In 2017, Roger Federer claimed victory in a thrilling five-set match against Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open, securing his fifth title at the tournament and his 18th Grand Slam overall. Federer, 35, triumphed after an intense battle lasting three hours and 38 minutes, marking his return from knee surgery with a historic win.
It was his first title after he last lifted the trophy five years ago at the Wimbledon 2012. Roger fought back from 3-1 in the last set against the in-form Rafael Nadal to win the matchup and the tournament.
🥹 7 years ago today: Australian Open 2017 Men’s Singles Final
— Olly 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) January 29, 2024
🇪🇸🇨🇭Federer to Nadal –
“Tennis is a tough sport, there are no draws, but if there was going to be one, I would have been very happy to accept one tonight, and share it with Rafa, really” pic.twitter.com/6Wv96PVXmI
In the post-match interview, Roger being the greatest he is, appreciated his opponent Rafa for his tenacity and the great performance that he put front in the match. He said he would have not minded even if he had lost the battle and was even ready to call it a draw.
“I would have been happy to lose, too, to be honest, (my) comeback was perfect as it was. Tennis is a tough sport, there are no draws but if there was going to be one I would have been very happy to accept a draw tonight and share it with Rafa.”
Despite the doubts given his knee injury that affected his performance for a while, Federer’s perseverance led him to this remarkable achievement, becoming the oldest Grand Slam winner since Ken Rosewall in 1972.
Roger Federer honors Novak Djokovic’s superiority after losing to him in the 2016 Australian Open
Roger Federer, despite his loss to Novak Djokovic in the 2016 Australian Open semifinals, spoke highly of his opponent and maintained his confidence in his own abilities.
He acknowledged Djokovic’s dominance in their recent encounters but remained self-assured about his own skills and stamina, dismissing concerns about his age affecting his performance. Federer expressed disappointment with the loss but found satisfaction in his overall level of play at the beginning of the season.
He recognized Djokovic as a formidable opponent and praised his exceptional performance in their match, acknowledging him as a benchmark for other players.
“Novak right now is a reference for everybody. He’s the only guy that has been able to stop me as of late, and Stan when he was on fire when he was in Paris. It’s okay. I wish I could have played a bit better, and who knows what would have happened. Today, Novak was very, very good. There’s no doubt about it.”
-Roger Federer in the post match interview
