Roger and Rafa - Melbourne and history

Prime Federer was good. Prime Federer was great. Prime Federer was extraordinary. Especially on hard courts and grass. He was almost unbeatable... for the most part of the Tour. However, there was one player who pushed him to his limits and above them during his prime. He's a lefty Spaniard which made every player question themselves with one-handed backhand ?Why in the world do I play backhand with one hand when two-handed backhand would make my tennis life easier?!“.

Yes, you guessed right – it's Rafael Nadal Parera. He was the reason why it took Roger so long to complete the Career Grand Slam by winning the Roland Garros. As if that wasn't enough, to defeat Federer on clay, but Rafa managed to defeat Roger on his favourite surfaces – grass and hard court.

One of the most famous matches between these two was the 2009 Australian Open. A round before, in the semifinal, Rafa defeated his compatriot after five incredible, high-intensity sets. The Spaniard was looking for his premier Australian Open while Roger was the king of Melbourne at that time.

Five sets, just like in the 2008 Wimbledon final. Again, Nadal won the match. In six months, two painful matches and losses for Federer.

?Well, thanks for the support! I mean, you guys are unbelievable,“ Federer was trying to hold back his tears with several sighs ?Maybe I'll try later again.“ Roger's tears and Nadal's ?consolation – one of the most famous pictures in tennis history.

Eight years later, both came back from an injury. Both survived incredibly tough battles prior to the final. In 2017 it felt like all of the sudden the 2009 or years before came back. Just like eight years before, the match went into a deciding set. Seemed like the end would have the same plot when Rafa had a break advantage in that set. Until Roger pulled off his upgraded prime tennis. Forehand down the line, cross court, backhand winners.

All of the sudden, Roger produced an outstanding comeback for one of the most important wins in his career. This time, tears had a different context...