By Joseph Akanbi
An Australian Open final between two ageless champions turned out to be a tennis match for the ages, with Roger Federer beating Rafael Nadal in five outstanding sets
before a rapturous Rod Laver Arena crowd.
The Swiss star prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 against Rafael Nadal, coming from a break down in the fifth set to claim his 18th major title.
A revitalised Federer mixed up his tactics against an opponent who has had the better of him historically, hitting 73 winners to Nadal’s 35.
The win capped a phoenix-like resurrection for the much-loved Swiss, who spent six months of last season out through injury and has gone without a grand slam title
since Wimbledon in 2012.
Federer may trail in the head-to-head against Nadal, 6-3 in grand slams and 23-12 overall, but he has pipped him to yet another major title in Melbourne to draw four
clear (18-14).
The Governor of the State, Rauf Aregbesola had during the match tweeted from his official account’
“Imperial shot from Federer. Hallmark of a true champion. #AusOpen2017”. He later tweeted “Congratulations Roger Federer. A legend through and through #AusOpen2017”
after the match in a show of love and solidarity with the Swiss chamption.
However, The Former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Adejare Bello, in his own remark said “My support was for Nadal but Federer actually played real tennis and it was a victory well deserved”.
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