MELBOURNE, January 29, 2017

Roger Federer is the champion of the 2017 Australian Open, winning Sunday’s final against Rafael Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to gain his 18th Grand Slam singles title as well as to extend his all-time record for the most Grand Slams won.

In his 100th match in Melbourne, the 35-year-old Swiss fired 20 aces, hit 73 winners and broke the Spaniard’s serve six times to seal victory in three hours and 37 minutes.

“I think that it was a great match. I enjoyed to be part of it. I foughtt to try to have the trophy with me. I had some chances in the fifth with a break up but he played super aggressive during the whole match,” a tired Nadal told, who was bidding to win his first Grand Slam title since 2014 Roland Garros.

The World No. 9 could also take a lot of positives from the early stages of the season.

“I feel happy. I played a great quality of tennis during the whole month that I have been playing. That’s a great news for me. The only goal for me is keep going. I believe that if I have my body in the right conditions, I will have a great year because I feel that I am playing well.”

Ranked No. 17, Federer has become the lowest-ranked man to win the Australian Open since No. 18 Thomas Johansson claimed the title here in 2002.

“It all started for me here. I played the quallies here in ’99, the juniors in ’98. Won my first match maybe against Michael Chang here back in 2000. I go way back. Always loved coming here. When you win down here, the journey home is not a problem. When you lose, it’s just brutal. That’s why I feel very fortunate tonight,” Federer was happy in his post match press conference.

“I think what I did well, I embraced that it was going to be a big match. For him, for me, for tennis. I embraced it. I hadn’t played him in a long time, so I went in with a good mindset. I just tried to play the ball, not the opponent. My coaches told me it’s mental, your game is there, that’s why I could turn it around in the fifth.

“I’m happy we were represented that well tonight with Rafa. He’s always great. That’s why I hope he’s still going to be in the game for a long time and represent the way he does.”

Official twilight attendance: 24,798

Overall tournament attendance: 728,763

This is a record tournament attendance, previous tournament attendance record AO 2016: 720,363