SPORTS> Tennis
Spain's Nadal wins the Australian Open
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-02-02 08:44


Switzerland's Roger Federer cries as he watches the trophy being handed, by Tennis Australia President Geoff Pollard (L), to Spain's Rafael Nadal after their men's singles final match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne February 1, 2009. Looking on is Kia Motors President Euisun Chung (2nd L).[Agencies]

The pair toyed with perfection on centre court, threading shots through the tightest of spaces and imparting spin which at times seemed to defy the laws of physics.

Federer was broken in the opening game but he broke straight back and that set the tone for the rest of the contest.

Outrageous Angles

Nadal sought and found outrageous angles with his two-handed backhand. Federer found that difficult to handle with his classical, clean single-hander.

But he did put his extra reach to great effect, cracking winners past the Spaniard.

Nothing could separate the two and the set inched into a tiebreak which Nadal won when his Swiss opponent double-faulted.

Federer again hit back and levelled in the fourth.

It appeared as if he was playing like the best tennis player of all time, but statistics speak louder than rhetoric in sport and they were on Nadal's side in the fifth set.