It was one of the great matches in their rivalry as Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal Sunday in Melbourne in five sets 64, 36, 61, 36, 63 to win a fifth Australian Open title and an 18th Major.

The gripping 3-hour, 17-minute match had it all. Here are the highlights:

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY
St. Petersburg, Russia; surface: hard

Seeds: Simona Halep, Dominika Cibulkova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Venus Williams, Elena Vesnina, Roberta Vinci, Kiki Bertens, Daria Kasatkina

Floaters: Belinda Bencic, Ana Konjuh, Timea Babo, Annika Beck, Daria Gavrilova, Ekaterina Makirova, Alize Cornet

Notes: Three Top 10ers in the field, in addition to Australian Open runner-up and former No. 1 Venus Williams…The Top 4 seeds receive opening-round byes…Potential tough starts for (1) Halep after a …

Rivalry renewed! Roger Federer had not beaten Rafael Nadal in a Grand Slam match in over nine years, and early in the fifth it looked like the trend would continue with Nadal up a break in a see-saw Australian Open final Sunday. But Federer authors one of his best spurts of his career winning the last five games of the match to win the title 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

“I …

Roger Federer did it again. The Swiss maestro turned back time winning his 18th career Grand Slam title beating rival Rafael Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in the men’s singles final at the Australian Open Sunday night in Melbourne.

Federer was not thought of as a true contender to the title after missing six months due to injury. But Federer surprised everyone including himself in beating four Top 10 …

Rafael Nadal nearly pulled off the win of his career, but couldn’t close the door on rival Roger Federer in the final today at the Australian Open 6-4. 3-6. 6-1. 3-6. 6-3.

Nadal led Federer 3-1 in the fifth set with chances to go up 4-2. But Federer seized the moment and won the last five games to win the 3-hour, 38-minute rollercoaster.

It was Nadal’s first loss to Federer in a …

One of the greatest rivalries in tennis resumes tonight Down Under as Roger Federer takes on Rafael Nadal in the final of the 2017 Australian Open final.

Despite their accomplishments, both were thought of as longshots to reach this stage. Federer was coming off a 6 month hiatus from a knee injury. Nadal also prematurely ended his 2016 season a few weeks early due to a left wrist.

Both though are playing …

History was made just a few hours ago down in Melbourne. Serena Williams and elder sister Venus met for a 28th time and for the Australian Open title. And after weeks of surprises, this one went to form with Serena rolling 6-4, 6-4 to win her seventh title there and more importantly, claim her 23rd career Grand Slam trophy, which puts her ahead of Steffi Graf for the Open …

What year is it again? Looking at the men’s final draw, you wouldn’t know that it’s 2017. You’d think it’s 2007! Only where’d Andy Roddick go? Oh wait, he was in Melbourne also this year, just not playing of course.

So the story of the men’s Australian Open has been the return of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Few thought we’d see ever see them meet again in a significant match …

Rafael Nadal keeps proving me wrong. A week ago he looked dead and buried after barely scraping past Alexander Zverev in the third round at the Australian Open.

I still think had Zverev not succumbed to cramps, he would have finished off Rafa. But he couldn’t, and nor could Gael Monfils or Milos Raonic. And that brought us to last night.

Nadal won the match, that wasn’t much of a surprise. …

Serena and Venus Williams, two of the most famous sporting siblings clash once again, this time in Melbourne and for the 2017 Australian Open women’s singles title.

With a title, Serena will win an Open Era record 23rd career Grand Slam, moving her ahead of Steffi Graf’s 22. And she’ll also win a record 7th Australian Open title and return to the No. 1 ranking.

The 36-year-old Venus is already the …

In the match of his career, Grigor Dimitrov fell just short of reaching his first career Grand Slam final, losing a 4-hour, 56-minute semifinal to Rafael Nadal Friday night at the Australian Open.

Dimitrov had won three straight over Top 10 players, had beaten Nadal in Beijing and overall was riding a career-best 10 match win streak.

The Bulgarian No. 1 was trying to become the first from his country to ever …

The dream has been realized.

Rafael Nadal will face Roger Federer in the Australian Open final after the No. 9-seeded Spaniard edged Grigor Dimitrov in five sets 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-4 on Friday night in Melbourne.

Dimitrov, playing inspired, fearless tennis, was denied a first Grand Slam final appearance by the former No. 1 who broke the Bulgarian’s serve at 4-4 in the fifth set, then after a long …

Rafael Nadal won his 13th straight Grand Slam semifinal beating Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 6-4 in an epic 4 hour, 56 minute semifinal thrill ride.

Nadal was made to fight hard against the 25-year-old Bulgarian who had snapped a 7-match losing streak against the Spaniard in Beijing last fall. Dimitrov entered on a 10-match winning streak off a Brisbane title.

Nadal advances to his 21st career Grand Slam final, fourth …

The last spot in the finals is up for grabs tonight in Melbourne. Already into the Australian Open final is one Roger Federer who edged Stan Wawrinka 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3 in a 3-hour thriller last night.

Federer continued to show he can beat time and beat the very best, scoring his second Top 5 win of the tournament (both in 5 sets) in his 14th straight win over …

Stan Wawrinka fell just short of another Australian Open final. The reigning US Open champion had his 12-match Grand Slam win streak snapped by countryman Roger Federer 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3 in just over three hours.

Warwinka was blown out the first two sets but fought back to level things. However, couldn’t convert and early break point in the fifth and then was subsequently broken thanks to a double fault.

Wawrinka …