Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal, Australian Open final live score and updates - Roger takes first set 6-4 but Rafa raises level in second and is a break up
Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal, Australian Open final live score and updates - Roger takes first set 6-4 but Rafa raises level in second and is a break up
Federer wins the first set 6-4But Nadal raises game in secondTwo breaks to one break in the 2ns for RafaFederer vs Nadal: The four ages of tennis's greatest rivalryMcEnroe on our podcast talking Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer
Nadal* 0 Federer 1 (* denotes next server) one set all
Roger Federer gets to work in the third set. An ace. Soon it's 40-0, but hopes of a much-needed cheap game are temporarily arrested when he gives Nadal a chance at a forehand pass. The man from Menorca needs no second invitation. Drives a winner down the line. Roger now hits a simple-ish groundstroke long, and makes a poor volley into the net. That 40-0 is soon deuce. And when Roger runs around the ball to hit a forehand cross. Into the net. Break point. Big moment.
Roger Federer aces! But loses the next two. Back to deuce after a good serve. But Roger now comes into the net and again drains it into the net. This feels like the key moment in the match, this game. Fed simply has to get out of this. It's 40-A. A wonderful wide serve gives him an ace. Federer drawing on all his huge reserves of heart and character here, Nadal lurking like a panther in the undergrowth.
Federer peels off a heavily spinning backhand and wins the point. A-40. Beautiful backhand now from Federer, Nadal cannot respond. He has held service. Three, I think, aces in that match, some great backhands, Federer had to give his all in that game. It's still only worth one!
Rafael Nadal wins the second set 6-3. One set all.
Rafa serving. Takes his time over the first one. And it pays off. 15-0. Sends Fed out wide now, return comes back, and it's easy pickings to put that into the great wide open spaces. 30-0. Roger cannot really get a toehold on this game, 40-0 before you know it and another wide serve puts Rafa firmly in control of what soon turns out to be the decisive point, Fed hitting long. That's game and the second set to Rafael Nadal.
Simon Briggs: "With any luck we might get them both playing well at same time in set 3, which is probably the match."
Nadal* 5 Federer 3 (* denotes next server) Roger took first set 6-4
And Roger in his turn has won a service game with little ceremony, up on his toes to place a forehand crosscourt that seals the deal. Even still, Rafa now serves for the second set.
Nadal 5 Federer* 2 (* denotes next server) Roger took first set 6-4
Roger never really at the races in this game and Nadal holds with the minimum of fuss.
Nadal* 4 Federer 2 (* denotes next server) Roger took first set 6-4
Double fault from Roger, but he puts it behind him now with a purring cross court forehand that wrong-foots Rafa and he wraps up the game. Still a break down but, if nothing else, he has stopped the mental demons of that four game flat spot.
Nadal 4 Federer* 1 (* denotes next server) Roger took first set 6-4
A lesser man might be tempted to write this second set off as a bad job and regroup, but Federer dusts himself down and raises his game. He wins two quick points and it is 0-30. Albeit that Nadal wins the next two points, Fed not giving it up without a fight in this game. At 30-30, Federer attacks the second serve and slays it with a crosscourt stroke of real elan. Another break point! And Roger has done it, Rafa forced into attempting a low percentage running passing shot, it needed to be a worldie, it wasn't, and the handsome Swiss had all the time in the world to knock it into the empty court, as causal as a man knocking the top of a thistle off with a walking stick, if I may borrow from the classics.
Simon Briggs: "Roger's timing seems to be coming back but that four-game run felt like a classic mental fade, the scarring of a brutal head-to-head record. He complained the other day that he played Rafa too often on clay in the early days. Mind you, if he had taken his mach points in Rome that early time, in 2006, it might not have stacked up on him so quickly"
Nadal* 4 Federer 0 (* denotes next server) Roger took first set 6-4
Suddenly, Roger has that sickening feeling of shifting the gear stick and finding nothing there. This is a horrid service game from him, he has made some unforced errors and before you know it that's a second break for Nadal.
Nadal 3 Federer* 0 (* denotes next server) Roger took first set 6-4
But now it is Rafa's turn to be put through the mill on serve. Roger has answered the call and he shows great creativity, and Djokovic-like elasticity at the net to make it 40-A for the second time in the match. 9/12 points won at the net for Roger. Can he break back? Long rally. He's on top, but Nadal never gives up, like a dog with a postman's trousers. Back to 40-40. Both players hitting their groundstrokes deep, deep, deep. Very few easy points to be had. Roger has put one just long. And Nadal then puts the hammer down with a thumping first serve and he has held his serve.
Nadal* 2 Federer 0 (* denotes next server) Roger took first set 6-4
Bit of a shaky start to this service game, 0-15 and it's the Federer second serve. Nadal moving him around the court, always feels like he is on top here, the sheer force of Nadal pressurising Roger into an error.
At 15-30, Roger gets the benefit of a net cord. He needed that. His wife sighs in relief! She looks really stressed.
Rafa wins the next point and has a break point. It's electric there now. Roger's first serve sees him through this first mini crisis.
But at 40-40, Rafa thinks he has put Roger away, but Fed produces a wonderful running attempted passing shot... Nadal snuffs out its hopes at the net. Another break point.
Nadal is well on top in this point, he has raised his game in this set, he is putting it up to Roger with a series of crunching forehands and Federer is broken by them.
Nadal 1 Federer* 0 (* denotes next server) Roger took first set 6-4
A long rally at 30-15, Rafa has come out swinging here. He is really putting a hurtin' on those tennis balls now, huge thumping forehands, Roger hanging on with his precise, sliced backhands, looking almost delicate in comparison, but might not elegance wins the day in this game.
Briggs: "Bit sharper from Rafa there, maybe he is getting the stiffness out of his legs. More of the route-one FH to BH stuff too. In his opening 6 matches, Nadal was getting the 2nd ball after the serve on his forehand 64% of the time. Tonight? 23% (h/t Channel 7) But maybe changing."
Reader John Mc Enerney writes
Morning Alan, for years I've been racking my brain to find a cinematic rivalry similar to the RRR(Roger Rafa Rivalry). Finally it came to me while trying to put one of my 18mth old twins back to sleep at 0400, Gregory(Fed)Peck up against Robert(Rafa)Mitchum in Cape Fear. Peck is all style, class & almost perfect up against Mitchum rugged ruthless & sweaty. Fed in 4 or Rafa in 5! Too close to call. Enjoy it. Class coverage as always. John
I like that a lot. Somebody mentioned Ali-Frazier in the build-up. I was thinking maybe more Ali-Foreman, the snakey movement against those thumping blows. But Peck and Mitchum is better still.
Here's David Law
"Importance of first set? Federer has beaten Nadal just twice in 11 matches at Slams. Both times he won the first set."
Roger Federer wins the first set 6-4
Ooh Roger. That lovely backhand working its magic now. Rafa has no answer to this game. Two aces in it. It's game and the first set to the Swiss.
Here is Simon Briggs: "Roger loving the off-backhand return from the deuce court, hitting it into the Rafa BH. Against Grigor, Rafa started out hitting over 80pc forehands behind his serve. By end of match it was down to around 60pc, which was one reason the match got close"
Nadal 4 Federer* 5 (* denotes next server)
The pressure's on Rafa right now. Roger assays a backhand down the line off his serve, just out but the signs are good. 30-40. But Rafa wraps it up and obliges Federer to serve for the first set.
Simon Briggs: "Apparently the dance beat is from Piknik Elektronik, whatever you make of that!"
Not a lot, to be honest. Still, in the Telegraph office there is a constant high-pitched whine - not one of my colleagues, I mean - a faulty alarm or something. Not ideal for first thing on a Sunday.
Nadal* 3 Federer 5 (denotes next server)
Ooh, Roger fans. Your man is looking very good. He's rattling through this game, he has got Rafa right where he wants him here and he consolidates this break of serve, sealing it with an ace.
Here is Simon Briggs
Crowd getting into this now. I make it eight winners for Roger so far, and only one for Rafa which came by virtue of a cheeky netcord. Rafa not beating up Roger's BH either. Maybe a bit flat after the Grigor epic? Rafa also returning serve from incredibly far back, which feels a bit negative. Great early signs for Roger fans
Nadal 3 Federer* 4 (denotes next server)
Shot of the match so far from Roger, a leaping backhand smash, to make it 0-15. So graceful.
Lovely backhands down the line from Roger, he's got Rafa under some pressure here, each shot landing right on the baseline. Rafa misses wide! It's 15-30. And this is the point of the match so far! Rafa with his heavy metal forehand, forcing Roger back and wide, but the Swiss hangs in there with his backhand. And he turns the pressure back onto Rafa, who dishes one up. Roger pounces and it is 15-40! Roger on top in this point too, and Nadal had hit it wide. Roger Federer with a break of serve.
that's what a break of serve looks like CREDIT: EUROSPORT
Nadal* 3 Federer 3 (denotes next server)
Roger answers with an acute, dominating service game of his own. Neither of these two greats letting the rival get on top for long yet. Fascinating duel.
Nadal 3 Federer* 2 (denotes next server)
Sheer blunt force trauma from Rafa here as he produces a trio of points peppered with heavy, thumping forehands. He's blown Roger away in this game, game to love before you know it.
Nadal* 2 Federer 2 (denotes next server)
Roger's most impressive game yet. Backhand working well, and he has the confidence to come into the net. Takes this game to 15, he has moved Rafa around the court a lot in these points. Not sure you can rely on tiring Nadal out as a strategy, but could that gruelling semi come into play if the match goes deep?
Simon Briggs: "weirdly loud dance music seeping in from somewhere nearby, it must be quite distracting for the players."
Nadal 2 Federer* 1 (denotes next server)
Talking of that Fed forehand, a lovely whipped winner down the line makes it 0-15. Rafa dealing with a few issues in this game, not the least of which is a double fault that makes it 30-30. On second serve, Roger is on top in this rally but a net cord does Rafa a big favour. Roger's backhand return into the net and that's game, but Federer will be feeling encouraged I fancy.
Watch | Australian Open final: Federer v Nadal preview
00:52
Nadal* 1 Federer 1 (denotes next server)
Early signs are that Roger has got his work cut out. Rafa is working him on the first two points here, testing out that backhand, and Roger has put a crosscourt one into the net. At 15-15, second serve, the first hint of a moment. Rafa very (over) aggressive as he attacks down the line, well wide.
Federer starting to impose a little authority with a commanding backhand to set up an emphatic point. But Nadal hanging in this game. It's 40-30. Big wide serve, Rafa gets it back, a minor victory. Game Roger. His forehand looking well.
Nadal 1 Federer* 0 (denotes next server)
Rafa needs second serves for the first two points. Both long rallies. Both won by Rafa after vaguely unforced errors from Roger. He puts a forehand into the net, then hits one long. A late call on that. Roger mutters something. Rafa gets a first serve in, and that's a quick point. 40-0. And he has soon wrapped the game up to love.
The players are ready
It's Rafael Nadal to serve.
The calm before the storm.
The knock-up.
Nadal has won the toss and will serve.
Commentator: "not expecting a great match, but I am expecting a great battle."
Umpire gives the players a few last minute instructions
Feel of the prizefight about this! Roger cool, still, Sphynx-like. Rafa bouncing on his toes, moving and shaping, especially suggestive of a boxer.
Roger comes out first
Huge ovation.
And ditto for Rafa.
Two great champions, two great players, two very good blokes as well IMHO. My personal preference is for Roger but, as Boris Becker says, either would be an extremely popular winner.
Tennis correspondent Simon Briggs
Sun just going down behind the steel ramparts - stadium bathed in unearthly glow. Which seems kind of appropriate.
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