Top 5 Grand Slam finals from the 2010s decade

#3 2017 Australian Open: Federer beat Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3

Federer lifts his 5th Australian Open title in 2017

Following the longest injury-enforced layoff of his professional career, the 2017 Australian Open was Roger Federer's first tournament since a five-set defeat to Milos Raonic in the semifinals at Wimbledon 2016.

Displaying understandable signs of rust, the Swiss maestro had to eke out five-set wins over Kei Nishikori in the fourth round and Stan Wawrinka in the semis to set up a Grand Slam final meeting with his arch-rival Rafael Nadal for the first time since the 2011 French Open.

It was the man from Switzerland who made the brighter start by taking the opening set 6-4, but Nadal responded with two breaks in the second to make it a set apiece. Federer saved three break points in his opening game of the third with as many aces, and that would prove crucial as the Swiss went on to take the set 6-1.

However, Federer failed to ride his momentum, losing his serve twice in the fourth as Nadal forced a fifth set. After taking a brief medical time-out, Federer returned on court and fell behind 3-1 as his Grand Slam woes of old against the Spaniard began to resurface.

But on the day, Federer was destined to write his own script. He reeled off five games on the trot to record his first win over Nadal at a Grand Slam since the 2007 Wimbledon final, in the process ending his 4.5-year Grand Slam drought.

In a hugely successful season, Federer would also win a record eighth title at Wimbledon to win multiple Slams in a year for the first time since 2009.