Nadal wins battle for place in history by edging past Federer in Melbourne.

(From Guardian Unlimited)

History was put on hold in the Rod Laver Arena when Spain's Rafael Nadal, playing in his first Australian Open final, defeated Roger Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2 for his fifth successive victory over the Swiss and his 13th out of 19. Federer entered the match knowing he could equal Pete Sampras's all-time record of 14 grand slam wins if he beat Nadal. And having had an extra day's rest and preparation there seemed every chance he might. This was to underestimate Nadal.

The 22-year-old Nadal has managed to get well and truly inside Federer's head, thrashing him in last year's French Open final when the Swiss won only four games, then taking his Wimbledon title and later in the year replacing him as the world No1. Nadal, four times the French Open champion, has now won a major on all three surfaces, and by winning here, his sixth slam title, became the first male Spaniard to win a major on hard courts.

The opening set took precisely one minute less than the women's final at 58 minutes. It was not of the highest quality compared to their Wimbledon final, though the tension was immense. Everybody was watching the world No1 like a hawk, wondering if his Friday night-Saturday morning semi-final against fellow Spanish left-hander Fernando Verdasco, which lasted more than five hours, had taken away his edge. The general perception was that he was just a shade slower, though this could easily have been an optical illusion, given Federer's languid movement. He never seems in a hurry, even when moving at maximum speed.

It was a curious opening with no fewer than five breaks of serve, Federer establishing a 4-2 lead, then contriving to lose it. Nadal was hitting some wonderful backhands, striking with a power that jolted the Swiss. Neither was serving well, though the warning bells clanged for Federer when he lost his serve for a fourth time midway through the second set. The crowd, ...