(Photo credit WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images)

We watched this unforgettable men singles final match in the 2009 Australian Open last night. Hubby was rooting for Nadal since the start and he watched the game all through out. After dinner around the fourth set, I sat down on front of the TV with CT and watched the match progress. It was 2 sets to 1 in favor of Nadal but Federer fought back and took the fourth set to tie 2 sets all. So the match went to the fifth set. Nadal was taking this set I thought to myself.

Search for Davao City Jobs | Jobs in Davao City

If you knew all along that Federer went into the Australian Open eyeing for his 14th Grand Slam Title to tie the record with my all time male tennis idol Pete Sampras record 14 Grand Slam Titles. So during the fifth set I felt Federer was already getting tired. I was thinking he would not get his 14th title in the Australian Open. The match ended after 4 hours and 23 minutes. In Australian time, the match went past 12 midnight so you can just imagine how tired both Nadal and Federer would have been. But during the fifth set where you will see Nadal sprinting into the court when the match will resume, you would know Nadal could already smell his victory over his friend Federer. The Australian crowd love Federer as confirmed by the master of ceremonies during the awarding of trophies. And so the match ended where you can only see Federer trying to stay in the game with the kind of rally that he was giving the 22 year old Nadal.

Nadal won 7-5 3-6 7-6(3) 3-6 6-2 and was crowned as the new king as he has just joined an elite group of just 12 men who in tennis history have managed to win three Grand Slam titles on three different surfaces since the Open Era began.I believe he did not win the the grass court during the last Wimbledon where he lost to Federer.

During the  awarding ceremonies, I could already see that Federer was obviously and really not happy with the match outcome. Later on the people found out how much emotion he was trying to hold back. Being the runner up he was the first between the two of them to be called to received his plaque. The emcee said that he could be their adopted tennis player. Federer did not say much at first. A man from the crowd shouted out loud and clear for everyone to hear “I love you Roger!” You would know the man was only kidding but Roger did not say anything for awhile and he just bowed down until he could only utter “This is killing me.” And Federer started to cry and let the emotions he was trying to hold back go. I was watching him and could honestly feel his disappointment for not getting the 14th Grand Slam Title that was much within his reach but Nadal was just too good for him. It was hard for many of those watching not to cry with him. I had to stop myself otherwise my two year old son would wonder why.

Nadal at the back felt bad and I wonder if he felt somehow guilty to make his friend cry. The emcee gave Federer some time to compose himself while he called on the champion Rafael Nadal. Federer patted Nadal as he went up the stage and Nadal went on to get his trophy only to come back and hug the 27 year old Federer. Federer went back to the mic and said Nadal should have the last word being the champion and he said a few words.

Then when it was Nadal’s turn. “I’m sorry for today,” he said to Federer. “I really know how you feel. But remember – you are one of the best players of the history and you are going to improve the 14 of Sampras. It is always a pleasure to play you and best of luck for the rest of the year.” Nadal also said, “To have the trophy presented to me by a legend like Rod Laver is a dream for me.” Standing alongside the great man were the four men he had beaten in the four major finals 40 years ago – Andreas Gimeno, Ken Rosewall, John Newcombe and Tony Roche. They had come to see Federer become one of their number but then  instead they stood there to applaud Nadal who last night became the very first Spaniard to win the Australian Open. With only the US Open left to conquer, it will not be long before Nadal becomes a legend himself who now has 6 Grand Slam Titles to his credit and he is still young at the age of 22.

Popularity: 37% [?]