Looking back at the last 5 male players to have lifted the Australian Open title

#4 Rafael Nadal (2009)

Rafael Nadal (L) with Roger Federer

Rafael Nadal could have been forgiven for running on adrenaline alone in the 2009 Australian Open final. He was up against a history-chasing Federer following an exhausting five-set win over compatriot Fernando Verdasco in the semifinals.

But that would have been a gross underestimation of the Spaniard's performance on the night. Despite his overtly physical style of play being expected to severely hinder him in the title match against a player who is regarded by many as the living embodiment of poetry on a tennis court, the Spaniard found a way to express his superiority.

Nadal grabbed the initiative after a bizarre opening set featuring as many as five breaks of serve. He then went ahead a break in the second before Federer responded by reeling off four consecutive games to restore parity at a set apiece.

It was absolutely critical for Federer to take the third set against a Nadal digging into the deepest recesses of physical and mental strength just to stay in the contest. But those were the days when Nadal was in the head of Federer; he had conceded only four games in a lopsided 2008 Roland Garros final, dethroned the five-time champion at Wimbledon in an epic final, and usurped the No. 1 ranking from the Swiss maestro.

Federer squandered break points at 4-4 and then at 5-5. His best opportunity to take the win and move level with Pete Sampras' record tally of 14 Grand Slam titles evaporated as Nadal took the third on a tiebreak for a two sets to one lead.

Federer saw an early break lead slip away in the fourth before rallying to force a decider, much to the delight of a capacity crowd on Rod Laver Arena. But that would be as good as it got for the Swiss on the night.

He ran out of steam at 1-2 down in the fifth as Nadal became the first Spanish player to lift the Australian Open title, and the first from his country to win a hardcourt Major.

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