Nadal triumphant after epic match

Rafael Nadal became the first Spaniard to win the Australian Open title after another epic battle with Roger Federer.

The 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-2 win denied Federer his 14th grand slam title, meaning the Swiss world number two will have to wait a little longer to equal Pete Sampras' record.

Nadal, playing in his first final at Rod Laver Arena, has now won titles on all three surfaces following his repeated success at the French Open and his triumph against Federer in their thrilling encounter at Wimbledon last year.

In winning in Melbourne, Nadal became the first man to enjoy success on clay, grass and hardcourt since Andre Agassi.

His historic victory extends his run of success against the Swiss 27-year-old to 5-2 in grand slam finals too, something that must surely be starting to prey on the former world number one now.

Nadal, the current world number one, who took a record-breaking five hours 14 minutes to get past friend and Davis Cup team-mate Fernando Verdasco in the semi-final, showed the occasional sign of fatigue from that five-setter, having his right thigh massaged after the seventh and ninth games of the third set.

But with the adrenaline pumping and Federer tightening up in the fifth-set decider, Nadal dug deep to record his famous win.