Federer defeats Nadal, winning his 18th Grand Slam title.

"The Express" won the five-set match with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 to become the 2017 Australian Open champion.

This is Roger Federer's 18th Grand Slam title, solidifying his position as the most successful male tennis player in history. It is also the Swiss player's first Grand Slam title since Wimbledon 2012. At 35 years old, Federer is the second oldest Grand Slam champion in history, surpassed only by Ken Rosewall (37 years old when he won the Australian Open in 1972).

Federer entered this year's Australian Open as the 17th seed while Rafael Nadal was the ninth. The Swiss player missed more than half of last season due to a knee injury, while Nadal also had wrist problems. Both returning to the court earlier this year, Federer and Nadal displayed high form and convincingly reached the finals of the first Grand Slam of the year.

In this match, Federer hit 73 winners, including 20 aces, and won 76% of his first serves. Nadal had 17 break opportunities but only converted four. Most notably, the Spaniard led 40-15 in the ninth game of the final set. He had a chance to break serve and rekindle his hopes of leveling the score, but failed to do so.

Federer defeats Nadal for the 18th time, Grand Slam champion.

The final began cautiously from both players, who displayed clear tactical intentions by focusing on forcing shots to the left and aiming for early wins. In the first six games, Federer won three, one for Federer and two for Nadal. Federer only lost four points in his service games in the first set and secured a break in the seventh game with a precise volley.

However, Nadal responded by winning all four of the first games of the second set. Federer broke back in the fifth game, but Nadal won the next two service games to level the score at 1-1. A superb set from the ninth seed from Spain.

Federer's hopes of conquering his 18th Grand Slam title brightened when he unexpectedly dominated Nadal in the third set, winning 6-1. His perfect tennis, coupled with his excellent serve, put the living legend one step closer to the 2017 Australian Open title. However, Nadal, like an unyielding warrior, forced the match into a fifth set, winning it 6-3.

Federer broke down in tears once again at the Australian Open after defeating his greatest rival of his career.

At this point, Federer's fans began to worry. Nadal, on a winning streak, was playing better and better. The nightmare once again loomed large for Federer and his fans when Nadal broke Federer's serve in the very first game.

What followed was history. Federer showed a fighting spirit, calmly neutralizing Nadal's powerful backhand. From a position of weakness, Federer broke Nadal's serve in the sixth set to level the score at 3-3.

Nadal seemed to tire slightly from this point onwards. He lost his accuracy in his shots. Meanwhile, Federer continued his momentum to win the next crucial break, taking a 5-3 lead. On his own serve, after missing three match points, Federer didn't miss on his fourth attempt.

He closed out the match with a shot that landed right on the sideline, requiring the use of "Hawk-Eye" technology to pinpoint its exact location. The 2017 Australian Open final ended in the most perfect scenario for Federer.

It took Federer 7 years to lift the championship trophy again.

Thus, it took seven years for this player to lift the championship trophy again. The last time was in 2010. Federer cried, but these tears were different from those in 2009. This is a very meaningful title for FedEx because he doesn't know when he will reach the Grand Slam final again.

This is Federer's 18th Grand Slam title and his 5th Australian Open championship. It also marks his first time defeating Nadal in a Grand Slam final on a hard court. Previously, Federer had beaten his Spanish rival twice in the Wimbledon grass court finals in 2006 and 2007.

According to VNE/Zing