Roger Federer returned from a six-month injury layoff and defeated Rafael Nadal in five sets to claim the 2017 Australian Open. It was his first major title in nearly five years.
Down a break deep in the fifth
The final swung across three hours and 38 minutes on a humid Melbourne evening. Federer took the opener 6–4, Nadal answered 6–3, and Federer then ripped through the third 6–1 after saving three break points with aces. Nadal forced a decider at 6–3, and when Federer dropped serve immediately, he soon trailed 3–1.
Five straight games, one standing ovation
From that deficit Federer produced a sequence that reshaped his rivalry with Nadal. He broke back to level at 3–3 and held for 4–3. He then broke again after a 26-shot rally at deuce that drew a standing ovation lasting nearly a full minute.
Serving for the championship at 5–3, he faced 15–40. Federer fired a forehand winner onto the sideline that Hawk‑Eye confirmed on his second championship point.
Eighteen majors, ten years after his last win over Nadal
The title extended Federer's all‑time record to 18 Grand Slam singles trophies. It was his first win over Nadal at a major since the 2007 Wimbledon final and his first ever against the Spaniard on a surface other than grass. At 35 years and 174 days he became the oldest Slam winner since Ken Rosewall in 1972.
A rivalry changed on one forehand
Federer struck 73 winners to Nadal's 35 and served 20 aces to four. His campaign had already required five‑set wins over Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka. He became the only man to beat four top‑10 opponents for an Australian Open title since the tournament expanded to 128 players in 1988.
"I kept on believing," he told reporters afterwards. Addressing Nadal on court, he said, "Here we stand in the finals. I would have been happy to lose to you. The comeback was perfect as it was."
The trophy that seemed farthest away became the one that sealed his return.
