Heartbreaks and smiles: The 5 best Rafael Nadal matches at the Australian Open

1. Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer in 2009 (Nadal def Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 in the finals)

Rafael Nadal consoles Roger Federer after defeating him in the 2009 Australian Open final

One of the defining moments of Australian Open is the image of Roger Federer, with tears glistening down his face, saying ‘Oh God, it’s killing me’ to the crowd, and his tormentor-in-chief, Nadal, trying to console him. After the epic semi-final match against Verdasco, the King of Clay was supposed to be tired, but he showed immense mental and physical strength to defy the fightback of Federer in the final. This defeat was the final nail in the Roger-Rafa rivalry, sparking the ‘end of the era’ talks about Federer.

These are some of the best matches featuring Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open. What is your favourite match?