5 years later it’s Rafa’s turn to make an incredible comeback after injury… and to finally win his 21st Grand Slam title! Congrats Rafa! You truly deserve it! 👏👏👏🏆
The joy on Federer's face after winning the match was like winning the first major of his life. He was stuck on 17 for a long time and this was his 18th. He won when everyone already wrote him off
@@akshayharshan1872 probably his last chance of winning a grand slam was during the 2019 Wimbldeon Final against Djokovic. He had two match points and ended up losing. So heartbreaking😪💔
I'm watching this in 2024 and i will watch it again 10 years later. No one can beat Roger and Rafa's legacy and the impact they made in this sport. Tennis is where it is today because of them .
@@seekndstroy756if you need some inspiration I’ll share my story. In December, i picked up a tennis racket for the first time in years. Did some lessons then played 1 on 1 with my dad a bit like once a week until tennis winter conditioning started. Joined a team coming off the best year in tennis the school had ever had the previous year and there were 5 seniors. I tried every practice and played in the offseason. 2 of the best players on the team had never played tennis before their freshmen (9th grade) years but they tried every day for years to reach that skill. I thought through all of that i managed to make a varsity spot, but a kid who bullied me 2 years ago (separate story but i am not bothered by him bc i found out he’s a loser) turned out to have previous experience in tennis and essentially stole a roster spot from me. But i kept trying all season and ended up playing in sectionals for my school. YYTMDR (you yapped too much didnt read) anything is possible. Just try your hardest and you can become great for your team. You got this and I believe in you! I do want to add that i was involved in track prior to tennis so my skills in sprinting and endurance did help me a lot
So do I, this is a Hollywood worthy match lol. Federer is basically the underdog here, imagine of a story of an old washed up master trying to prove himself again to the current best. Many have doubted that he can do it at all.
I think many of us came back here after the announcement. One of the greatest GS finals between two legends of the sport and a particularly special win for Federer.
Nadal, Federer and Dojkvic are Giants of Tennis who have completely reinvented the interest of audience in the game. Federer u would always be missed in the court. Best wishes for ur second innings. Enjoy it bro 😉
@JH Tennis You're delusional. Sampras and Nadal are very humble and likable. Novak is more of a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde persona. Murray has certainly had some good moments, but he's been overshadowed by the others. Trivializing the achievements of Sampras, Nadal, and Novak is simply infantile.
@JH Tennis Teenage Federer was a real hothead, and older Federer started behaving like a real ass when he was losing in 2008-2010. Anyone can be a "good sport" when they are winning. In later years, he did become more gracious in defeat. You have a very selective memory. How can he be the best player in history when Nadal and Djokovic BOTH have winning records against him??!! Federer is certainly ONE of the best players in history...no dispute there. McEnroe and Williams both exhibited god-awful behavior in their respective careers. I wouldn't put much stock in their assessments of anyone's decorum. You really worship this guy...it's quite unhealthy. Sports worship is a sickness.
despite the fact that i'm a nadal's fan I have to admit that fedex is a living legend. He changed the way he play through years in order to fit his physical status.
@@kittencat1983 Nah Sampras was great, but Federer reached a level too high for Pete to be mentioned in the same breath really and Pete is one of my fav all time players.
As a Federer fan, this is probably the strongest sporting memory I have where I am not involved myself.. I remember doubting that Roger would ever play again after 2016. At Hopman Cup he looked ok but hardly a challenger for the title. The first 2 matches at AO he looked rusty and definitely not good enough to be the champion. But the 3rd round was special.. look up Berdych’s interview at Rotterdam about a month later what he thought about Roger’s performance in that match. It was to me one of his best matches ever. 4th round against Nishikori was a different challenge but he toughed it out in 5 sets. Showed that he was there both physically and mentally. The quarters against Zverev was the perfect opponent at that time since he was timing his passing shots to perfection and had an easy win. The semi against Stan was to me actually a so-so match.. and in the 5th Roger looked out but Stan couldn’t take advantage and finished that match very weakly. And then the final.. before it happened I actually thought about that a dream scenario would be that Roger would face Rafa in the final and come from behind in the 5th set to win it. That would be a moment for all Federer fans to remember forever. Still, I didn’t want Rafa to make the final since once again I saw Rafa as the winner in the potential final. And during the match I was between hope and despair and when the 5th set started with a break I couldn’t watch any more. Busy with other things but still didn’t want to see the inevitable loss. About 20 minutes later I decided to rewatch and came just in time to see Roger break for 5-3 and despite being late for a game of my own this was not to be missed. Those 7-8 minutes it took for Roger to serve it out was one of the nerviest things I have ever seen but it was worth it. Losing 4th set, being down a break in the 5th and turn it around against Rafa in the final to get his first win against his biggest nemesis in a slam for a decade.. Coming back from injury at 35 years of age.. It just doesn’t get any better than that and should be the perfect movie script one day. Losses (and wins) after this actually doesn’t mean THAT much anymore. To me this is and probably always will be Roger’s greatest achievement.
The T-10 I know. Unforgivable. But there is at least some consolation in having watched the final set hundreds of times by now and I’d rather missed him win (which I didn’t) than watched him lose:).
Informasi greatest match? I actually wouldn’t say that. I can think of a few matches where he actually has played better overall. Even the Berdych match in this specific tournament was better (to me). But the last 5 games were absolutely extraordinary given the circumstances and I can also agree on that it is the greatest and most satisfying win of his career.
@@w1lbert10 He's the third-best player of all time; I greatly respect him. After Novak and Nadal, he's done the most for tennis, and nobody can take that from him.
the first 4 sets were not outstanding, as both players had lost their bets after early break ... but the fifth set was one of the best tennis sets in the history
The last set wasn't very good either. Both seemed to take the foot off at different points, and there was a lot of nervousness. This was a supremely underwhelming match, but the right man won it in the end. Federer was the better player overall.
This is the game where everyone doubted Federer because the "stats" are against him. He is the underdog coming in to this. So many have said that it would not be possible at all to win against Nadal, their matchup record just says so. This has got to be the most meaningful and most fulfilling tennis win that I've witnessed in my life, I teared a little.
I don’t think Federer was the underdog here. Nadal was coming from very bad years as well and Djokovic had been stockpiling tittles, especially in 2016. Somehow it was a (nice) surprise to see them playing a final again, let alone against each other.
Don't forget that Roger has a negative h2h against Rafa only on clay. On grass and hard and indoor, Roger had the clear edge. True, Rafa had a much better record in slams - but 5 of those were the French. Roger had the misfortune of being the 2nd best clay courter for most of their rivalry - so made it to finals - but then always got thumped by Rafa.
This one is probably the most epic match Roger played since 2008 final (if only Roger won 19WB final though). Unbelievable quality and unforgettable. Historic victory for RF.
He'll always be the GOAT no matter what. At 39, he still did a decent job in Wimbledon. He is a maestro. The classiest player to have ever touched a racquet.
@@BertRussie He is not the GOAT mate, he won like 13 slams before Djokovich won his first. Nadal won 13 at FO alone, so you can't call him the greatest tennis player ever either. Djokovich has won his slams spread out over the different slam events. Plus the only reason Fed is a FO winner is because of Robin Soderling. Roger never beat Nadal at Rolland Garros. plus only beat him twice on clay. Djokovich has beaten Nadal countless times on clay and has even beat him twice at Rolland Garros.
@@SilentHotdog28 Djokovic is way younger than Roger and that's exactly my point. Roger had Nadal and Djokovic who followed him. And both were 5 and 4 years younger than him. And yet Djokovic at 34 doesn't have the kind of competition Federer had when he was 34. Djokovic is lucky that he doesn't have someone like Nadal or Roger who is younger than him giving him any tough competition. You can't compare Roger at 34 with Djokovic at 29. It's just unfair. And the Brand Roger Federer is bigger than both Rafa's and Novak's. He is the biggest personal brand that has ever been like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan. Just an all round legendary person.
@@SilentHotdog28 The GOAT is not only a question of numbers, we all know that djoko will have de most GS, but it's not the only thing. The beauty of the game, the estetic, etc. Federer is THE genius in tennis, djoko and Nadal play really good to, but Federer transforms tennis in international sport. Federer in tennis is like Jordan in basketball, Woods in golf or even Phelps in swim. Their record will be break, but in the memory of people, they always be the best, even if djoko won 30GS, Federer will always be the GOAT in tennis.
@@gerardzebu9250 the same people who used to say that Federer is the best because of numbers now say numbers don't matter, you guys are jokes. Djoko is the G.O.A.T there is no arguing now. The numbers are overwhelmingly in Djoko's favour other than GS total.
this is not my first time watching this, and wont be the last, i absolutely love this encounter. practically memorised this , but still will watch it whenever i can
What a champion. I love Federer. He’s the best guy, I swear. Nadal’s a champion too. This era of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic is the best era for men’s tennis since the days of Borg-McEnroe-Connors, the 1950’s with Kramer-Gonzales-Segura-Hoad-Rosewall-Sedgman. and the late 1920’s with Bill Tilden and The Three Musketeers, Cochet, Borotra and Lacoste.
No, I’m not. Very few people are . I can read though. I read books. And magazine articles. And articles on the internet. And I read a lot of UA-cam tennis comments. This is a Golden Era. It won’t last much longer. Appreciate it.
I agree, the 1990’s would be the 5th great era. I played with and went to dinner and the movies with Sampras, I strung for Courier, I spent 5 days training with Chang (and Palmer and Gottfried), I got to ask Agassi a couple questions at a press conference and I almost had a head on collision with Stefan Edberg on the golf course in our golf carts. My brushes with Greatness!
Unbelievable to think that two years have already passed since this classic. I clearly remember how the throwback slam went, and in my heart of hearts I had hoped for a Fedal final when the tournament began. But that was borderline delusional a thought till Novak lost in the 2nd round, and what strengthened my expectations of such a final was Roger's dogfight with Kei, and Rafa refusing to be brow-beaten by Sascha, showing that the two legends were not going to lack any convictions about giving it their all to get to the final stages of the tournament. And then this final; while the first four sets were actually not all that memorable in terms of sustained competitiveness (it was one player dominating over the other), the shotmaking from Roger suggested that he was in and ready for another battle of wills, this time against his greatest nemesis. He was going full tilt on his BH crosscourt and opening up the DTL, much like Novak's very own, patented blueprint for success against Rafa. He barely ever sliced his BH, and robbed Rafa of any rhythm. Rafa, on the other hand, forced to change tactics as a result, was pummeling his own BH crosscourt (he hits it harder quite often than his FH now) and attacking Roger's FH. The fifth set has to be one of the most dramatic sets ever played in tennis history, given the context. A break down, one would have expected Roger to wilt away; certainly, the younger Roger from '09 would have lost belief, and one would have forgiven him for not having scaled his greatest obstacle in Rafa in a crunch match, again. But there was something different about this version of the Maestro; rather than give in, he was vocal, relentless, and even went a feet or two behind the baseline to take more full-blooded cuts at the ball; it is unusual for him to do that, given how much he hugs the baseline and refuses to give up territory. In each of Rafa's service games, there were multiple bp's; I am sure, with all his will in saving those bp's, Rafa did not expect Roger to hang in this long. Fatigue from his epic against Grigor may have been kicking in as well, but I guess that is a non-factor (we know what happened in 2009..). I stayed glued to the television knowing that even if Roger lost, he wasn't going down easy. That 26-shot rally was the culmination of both these guys' skills, wills, sweat, tears, and legacies rolled into 35 seconds of otherworldly tennis that we mere mortals can only dream of matching. Both men were past their physical primes, both were written off, both were not even considered dark-horses to Andy's and Novak's duopoly at the time. Given the situation, this is Roger Federer's most inspirational achievement, and arguably his greatest accomplishment ever.
Good summary. I actually paused the vid to read it. Only one quibble: Nadal was 30 at the time. So still within his prime in this day and age of players like LeBron, Ronaldo and Tom Brady playing until their late 30s at the highest level
It's match replays like this one that remind me why Federer and Nadal are special in particular. It's not enough to just hit percentage shots expertly; when you INNOVATE and INVENT that's when your tennis is truly memorable.
@@davidwebb548 still leads the overall head to head 24 - 16, and grand slam head to head 10 - 4. Anyways this comment meant to say that Rafa has also won Australian open now
Rewatching in 2024 AO days. Missing these two legends. Tennis has lost its flavour since these two are gone. It’s not about beautiful game and techniques anymore, just who lasts longer.
Katerina Patiniotis Djokovic was absent ?? OMG 🤪 honestly I don't care anything from Nole, I love tennis & love Roger more but respect all of them. Why you always repeat Nole everytime, you hate someone ☺️ poor you. You're an adult who wanna be loved by everyone, like Nole 😂 really sorry for you
That rally was the best ever in the history of tennis for sure!! Even though Nadal may be the GOAT now after winning his 21 GS but for me, Roger will always be the best ever because of his style(grace), class and sportsmanship!!
One of the best match ever between Roger & Rafa, equally as good as the 2008 Wimbledon final. Never bored of watching this match over and over again, not only because Roger end up victorious, but the tension & drama, the rallies and magnificent shot making from both. Roger & Rafa, together with Novak is truly legend of the game, the best era of men's tennis 😊😊
I remember this day. I watched the entire match at our living room with my mom and brother. I am a huge Federer fan, I was waiting five years for this and that dream was almost crushed when Nadal got the upper hand early in the 5th set, only to be turned around by Federer after. I remember when he won, my mom and I literally leaped out of our couches and started jumping because we were so happy. I ended up treating my colleagues at work the next day with some ice cream because I was that happy. I miss him play today but I know he has to recuperate. But yes, I would never ever forget this match. It was amazing. And yea, that rally at 18:00? I posted that in my Instagram profile when it got uploaded after the match so I wont forget.
as I always watched these two great players of tennis played, wow, from their 2009 battle of champions in AO till 2017...amazing..how I witness these two greats play each other in my generation...FEDAL... Two G.O.A.T. of Tennis
23:40 essa comemoração é uma das coisas mais emocionantes que já vi, ao vivo, em minha vida. Um gênio do esporte mundial, totalmente entregue como uma criança comemorando um feito pela primeira vez. Este AO aos 36 anos, contra Rafael Nadal (com 31 anos), estando 5 anos sem vencer um grand slam, uma cirurgia no joelho e 6 meses parado foi o selo definitivo de melhor tenista da história que todos já sabiam. História.
The last set will be remembered in Tennis history for ever. The two greatest players of the last 15 years battling for the title. Could not have been better.
@@blackflag6976 Well Djokovic has risen to a fantastic level of athletisism. If he just got vaccinated and had a sense of what he is risking he could be considered the best player of the Big Three Era for sure.
Its like two century old grand wizards competing with each other. Two lager than life personas. Truly one of the best tennis matches in sports history. Breathtaking.
AO always provides the ground on where Roger makes his own games unforgettable classics. Good job AO! You are the shortest in terms of history but the best Grand Slam.
This was my last Aus Open final I got to see from America. What a treat and felt so happy Roger won. Words can’t explain. Nice gift after that epic Wimbledon final Rafa won in 2009… an all day match… what a beautiful sport this is…
AO TV is the best official tennis channel, and I love their AO Classics because so much of the old footage isn't available anywhere else. So I hate to sound like a greedy jerk, but I've already seen higher quality highlights of this match from a dozen different private youtube channels over the last 2 years. For a 2017 match, this framerate is moving in slow motion.
RandomGuy285 @australianopentv listen to this comment and redo the highlights!!! You know it makes sense! Don't have to show every point from a game...just the best points from a set right @randomguy285?
The edge. I have heard it all my life. The top athletes, when competing against each other, always win by a small margin. Federer took this to the edge. Nadal missed 3 shots and Federer's aces in this last game are what gave it to Federer. The edge.
I jumped like him when the hawkeye tech showed it's IN. I am a tennis fan because of his crowded champion in Wimbledon 2012 and this is the greatest moment I'd ever been during 10 years watching him. Simply the GOAT
Best rivalry in sports history. There's no other sport where two rivals are this good, this close. What stands out though is the mutual respect these two have. We really are blessed to witness this and to witness such a great sport and inspiring personalities.
This match is one of my favourite matches ever, but still, the 2008 Wimbledon final has to be the greatest match ever. As a roger fan I dont even care if Rafa won, that match was simply spectacular.
@@donvito7344 No lol why would that matter? I just think it was too much of a grind fest, too little variety, too little shotmaking, for it to be considered the best match ever. I mean right off the top of my head Djokovic himself has participated in higher quality matches, like: AO 13 vs Stan USO 11 vs Fed Wimbledon 18 vs Rafa He won all those matches btw. Maybe don’t make assumptions next time.
The one that hurts for me is 2018. Federer and Nadal were seeded 1 and 2, and had Federer won the quarterfinal and semifinal and Nadal won the semifinal, you know what would have come next! 10 years after THAT match!
@@viksinha5410 At least Fedal did happen again (in 2019). 2018 sucked, but I felt the 2019 final was worse, partly because it was double Championship point on his own serve, partly because it was the same old story versus Djokovic again and Fed really doesn't need extra demons against that man. Winning that match would have: -made him the oldest Slam champion in the Open Era -made it the first time he wins a Slam by beating Djokovic and Nadal in succession, putting paid to any notion that he can't deliver that effort. (I think he DID prove that. Losing one point shows almost nothing about your fitness.) -made it the first time he beats Djokovic over five sets after twice failing from match point up -made it the first time he beats Djokovic from a set down in a Slam (it happened once outside a Slam in Dubai 2014) -likely got rid of the demons against Djokovic in the same way Australia 2017 got rid of the Rafa demons -quite possibly rescued his Slam record -maybe rescued his number 1 record Not to diminish Djokovic's good work, but the amount of tennis history hanging on the two inches he happened to miss that first serve at 40-15 by is just surreal. Goes to show how little records sometimes mean. You have to laugh about how absurd it is. Still, if Fed can see the positives, so should his fans.
@@Molybdaenmornell The biggest positive is that Federer gave Djokovic a run for his money, and no other player would have been able to. They would have been beaten in a quick 3 or maybe 4 sets.
Federer was always my favourite, and I “hated” Nadal. But now I’m older I’m Federer = Nadal, and am so happy Rafa got his 21st🏆. Especially after he lost to Fed in 17’
This was the first tennis game I’ve ever watched. Unfortunately I started watching tennis at the age of 17, but lucky enough to watch Federer live playing!
2017: 15-40, held the nerves, held the serve 2019: 40-15, millions of hearts got broken together with his serve These two may easily be his best and worst moments in the entire career
He nearly choked in the final game here too. Its amazing, plays an unbelieveable 5. set, but then when he serves for the championsship he starts playing passive and gives nadal the oppurtunity to break him. Lucky he won the 2 break points
I stayed up until 3:00 AM to watch this match and I never regretted a second of it. Other than Wimbledon 2008, it was one of the best matches I had ever seen in real-time.
@@k.a.8366 He's not GOAT yet. Federer has 20 grand slams, Nadal has 19, while Djokovic has 17. When Djokovic gets more than Federer or Nadal, then he can be GOAT.
Re-watching in 2022. One of the best finals in tennis history. Missing Roger on court.
Still world number 17 lol at 40
Yep, We all miss him 😘
5 years later it’s Rafa’s turn to make an incredible comeback after injury… and to finally win his 21st Grand Slam title! Congrats Rafa! You truly deserve it! 👏👏👏🏆
he can't play forever. time is just about up
If Federer can play in 2022 AO final , this would have been a different result
The joy on Federer's face after winning the match was like winning the first major of his life. He was stuck on 17 for a long time and this was his 18th. He won when everyone already wrote him off
Yes. Everyone written off him. But I believe he will make it 21 or 22 before his retirement. 😍😍
@@akshayharshan1872 I doubt that will happen
@@nuvinpooliyadde7319. Because of Feds form it is very tough. But We can hope.
@@akshayharshan1872 probably his last chance of winning a grand slam was during the 2019 Wimbldeon Final against Djokovic. He had two match points and ended up losing. So heartbreaking😪💔
Nuvin Pooliyadde Looks like Federer is done. Rafa might add FO22. That’s his best chance. Don’t think he’d go beyond 22
"I will never, ever forget that rally." Neither will I. One of the best moments in tennis history. I swear my heart stopped watching that.
invert forehand winer 30-40 5th is impresive!,for me is the point of the match.
That and uso 2009 tweener
I was literally going to comment the exact first two sentences of your comment; YOUR READ MY MIND👏
RIDICULOUS
33
I'm watching this in 2024 and i will watch it again 10 years later. No one can beat Roger and Rafa's legacy and the impact they made in this sport. Tennis is where it is today because of them .
The exact opposite in play-style and fighting spirit just make them such an unparalleled rivalry. Crazy
Watching now as I need some good inspiration since I’m just starting tennis
@@seekndstroy756if you need some inspiration I’ll share my story. In December, i picked up a tennis racket for the first time in years. Did some lessons then played 1 on 1 with my dad a bit like once a week until tennis winter conditioning started. Joined a team coming off the best year in tennis the school had ever had the previous year and there were 5 seniors. I tried every practice and played in the offseason. 2 of the best players on the team had never played tennis before their freshmen (9th grade) years but they tried every day for years to reach that skill. I thought through all of that i managed to make a varsity spot, but a kid who bullied me 2 years ago (separate story but i am not bothered by him bc i found out he’s a loser) turned out to have previous experience in tennis and essentially stole a roster spot from me. But i kept trying all season and ended up playing in sectionals for my school.
YYTMDR (you yapped too much didnt read) anything is possible. Just try your hardest and you can become great for your team. You got this and I believe in you! I do want to add that i was involved in track prior to tennis so my skills in sprinting and endurance did help me a lot
I will never forget this match.
But i will forget it easily
Vasanth Vasu ok
Never ever
So do I, this is a Hollywood worthy match lol. Federer is basically the underdog here, imagine of a story of an old washed up master trying to prove himself again to the current best. Many have doubted that he can do it at all.
among all Nadal vs Federer encounter?
Upon Federer's retirement announcement, this is sooooo much more emotional. There will never be another like him.
I think many of us came back here after the announcement. One of the greatest GS finals between two legends of the sport and a particularly special win for Federer.
Nadal, Federer and Dojkvic are Giants of Tennis who have completely reinvented the interest of audience in the game. Federer u would always be missed in the court. Best wishes for ur second innings. Enjoy it bro 😉
@JH Tennis
You're delusional. Sampras and Nadal are very humble and likable. Novak is more of a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde persona. Murray has certainly had some good moments, but he's been overshadowed by the others. Trivializing the achievements of Sampras, Nadal, and Novak is simply infantile.
@JH Tennis
Teenage Federer was a real hothead, and older Federer started behaving like a real ass when he was losing in 2008-2010. Anyone can be a "good sport" when they are winning. In later years, he did become more gracious in defeat. You have a very selective memory.
How can he be the best player in history when Nadal and Djokovic BOTH have winning records against him??!! Federer is certainly ONE of the best players in history...no dispute there.
McEnroe and Williams both exhibited god-awful behavior in their respective careers. I wouldn't put much stock in their assessments of anyone's decorum.
You really worship this guy...it's quite unhealthy. Sports worship is a sickness.
@@fred718 can you shut up, you nerd?
despite the fact that i'm a nadal's fan I have to admit that fedex is a living legend. He changed the way he play through years in order to fit his physical status.
Thanks for giving Federer some respect
he's the legend after Sampras
@@kittencat1983 Nah Sampras was great, but Federer reached a level too high for Pete to be mentioned in the same breath really and Pete is one of my fav all time players.
Such a shame he had so many back issues while in his prime
@@robinsoncruise2228 He can beat Djokovic and Nadal but Djokovic wasnt in the same time in his prime as Federer
The winning forehand at the end of the 26 shot rally was jaw-dropping. I WILL NEVER, EVER FORGET THAT RALLY.
As a Federer fan, this is probably the strongest sporting memory I have where I am not involved myself..
I remember doubting that Roger would ever play again after 2016.
At Hopman Cup he looked ok but hardly a challenger for the title.
The first 2 matches at AO he looked rusty and definitely not good enough to be the champion.
But the 3rd round was special.. look up Berdych’s interview at Rotterdam about a month later what he thought about Roger’s performance in that match. It was to me one of his best matches ever.
4th round against Nishikori was a different challenge but he toughed it out in 5 sets. Showed that he was there both physically and mentally.
The quarters against Zverev was the perfect opponent at that time since he was timing his passing shots to perfection and had an easy win.
The semi against Stan was to me actually a so-so match.. and in the 5th Roger looked out but Stan couldn’t take advantage and finished that match very weakly.
And then the final.. before it happened I actually thought about that a dream scenario would be that Roger would face Rafa in the final and come from behind in the 5th set to win it. That would be a moment for all Federer fans to remember forever.
Still, I didn’t want Rafa to make the final since once again I saw Rafa as the winner in the potential final.
And during the match I was between hope and despair and when the 5th set started with a break I couldn’t watch any more. Busy with other things but still didn’t want to see the inevitable loss.
About 20 minutes later I decided to rewatch and came just in time to see Roger break for 5-3 and despite being late for a game of my own this was not to be missed. Those 7-8 minutes it took for Roger to serve it out was one of the nerviest things I have ever seen but it was worth it.
Losing 4th set, being down a break in the 5th and turn it around against Rafa in the final to get his first win against his biggest nemesis in a slam for a decade.. Coming back from injury at 35 years of age.. It just doesn’t get any better than that and should be the perfect movie script one day.
Losses (and wins) after this actually doesn’t mean THAT much anymore.
To me this is and probably always will be Roger’s greatest achievement.
You clearly missed out on one of the greatest sets of Roger's career in that 5th set.
The T-10 I know. Unforgivable.
But there is at least some consolation in having watched the final set hundreds of times by now and I’d rather missed him win (which I didn’t) than watched him lose:).
And given the circumstances I would say that was just not “one of” but actually the greatest set he has ever played.
agree. the greatest match he ever played. especially considering the opponent and the circumstances surrounding the matches
Informasi greatest match? I actually wouldn’t say that. I can think of a few matches where he actually has played better overall. Even the Berdych match in this specific tournament was better (to me).
But the last 5 games were absolutely extraordinary given the circumstances and I can also agree on that it is the greatest and most satisfying win of his career.
18:00 is my favorite point ever played. Roger means so much to me and so many people. He's the reason Tennis is where it is today.
He’s the 🐐 just like messi
He's why so many of us watch tennis
@@w1lbert10 nah
he is goat like ronaldo
@@w1lbert10 Messi like Novak TBH. Roger more like Ronaldo
@@w1lbert10 He's the third-best player of all time; I greatly respect him. After Novak and Nadal, he's done the most for tennis, and nobody can take that from him.
Those last 5 games must go down as the greatest Roger has played in his career!!
23:42 I loved his reaction 🥺😍
Samee
Its super wholesome
the first 4 sets were not outstanding, as both players had lost their bets after early break ... but the fifth set was one of the best tennis sets in the history
Yep alongside Djok Nadal USO 2011 third set and Nadal Delpo Wimbledon 2018 final set
maccajoe hence why they weren’t great?
3rd set was spectacular.
Reverse of 2009 final
The last set wasn't very good either. Both seemed to take the foot off at different points, and there was a lot of nervousness. This was a supremely underwhelming match, but the right man won it in the end. Federer was the better player overall.
the respect Nadal and Federer have for each other is incredible
18:00 The best point of the tournament
Given the magnitude of the point, I'd say arguably the best point ever.
Ridiculous
Damn man, the way he yelled 'RIDICULOUS' at the end gives me chills everytime
Pinnacle tennis
確かに、このポイントはこの大会だけでなく、近年のテニスの大会の中でも、
めっちゃやばいポイントだった
One of the best points of all time!
This is the game where everyone doubted Federer because the "stats" are against him. He is the underdog coming in to this. So many have said that it would not be possible at all to win against Nadal, their matchup record just says so.
This has got to be the most meaningful and most fulfilling tennis win that I've witnessed in my life, I teared a little.
Nadal is better numbers dont lie hes beat him in more slam finals
I don’t think Federer was the underdog here. Nadal was coming from very bad years as well and Djokovic had been stockpiling tittles, especially in 2016.
Somehow it was a (nice) surprise to see them playing a final again, let alone against each other.
2019 Wimbledon final was the most fulfilling emotinal slam victory in the history of tennis! Destiny! Karma!
Novak with 24 GS now, Federer is finished
Don't forget that Roger has a negative h2h against Rafa only on clay. On grass and hard and indoor, Roger had the clear edge. True, Rafa had a much better record in slams - but 5 of those were the French. Roger had the misfortune of being the 2nd best clay courter for most of their rivalry - so made it to finals - but then always got thumped by Rafa.
Final set, 4-3, 40-40, that point is exactly what we watch tennis for 🔥
That was probably the once in a lifetime point. How can you say you watch the game for exactly that?
7
18:30
This one is probably the most epic match Roger played since 2008 final (if only Roger won 19WB final though). Unbelievable quality and unforgettable. Historic victory for RF.
There will never be anyone like Federer again. Sheer class.
Back watching this after Fed lost in 2021 Wimbledon QF. How I would like to see him win just one more slam 😔
He'll always be the GOAT no matter what. At 39, he still did a decent job in Wimbledon. He is a maestro. The classiest player to have ever touched a racquet.
@@BertRussie He is not the GOAT mate, he won like 13 slams before Djokovich won his first. Nadal won 13 at FO alone, so you can't call him the greatest tennis player ever either. Djokovich has won his slams spread out over the different slam events. Plus the only reason Fed is a FO winner is because of Robin Soderling. Roger never beat Nadal at Rolland Garros. plus only beat him twice on clay. Djokovich has beaten Nadal countless times on clay and has even beat him twice at Rolland Garros.
@@SilentHotdog28 Djokovic is way younger than Roger and that's exactly my point. Roger had Nadal and Djokovic who followed him. And both were 5 and 4 years younger than him. And yet Djokovic at 34 doesn't have the kind of competition Federer had when he was 34. Djokovic is lucky that he doesn't have someone like Nadal or Roger who is younger than him giving him any tough competition. You can't compare Roger at 34 with Djokovic at 29. It's just unfair.
And the Brand Roger Federer is bigger than both Rafa's and Novak's. He is the biggest personal brand that has ever been like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan. Just an all round legendary person.
@@SilentHotdog28 The GOAT is not only a question of numbers, we all know that djoko will have de most GS, but it's not the only thing. The beauty of the game, the estetic, etc. Federer is THE genius in tennis, djoko and Nadal play really good to, but Federer transforms tennis in international sport. Federer in tennis is like Jordan in basketball, Woods in golf or even Phelps in swim. Their record will be break, but in the memory of people, they always be the best, even if djoko won 30GS, Federer will always be the GOAT in tennis.
@@gerardzebu9250 the same people who used to say that Federer is the best because of numbers now say numbers don't matter, you guys are jokes. Djoko is the G.O.A.T there is no arguing now. The numbers are overwhelmingly in Djoko's favour other than GS total.
Immediately came back to this match after hearing of Federer's retirement. Never going to see a player like him again.
💔
Nadal better
this is not my first time watching this, and wont be the last, i absolutely love this encounter. practically memorised this , but still will watch it whenever i can
Can’t wait...AO always providing best content for free!
Life of Tennis check out Wimbledon. Full matches, not just 24 minute highlights. RG the worst.
Life of Tennis 💘💥💥💥💘👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
@@badabing8884The tennis channel app has lots of RG including juniors, Qualifiers, and all the matches 1st round all the way to the final.
Tom Barry, yeh, like a decade after the matches might’ve been played.
@@lifeoftennis1285they have all matches from the present year. But the app costs 79.00 for the year, not free.
I remember watching this live and thinking, "This is going to be one of the all time great matches" and it has lived up to its reputation.
What a champion. I love Federer. He’s the best guy, I swear. Nadal’s a champion too. This era of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic is the best era for men’s tennis since the days of Borg-McEnroe-Connors, the 1950’s with Kramer-Gonzales-Segura-Hoad-Rosewall-Sedgman. and the late 1920’s with Bill Tilden and The Three Musketeers, Cochet, Borotra and Lacoste.
are you 100 years old?
No, I’m not. Very few people are . I can read though. I read books. And magazine articles. And articles on the internet. And I read a lot of UA-cam tennis comments. This is a Golden Era. It won’t last much longer. Appreciate it.
@@swalterstennis absolutely. Best times. Wonder how will it be like after the big three retire one by one 😥
Don't forget the Pete & Andre era of the 90s too. Put Michael Chang, Edberg, Becker, and Courier in there as well.
I agree, the 1990’s would be the 5th great era. I played with and went to dinner and the movies with Sampras, I strung for Courier, I spent 5 days training with Chang (and Palmer and Gottfried), I got to ask Agassi a couple questions at a press conference and I almost had a head on collision with Stefan Edberg on the golf course in our golf carts. My brushes with Greatness!
Match like this will always make me cry.
AO 2017 Is one of the most epic and magnific tournaments of all the Time. What a final. The swiss maestro vs el magnífico Nadal.
Miss you already Roger, but fortunately we still have these videos!
Unbelievable to think that two years have already passed since this classic.
I clearly remember how the throwback slam went, and in my heart of hearts I had hoped for a Fedal final when the tournament began. But that was borderline delusional a thought till Novak lost in the 2nd round, and what strengthened my expectations of such a final was Roger's dogfight with Kei, and Rafa refusing to be brow-beaten by Sascha, showing that the two legends were not going to lack any convictions about giving it their all to get to the final stages of the tournament.
And then this final; while the first four sets were actually not all that memorable in terms of sustained competitiveness (it was one player dominating over the other), the shotmaking from Roger suggested that he was in and ready for another battle of wills, this time against his greatest nemesis. He was going full tilt on his BH crosscourt and opening up the DTL, much like Novak's very own, patented blueprint for success against Rafa. He barely ever sliced his BH, and robbed Rafa of any rhythm. Rafa, on the other hand, forced to change tactics as a result, was pummeling his own BH crosscourt (he hits it harder quite often than his FH now) and attacking Roger's FH.
The fifth set has to be one of the most dramatic sets ever played in tennis history, given the context. A break down, one would have expected Roger to wilt away; certainly, the younger Roger from '09 would have lost belief, and one would have forgiven him for not having scaled his greatest obstacle in Rafa in a crunch match, again.
But there was something different about this version of the Maestro; rather than give in, he was vocal, relentless, and even went a feet or two behind the baseline to take more full-blooded cuts at the ball; it is unusual for him to do that, given how much he hugs the baseline and refuses to give up territory. In each of Rafa's service games, there were multiple bp's; I am sure, with all his will in saving those bp's, Rafa did not expect Roger to hang in this long. Fatigue from his epic against Grigor may have been kicking in as well, but I guess that is a non-factor (we know what happened in 2009..). I stayed glued to the television knowing that even if Roger lost, he wasn't going down easy.
That 26-shot rally was the culmination of both these guys' skills, wills, sweat, tears, and legacies rolled into 35 seconds of otherworldly tennis that we mere mortals can only dream of matching. Both men were past their physical primes, both were written off, both were not even considered dark-horses to Andy's and Novak's duopoly at the time.
Given the situation, this is Roger Federer's most inspirational achievement, and arguably his greatest accomplishment ever.
summed it up beautifully
Beautiful! 🙂🙂
poetic
Good summary. I actually paused the vid to read it.
Only one quibble: Nadal was 30 at the time. So still within his prime in this day and age of players like LeBron, Ronaldo and Tom Brady playing until their late 30s at the highest level
beautiful and absolutely true. wimbledon 2019 could have been jewel of his career but not to be i guess. cruel
The way both of them were making comebacks was Insane... What a great match!!!
It's match replays like this one that remind me why Federer and Nadal are special in particular. It's not enough to just hit percentage shots expertly; when you INNOVATE and INVENT that's when your tennis is truly memorable.
I’m re watching it today like it was yesterday!!! Amazing match!!! One of The best of Federer!!!
That 5th set was the greatest set Roger played in his entire career
YES
not even close
No way
Finally can watch this without heartbreak. Vamos RAFA. You got your redemption
Me too!
Same
?
What are you talking about? Rafa only beat him once since 2015. Fed beat him all four times in 2017 and then again at the semis at Wimbledon in 2019.
@@davidwebb548 still leads the overall head to head 24 - 16, and grand slam head to head 10 - 4. Anyways this comment meant to say that Rafa has also won Australian open now
I stayed up to watch this match in the U.S. That fifth set was so nerve-racking! This is the only match where I had tears at the end. Legend.
23:42-priceless reacion of federer
'I will never ever forget that rally.'
Rewatching in 2024 AO days. Missing these two legends. Tennis has lost its flavour since these two are gone. It’s not about beautiful game and techniques anymore, just who lasts longer.
It's great to see both Federer and Nadal playing their best in the final game of the tournament. The match was a classic.
Roger is my all time favourite player ❤
Two greats in tennis and in class. Love you Roger and Rafael!!!
I just watched the whole video again and it was well worth it. Great moments in tennis history.
Don't understand why I still be crying every time I watched this match, love you Roger, hope you to win Wimbledon 2019, believe in you !
Quốc Dũng Lương In your sleep. He won the AO17 because of his strong peds and the absence of Djokovic.
Katerina Patiniotis Djokovic was absent ?? OMG 🤪 honestly I don't care anything from Nole, I love tennis & love Roger more but respect all of them.
Why you always repeat Nole everytime, you hate someone ☺️ poor you.
You're an adult who wanna be loved by everyone, like Nole 😂 really sorry for you
That rally was the best ever in the history of tennis for sure!!
Even though Nadal may be the GOAT now after winning his 21 GS
but for me, Roger will always be the best ever because of his style(grace), class
and sportsmanship!!
Federer is still the goat cause he has more won titles ( 106 if I’m not wrong )
Fed is the goat. He has the most titles. Won 2 different slams 5 consecutive times.
@@tomaztodonte14 Lol by winning 250 tournaments
The Federer backhand on this night was the key !
Such an inspiration when the GOATs meet. One of my favourite matches. Privileged to watch this over and over again.
One of the best match ever between Roger & Rafa, equally as good as the 2008 Wimbledon final. Never bored of watching this match over and over again, not only because Roger end up victorious, but the tension & drama, the rallies and magnificent shot making from both. Roger & Rafa, together with Novak is truly legend of the game, the best era of men's tennis 😊😊
Not really even 2009 australian Open & 2007 Wimbledon were better
@@devilmaycarebutGODdonot 2009 AO much better, both in their primes. They are way older here.
THE first time federer used the right tactcis
Equally as good as Wimby 2008 🤡
@@devilmaycarebutGODdonot 2009 AO & 2008 Wimbledon were also right up there in my best of Federer - Nadal matches 😊😊
"I will never ever forget the rally, the jaw-dropping stuff from two players!" ❤🔥❤🔥❤🔥oh my gosh!!!!! I love Federer forever!!!!!
one of my fave finals. I was so happy when he won. Such a great and exciting match with amazing momentum swings.
I remember this day. I watched the entire match at our living room with my mom and brother. I am a huge Federer fan, I was waiting five years for this and that dream was almost crushed when Nadal got the upper hand early in the 5th set, only to be turned around by Federer after. I remember when he won, my mom and I literally leaped out of our couches and started jumping because we were so happy. I ended up treating my colleagues at work the next day with some ice cream because I was that happy.
I miss him play today but I know he has to recuperate. But yes, I would never ever forget this match. It was amazing.
And yea, that rally at 18:00? I posted that in my Instagram profile when it got uploaded after the match so I wont forget.
as I always watched these two great players of tennis played, wow, from their 2009 battle of champions in AO till 2017...amazing..how I witness these two greats play each other in my generation...FEDAL... Two G.O.A.T. of Tennis
23:40 essa comemoração é uma das coisas mais emocionantes que já vi, ao vivo, em minha vida. Um gênio do esporte mundial, totalmente entregue como uma criança comemorando um feito pela primeira vez. Este AO aos 36 anos, contra Rafael Nadal (com 31 anos), estando 5 anos sem vencer um grand slam, uma cirurgia no joelho e 6 meses parado foi o selo definitivo de melhor tenista da história que todos já sabiam. História.
❤️❤️
I will never ever forget this match ....One of the best finals in tennis history from two outstanding players
Best match ever, 2 legends of tennis
Best match my ass 😂
The last set will be remembered in Tennis history for ever. The two greatest players of the last 15 years battling for the title. Could not have been better.
Djokovic is better
@@blackflag6976 Well Djokovic has risen to a fantastic level of athletisism. If he just got vaccinated and had a sense of what he is risking he could be considered the best player of the Big Three Era for sure.
Its like two century old grand wizards competing with each other. Two lager than life personas. Truly one of the best tennis matches in sports history. Breathtaking.
Coming back here to watch this, brings back so much memories! This had to be one of the best matches!
AO always provides the ground on where Roger makes his own games unforgettable classics. Good job AO! You are the shortest in terms of history but the best Grand Slam.
I WILL NEVER EVER, FORGET THAT MATCH!
This was my last Aus Open final I got to see from America. What a treat and felt so happy Roger won. Words can’t explain. Nice gift after that epic Wimbledon final Rafa won in 2009… an all day match… what a beautiful sport this is…
This match is truly a Gift from the tennis Gods. These guys, along with Djokovic, are clearly the greatest tennis players of all time.
When federer ups his game.... It's simply magic
The Most Humble Tennis Great of All Time!
No one will ever play tennis as graceful,
as powerful and as passionate as RF!
It's 2023 and still a fresh! This clash of titans will be ever remembered!!
18:03 That return from Federer was like the ball swiftly changed direction!
AHHMAZING🤩
Aún me emociona esa final. El último juego fue cardíaco e inolvidable la celebración del Sr. Roger Federer ❤
Watching this has and will never get old #GOAT
I will never forget this tournament, what a match was that! Maybe, he will not be GOAT forever, but in my heart, he will be.
AO TV is the best official tennis channel, and I love their AO Classics because so much of the old footage isn't available anywhere else. So I hate to sound like a greedy jerk, but I've already seen higher quality highlights of this match from a dozen different private youtube channels over the last 2 years. For a 2017 match, this framerate is moving in slow motion.
RandomGuy285 @australianopentv listen to this comment and redo the highlights!!!
You know it makes sense! Don't have to show every point from a game...just the best points from a set right @randomguy285?
have you written to the French Open guys yet?
The shot at 21;29 doesn't get enough credit. Falling backwards cross court winner away from body. Especially on break point in such a huge game. GOAT.
Lmao when Nadal shrugged at 23:30 he was just like "I still got my french opens" Lol
😂
its actually fucking obscene how unbeatable Rafa is on clay lol
@@mragunathan1627
Yeah. I don't recall any individual athlete being so dominant in a tournament for so long in any other sport. Absolute legend.
@@mragunathan1627 somehow novak cracked the code. holy shit, what a match
😂😂😂😂😂
That backhand from Federer was amazing that night. Had always been fed’s kryptonite against Nadal’s forehand, but not on that night.
The edge. I have heard it all my life. The top athletes, when competing against each other, always win by a small margin. Federer took this to the edge. Nadal missed 3 shots and Federer's aces in this last game are what gave it to Federer. The edge.
I jumped like him when the hawkeye tech showed it's IN. I am a tennis fan because of his crowded champion in Wimbledon 2012 and this is the greatest moment I'd ever been during 10 years watching him. Simply the GOAT
Thanks for Roger😭
Best rivalry in sports history. There's no other sport where two rivals are this good, this close. What stands out though is the mutual respect these two have. We really are blessed to witness this and to witness such a great sport and inspiring personalities.
2 legends
2 magicians of the game..
No tennis rivalry comes as close to fedal
Re-Watching this during college, man do I miss these guys 🤝
I'm a djokovic fan, but the elegance of Roger Federer's style of play is truly stunning. I will miss it when he retires.
Federer's backhand is a Wonder of the World.
This match is one of my favourite matches ever, but still, the 2008 Wimbledon final has to be the greatest match ever. As a roger fan I dont even care if Rafa won, that match was simply spectacular.
your wrong, the best match is AO 2012 final!
AO 12 is incredibly overrated
@@sasook cause Djokovic won right?😉
@@donvito7344 No lol why would that matter? I just think it was too much of a grind fest, too little variety, too little shotmaking, for it to be considered the best match ever. I mean right off the top of my head Djokovic himself has participated in higher quality matches, like:
AO 13 vs Stan
USO 11 vs Fed
Wimbledon 18 vs Rafa
He won all those matches btw. Maybe don’t make assumptions next time.
@@sasook and Wimbledon 2014 final
I'm glad he won this but I'm crying after Wimbledon 2019
Still hurt😭
This hurts sooo much
The one that hurts for me is 2018. Federer and Nadal were seeded 1 and 2, and had Federer won the quarterfinal and semifinal and Nadal won the semifinal, you know what would have come next! 10 years after THAT match!
@@viksinha5410 At least Fedal did happen again (in 2019). 2018 sucked, but I felt the 2019 final was worse, partly because it was double Championship point on his own serve, partly because it was the same old story versus Djokovic again and Fed really doesn't need extra demons against that man. Winning that match would have:
-made him the oldest Slam champion in the Open Era
-made it the first time he wins a Slam by beating Djokovic and Nadal in succession, putting paid to any notion that he can't deliver that effort. (I think he DID prove that. Losing one point shows almost nothing about your fitness.)
-made it the first time he beats Djokovic over five sets after twice failing from match point up
-made it the first time he beats Djokovic from a set down in a Slam (it happened once outside a Slam in Dubai 2014)
-likely got rid of the demons against Djokovic in the same way Australia 2017 got rid of the Rafa demons
-quite possibly rescued his Slam record
-maybe rescued his number 1 record
Not to diminish Djokovic's good work, but the amount of tennis history hanging on the two inches he happened to miss that first serve at 40-15 by is just surreal. Goes to show how little records sometimes mean. You have to laugh about how absurd it is.
Still, if Fed can see the positives, so should his fans.
@@Molybdaenmornell The biggest positive is that Federer gave Djokovic a run for his money, and no other player would have been able to. They would have been beaten in a quick 3 or maybe 4 sets.
Federer was always my favourite, and I “hated” Nadal. But now I’m older I’m Federer = Nadal, and am so happy Rafa got his 21st🏆. Especially after he lost to Fed in 17’
Re-watching in 2024. Incredible. I think we will never see tennis players like Federer, Nadal and Djokovic anymore.They are GOAT. Without debating
18:00 まじでめっちゃ燃えた…
両者ともカッコよすぎる
この時代に生まれて良かった
2024 ten finał się nie nudzi.. wciąż niewiarygodny, emocjonujący i przepiękny.
Who is watching this to get ready for Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal semi final at the French Open 2019 ?
Aha the same
Same
And now Wimbledon !
I'm getting ready for Wimbledon now! jaja
me
I can't believe this was already >5 years ago. I remember it all too well.
This game always soothes me from the wounds of Wimbledon 2008
Me too.😁
This was the first tennis game I’ve ever watched. Unfortunately I started watching tennis at the age of 17, but lucky enough to watch Federer live playing!
One of the most excited match I've ever seen
Much better than 2019
Thank you for the memories Rafa
Rivalry with Nadal was fierce and friendship so smooth. Love the transition
Have fun on your retirement Mr. Federer. What an awesome career and ride it has been cheering for you. 🐐🇨🇭
2017: 15-40, held the nerves, held the serve
2019: 40-15, millions of hearts got broken together with his serve
These two may easily be his best and worst moments in the entire career
Hmmm, you are correct.. But I would take winning over nadal in Australian open and wimbledon erasing previous bad memories of fedal matches..
18682sandeep Wimbledon 2019 definitely worst of his career
@@fortunasp5391 yes I would think so, so close to a GrandSlam win in this late in the career, may not get that chance ever again
He nearly choked in the final game here too. Its amazing, plays an unbelieveable 5. set, but then when he serves for the championsship he starts playing passive and gives nadal the oppurtunity to break him. Lucky he won the 2 break points
@@matijacvitkovic3735 nerves
I stayed up until 3:00 AM to watch this match and I never regretted a second of it. Other than Wimbledon 2008, it was one of the best matches I had ever seen in real-time.
Watching after the GOAT announced his retirement. Tennis won't be the same without him.
I just love it when I see Federer so happy
Hoping for a 2020 final like this ❤️
Nope nadal just lost to thiem
@@Alvianis204 Novak is the Goat, 8 times played AO final.
@@k.a.8366 He's not GOAT yet. Federer has 20 grand slams, Nadal has 19, while Djokovic has 17. When Djokovic gets more than Federer or Nadal, then he can be GOAT.
One of the many classics these 2 icons played. One of the happiest moment for Roger fans.