Swiss Tennis ace Roger Federer today defeated Rafael Nadal of Spain in the Australian Open final and earned a record 18th Grand Slam singles title.
Federer prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 at the Melbourne Park to capture his first Grand Slam title since the Wimbledon trophy in July 2012.
Earlier, people started describing Federer as an ageing giant when he took an injury break of six months, but now he has already proved that age has not withered him.
Moving on court with effortless ease, rushing to the nets with the confidence of catching the volley, Federer has been a treat to watch. When he scored a straight set victory over Tomas Berdych, it was clear that the Fed machine was back in good shape.
Federer, 35, is the fourth-oldest player to reach the Australian Open final, Ken Rosewall having done it twice at 36 and 37.
"For sure we never thought that we had the chance to be again in a final and especially for the first final of the year. It has now happened. Both of us, I think, work hard to be where we are. Is great that, again, we are in a moment like this and we are going to have a chance to enjoy a moment like this," Nadal had said after his gruelling match against Dimitrov.
(With inputs from IANS)