Serena Williams wins record 23rd major with win over Venus

But Nadal’s typically gutsy 6-3, 5-7, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 win, which took just shy of five gruelling hours, means the pair that dominated the sport for so long will have a chance to add to their 31 combined singles grand slam titles (Nadal has 14, Federer 17) on Sunday.

Physically, Federer may have a slight edge, which might sound weird when he has been out for six months, but which makes sense when you take into account Nadal’s four hour and 54 minute semi-final win over Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria.

This is Abigail Spears’ first ever Australian Open mixed doubles final.

Ranked at No. 17 and No. 9 respectively, both Federer and Nadal came into the Australian Open after injury problems in 2016 and their resurgence in getting back to the finals has featured vintage performances from both players.

Federer is the one who broke first in the fifth, to 4-2, held to 5-2, served it out at 5-3. “It’s special to play Roger again in the final of a grand slam, I can not lie”, Nadal said after the match.

“I was thinking when I was out there, ‘Gosh, my Dad would be very upset at the way we’re both playing right now, ‘ ” Serena said.

Nadal will be chasing his 15th grand slam title to edge one closer to Federer, who stands on the brink of his 18th.

For Venus, it’s been more than 7 years and thirty Grand Slams since she last made a major final.

At 35, Swiss Federer is the oldest men’s grand slam finalist since Ken Rosewall lost the US Open final in 1974 at the age of 39.

On Sunday, Nadal will appear in his first Grand Slam final since the 2014 French Open – and Federer will be trying to break a drought of his own: He hasn’t won a Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2012.

Federer’s opponent will be decided this morning when Rafael Nadal and Grigor Dimitrov meet in the second semi-final.

Federer was watching on with relish as his rival in Sunday’s final was taken the distance in a draining physical battle.

Although it has often felt more like 2007 than 2017 at Melbourne Park this week, even great champions are not immune to the ravages of time.

Federer came out of the gates red hot Thursday by taking the first two sets off Wawrinka.

Federer and Nadal were in Spain a couple of months ago, as Federer told Jim Courier on the court after he’d beaten Wawrinka, both recovering from injuries, and Federer actually did suggest that he and Nadal should play again. I said to myself, ‘I am giving my best, I am playing very well.

Nadal held up his arms triumphantly, then pointed toward the 25-year-old Bulgarian, gesturing to the cheering crowd just as a conductor would to acknowledge his orchestra. The next day, Rafael Nadal upended Roger Federer for his first Wimbledon title in what John McEnroe called “the greatest match I have ever seen“. “Finally was me. I feel lucky”.

A lot has happened to both players in the intervening years and Nadal said the three previous Melbourne matches would have no bearing on today’s outcome. He went on to beat Federer in the final that year – his only title so far in Australia.

That said, Dimitrov has the speed and the firepower to punish Nadal on short balls, especially on a quick court.