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The Mallorcan muscleman added the Melbourne Park trophy to his French and Wimbledon titles with an epic 7-5 3-6 7-6 3-6 6-2 victory under floodlights, a victory which pierced Federer's heart and left the Swiss in tears.
Nadal put his arm around his great rival before delivering an epitaph fitting such a momentous match.
"Sorry for today, I really know how you feel right now is really tough," the world number one told the man whose top ranking he seized. "But remember, you are a great champion and you're one of the best (in) history."
So too must be Nadal who has, at the age of 22, won slams on all three surfaces -- grass, clay and hardcourts -- a feat Federer, who has lost in three French finals to the Spaniard, has failed to do.
"I love this game," Federer said, disconsolate under a baseball cap bearing his initials. "It means the world to me, so it hurts when you lose."
"Many Chances"
"I had many chances. I missed them and they cost me dearly. It was a tough match. I don't think I served particularly well, unfortunately. I think that was the key to the match in the end."
Sunday's final was the one everybody had wanted to see. A fully-fit Federer against Nadal on a surface which favoured neither man.
It lived up to the hype.
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It was the first five-set final here in 21 years and so close was the contest that Federer actually won more points in the match -- 174 to Nadal's 173. It was the Spaniard, though, who clinched the key ones.
The quality of tennis played on Sunday can never have been seen before at Melbourne Park. Nor at Kooyong before it, nor the other cities to have staged the championships over the last 104 years.
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