Roger Federer beats Rafael Nadal in 5 sets to win 5th Australian Open title | Highlights

Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to win his fifth Australian Open and 18th Grand Slam at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on Sunday. Federer had won the opening set 6-4 while Rafael Nadal broke Federer twice to win the second set 6-3. The Swiss won the third set 6-1 before Nadal taking things to the decider with a 6-3 win in the fourth set. At 35, Swiss Federer became the oldest men’s Grand Slam champion. Get tennis score and highlights of Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal Australian Open final here. (LIVE STREAMING)

6:13 pm IST: Champion Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal with Rod Laver at the Australian Open podium.

6:01 pm IST: The two champions have tremendous respect for each other. Rafael Nadal says Roger Federer deserved the win more than him.

5:55 pm IST: Roger Federer’s winning moment :

5:53 pm IST: Roger Federer, the Swiss maestro, beats Rafael Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in 3 hours and 37 minutes.

5:46 pm IST: Roger Federer wins the Australian Open! A forehand winner and he’s clinched his 18th Major! What a champion! The first 17th seed since Pete Sampras in 2002 to win a Grand Slam.

5:38 pm IST: BROKEN! Federer finally converts on his fifth brek point He leads 5-3 and will serve for the championship now.

5:30 pm IST: Federer takes the lead in the fifth set in fine style. Blasts an ace to go 4-3 up.

5:28 pm IST: By the way, former Aussie cricketer Shane Warne knew the break was coming.

5:27 pm IST: BROKEN! Federer gets the break back. It’s 3-3 in the fifth set!

5:18 pm IST: Nadal loses the game with a backhand unforced error. Federer still keeps hopes alive; bridges the gap to 2-3 in the fifth set after five games at the Rod Laver Arena.

5:15 pm IST: Nadal holds his serve. He had to save a break point while taking that 3-1 lead in the fifth set.

5:08 pm IST: Brilliant cross-court winner from Federer. Holds his serve to bridge the gap to 2-1. Nadal to serve.

5:05 pm IST: Nadal holds his serve brilliantly to consolidate the break. Nadal saves three break points and is now 2-0 up in the fifth set!

4:57 pm IST: BROKEN! Nadal breaks Federer’s serve in the 1st game of the fifth set. Leads 1-0 at the Rod Laver Arena

4:53 pm IST: Roger Federer has availed an off-court medical time-out. Federer’s back on court now after five minutes.

4:47 pm IST: It’s all tied at 2-2 at the Rod Laver Arena. Both Federer and Nadal had to pull of a five-set victory in their semifinal clashes respectively.

4:45 pm IST: Nadal takes the fourth set 6-3 in 40 minutes. Yet another unforced error from Federer and we head to the fifth set now

4:41 pm IST: Nadal’s forehand lands wide and Federer holds his serve. It’s 5-3 to the Spaniard who will now serve for the set.

4:40 pm IST: Dominant stuff from Nadal. He’s in no mood to let go the advantage. Slams an ace to go 5-2 up in the fourth set against Federer at the Rod Laver Arena.

4:36 pm IST: It’s raining aces here at the Rod Laver Arena. Federer slammed four in that game to bridge the gap to 2-4 in the fourth set.

4:31 pm IST: What a brilliant forehand return from Nadal! He goes 4-1 up in the fourth set at the Rod Laver Arena!

4:22 pm IST: BROKEN! Nadal breaks early in the fourth set to go 3-1 up.

4:19 pm IST: A better start from Nadal in the fourth set. A forehand forced error from Federer as he sends his return wide. It’s 2-1 to the Spaniard in the fourth set.

4: 17 pm IST: Nadal has never defeated Federer after going down two sets to one in his entire career

4:16 pm IST: A crushing backhand winner from Federer and it’s all square at 1-1 in the fourth set at the Rod Laver Arena.

4:14 pm IST: First game of the fourth set goes to Nadal. Federer commits an unforced forehand error and the Spaniard holds his serve comfortably.

4:09 pm IST: It is a big task for Rafael Nadal now to get back into the match and try and win it. He has never trailed Federer 1-2 in a Slam final,

4:06 pm IST: Federer takes the third set 6-1 in 41 minutes! A brilliant backhand volley winner and the Swiss leads 2-1 at the Rod Laver Arena. Nadal has to come up with a gem of a reply once again!

3:59 pm IST: BROKEN!!!! Nadal has failed to hold his serve once again and Federer now leads 5-1 and will serve for the set. A brilliant backhand winner from the Swiss maestro and Nadal had no answer to that!

3:53 pm IST: Terrific stuff from Federer. Holds his serve with a brilliant forehand winner. He leads 4-1 in the third set at the Rod Laver Arena.

3:50 pm IST: Nadal finally manages to hold serve in the third set. He had to save three break points before taking that game. Federer leads 3-1.

3:49 pm IST: He had taken 10 minutes to win the 1st game; it took him three to win the third! Nadal has hit just one winner so far.

3:41 pm IST: Two back to back aces! This is as special as it can get from Federer. He leads 3-0 in the third set! The Swiss champion has swung the momentum back to his favour in the third set.

3:40 pm IST: Nadal BROKEN!!! Federer is on fire! 2-0 to the Swiss champion!

3:35 pm IST: Federer takes the game in fine fashion! He was 0-40 down, had to pull back Nadal from the advantage thrice but still comes out on top.

3:34 pm IST: Nadal went on the advantage thrice, Federer slammed three aces to pull thigns to deuce! Oh what a game!

3:33 pm IST: Federer had 15 unforced errors against Nadal’s four in that set. Tells you the story!

3:26 pm IST: A forehand forced error from Federer and Nadal takes the second set 6-3. Dominant show from the Spaniard! Game on at the Rod Laver Arena!

3:22 pm IST: Federer wins the game with a brilliant forehand winner. Nadal will now serve for the second set at the Rod Laver Arena.

3:20 pm IST: It’s hot action out there and Nadal has made Federer sweat a bit in the second set.

3:19 pm IST: Nadal holds his serve comfortably. He leads 5-2 in the second set. Federer will have to hold his serve now.

3:16 pm IST: Federer holds serve to bridge the gap to 2-4 at the Rod Laver Arena. Good comeback in the set so far but is it a bit too late against Nadal?

3:10 pm IST: BROKEN!!! Federer earns a break back. It’s 4-1 in the second set at the Rod Laver Arena!

3:06 pm IST: BROKEN! Nadal had three break points and Federer could save only two of them. 4-0 to Nadal in the second set at the Rod Laver Arena.

3:03 pm IST: Nadal on a roll. Three break points for him.

3:02 pm IST: Nadal holds serve and extends the lead to 3-0. OWhat a game! Three deuce points, two break points for Federer, but the Spaniard just comes back strong in the second set

2:58 pm IST: Federer is attacking Nadal’s serve. He desperately wants to break back. Things on deuce now.

2:53 pm IST: BROKEN! Nadal takes the lead early on in the second set at the Rod Laver Arena. 2-0 to the Spaniard.

2:52 pm IST: Of the 11 Grand Slam meetings between Federer and Nadal, nine times the match has been won by the person winning the first set.

2:48 pm IST: Despite dropping the 1st point, Nadal holds on to his serve. Leads 1-0 in the second set at the Rod Laver Arena.

2:45 pm IST: The Swiss slams his 4th ace of the match as he bags the first set. Nadal will start serve in the second set

2:42 pm IST: Two set points for Federer, who takes the first set 6-4.

2:39 pm IST: Nadal manages to hold his serve with a terrific forehand; bridges the gap to 4-5. Federer will now serve for the opening set at the Rod Laver Arena.

2:33 pm IST: An ace to seal the game. Federer leads 5-3 in the first set at the Rod Laver Arena. Nadal will have to hold his serve now.

2:31 pm IST: Federer with two break points! BROKEN! Federer takes a 4-3 lead in the first set as he earns the break.

2:27 pm IST: Federer brings things level back at 3-3 in the first set. Terrific stuff from the Swiss maestro. Doesn’t drop a point as he holds serve.

2:24 pm IST: A forehand forced error from Federer and Nadal regains the lead at 3-2 in the first set. Federer to serve.

2:22 pm IST: Earlier, Sania Mirza and partner Ivan Dodig lost in the mixed doubles final to Juan Sebastian Cabal and Abigail Spears.

2:21 pm IST: Federer holds his serve comfortably. A backhand forced error from Nadal as he loses that game. It’s all tied at 2-2 in the first set at the Rod Laver Arena.

2:18 pm IST: A backhand error from Federer as he sends his return on the net. Nadal goes 2-1 up in the first set.

2:14 pm IST : Federer holds serve with Nadal trying to attack. It’s all tied at 1-1 in the first set at the Rod Laver Arena

2:10 pm IST: Dominant start from Nadal; doesn’t drop a point as he holds serve. 1-0 to the Spaniard in the first set at the Rod Laver Arena

2:05 pm IST: Nadal to serve first against Federer. The atmosphere at the Rod Laver Arena is simply electric.

2:00 pm IST: This being the ninth meeting between the two in a Grand Slam final, is the highest in the men’s history between a pair. In the last meeting between the two, Federer beat Nadal in the final at Basel.

1:58 pm IST: The players are on court now. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal starts warm-up.

1:43 pm IST: At the Rod Laver Arena, Rafael Nadal has won all of the three matches against Roger Federer — A five-setter in 2009, four-setter in 2012 and in straight sets three year back.

1:35 pm IST: It’s time for the big one, Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer folks and Nadal can’t help but talk about how special the match is.

And while Roger Federer has been able to rest up after his three-hour semi-final victory over Stan Wawrinka on Thursday, Rafael Nadal must recuperate as best he can after his epic five-hour victory over Grigor Dimitrov at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on Friday.

“That’s what I’m going to try,” the 14-times grand slam champion said. “I did it in 2009. I am seven, eight years older.”

That five-set 2009 victory over Roger Federer earned Rafael Nadal his sole Australian Open crown and another would make him the only man in the open era apart from Roy Emerson to have won all four grand slams twice.

Federer has four Australian Open titles but just a single French Open crown, his path to Roland Garros glory more often than not blocked by Nadal.

Immediately after his semi-final, as he was finally able to ponder meeting his great rival, the 17-times grand slam champion suggested his 11-23 record against Nadal might have been in part due to them meeting on clay so often early in their careers.

(With agency inputs)