was Rafael Nadal who confirmed his status as the world’s number one with an amazing display of endurance that saw him end Roger Federer’s hopes of equalling Pete Sampras’s record of 14 Grand Slam titles, for now at least.
Nadal, playing in his first final at Rod Laver Arena, has now won titles on all three surfaces following his repeated success at the French Open and his triumph against Federer in their thrilling encounter at Wimbledon last year.
Victory extends his run of success against the Swiss 27-year-old to 5-2 in Grand Slam finals too, something that must surely be starting to prey on the former world number one now.
Federer broke down in tears at the presentation ceremony on court immediately after the compelling contest.
But having composed himself following a sporting embrace from Nadal, he said: "I mean, this is, sure, one of the matches in my career where I feel like I could have or should have won.
"You can't go through your whole life as a tennis player taking every victory that's out there. You've got to live with those, you know. But they hurt even more so if you're that close, like at Wimbledon or like here at the Australian Open. So that's what's tough about it.
"In the first moment you're disappointed, you're shocked, you're sad, you know, then all of a sudden it overwhelms you. The problem is you can't go in the locker room and just take it easy and take a cold shower. You can't. You know, you're stuck out there. It's the worst feeling. It's rough."
Nadal's insists Federer will match and then pass Sampras's historic Grand Slam mark before his career is out.
"Rog, sorry for today," said Nadal. "I really know how you feel right now. Remember that you are a great champion and you are one of the best in history and you will beat Pete Sampras's 14 titles for sure."
Nadal, who took a record-breaking five hours 14 minutes to get past friend and Davis Cup team-mate Fernando Verdasco in the semi-final, showed the occasional sign of fatigue from that five-setter, having his right thigh massaged after the seventh and ninth games of the third set.
But with the adrenaline pumping and Federer tightening up in the fifth-set decider, Nadal dug deep and blitzed his opponent in the final set for a 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-2 win.
Both players fought tooth and nail from the first ball, forcing each other to find that extra shot time and time again.
It was largely a battle from the baseline, although both showed some deft touches around the net when they did venture forward.
Federer in particular earned some easy points with well-placed drop shots but he did not always capitalise on them.
In fact, he only converted six of the 19 break point opportunities he had.
Nadal drew first blood taking the first set 7-5 but when Federer broke Nadal twice to take the next 6-3 the crowd settled in for the long haul.
The third set went to a tie-breaker where Nadal pulled off a superb cross-court volley winner before a Federer double fault gave him the crucial two set to one advantage.
Federer came back in style in the fourth to break Nadal twice and force a deciding fifth set, but his backhand continued to let him down as Nadal found another level, displaying awesome endurance to wear the Swiss man down.