![Nadal wins battle for place in history by edging past Federer in Melbourne | Australian Open 2009 | The Guardian Nadal wins battle for place in history by edging past Federer in Melbourne | Australian Open 2009 | The Guardian](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/893ecba36a85161b8a159fce04ab346a111b108e/94_0_4752_2851/500.jpg?quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=40f6148ac6fa22c0b93e638a96b80173)
Nadal wins battle for place in history by edging past Federer in Melbourne | Australian Open 2009 | The Guardian
![Nadal wins battle for place in history by edging past Federer in Melbourne | Australian Open 2009 | The Guardian Nadal wins battle for place in history by edging past Federer in Melbourne | Australian Open 2009 | The Guardian](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/2/1/1233495507195/Rafael-Nadal-takes-a-brea-001.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctYWdlLTIwMDkucG5n&enable=upscale&s=356fcbec761ed177e77ab38051188859)
Nadal wins battle for place in history by edging past Federer in Melbourne | Australian Open 2009 | The Guardian
![Mardy Fish of the United States returns to Simone Bolelli of Italy during their Men's singles match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Rick Mardy Fish of the United States returns to Simone Bolelli of Italy during their Men's singles match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Rick](https://c8.alamy.com/compes/2p984ag/mardy-fish-of-the-united-states-returns-to-simone-bolelli-of-italy-during-their-mens-singles-match-at-the-australian-open-tennis-championship-in-melbourne-australia-wednesday-jan-21-2009-ap-photo-rick-stevens-2p984ag.jpg)
Mardy Fish of the United States returns to Simone Bolelli of Italy during their Men's singles match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Rick
![Felipe Franca Silva of Brazil During in Podium 50 M Brasse Men World Championship 2009, 2009 in Rome, Italy Photo Laurent Lairys / DPPI Stock Photo - Alamy Felipe Franca Silva of Brazil During in Podium 50 M Brasse Men World Championship 2009, 2009 in Rome, Italy Photo Laurent Lairys / DPPI Stock Photo - Alamy](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2BK2NCM/felipe-franca-silva-of-brazil-during-in-podium-50-m-brasse-men-world-championship-2009-2009-in-rome-italy-photo-laurent-lairys-dppi-2BK2NCM.jpg)
Felipe Franca Silva of Brazil During in Podium 50 M Brasse Men World Championship 2009, 2009 in Rome, Italy Photo Laurent Lairys / DPPI Stock Photo - Alamy
![Simone Bolelli, of Italy, returns a ball to Roger Federer, of Switzerland, during the first single match of the tennis Davis Cup World Group semifinal between Switzerland and Italy, in Geneva, Switzerland, Simone Bolelli, of Italy, returns a ball to Roger Federer, of Switzerland, during the first single match of the tennis Davis Cup World Group semifinal between Switzerland and Italy, in Geneva, Switzerland,](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/TXP7DY/simone-bolelli-from-italy-returns-the-ball-from-richard-gasquet-of-france-on-the-third-day-of-the-mens-dubai-tennis-championships-wednesday-february-25-february-2009-upi-photonorbert-schiller-TXP7DY.jpg)
Simone Bolelli, of Italy, returns a ball to Roger Federer, of Switzerland, during the first single match of the tennis Davis Cup World Group semifinal between Switzerland and Italy, in Geneva, Switzerland,
![Camila Giorgi of Italy plays a forehand return to Tereza Martincova of the Czech Republic during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 19, Camila Giorgi of Italy plays a forehand return to Tereza Martincova of the Czech Republic during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 19,](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2MCD4B7/camila-giorgi-of-italy-plays-a-forehand-return-to-ash-barty-of-australia-during-their-third-round-match-at-the-australian-open-tennis-championships-in-melbourne-australia-friday-jan-21-2022-ap-photohamish-blair-2MCD4B7.jpg)
Camila Giorgi of Italy plays a forehand return to Tereza Martincova of the Czech Republic during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 19,
![Japan's Ai Sugiyama, right, and Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia react after winning a point as they play Nathalie Dechy of France and Maria Santangelo of Italy during a Women's doubles semifinal at Japan's Ai Sugiyama, right, and Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia react after winning a point as they play Nathalie Dechy of France and Maria Santangelo of Italy during a Women's doubles semifinal at](https://l450v.alamy.com/450v/2p975d5/japans-ai-sugiyama-right-and-daniela-hantuchova-of-slovakia-react-after-winning-a-point-as-they-play-nathalie-dechy-of-france-and-maria-santangelo-of-italy-during-a-womens-doubles-semifinal-at-the-australian-open-tennis-championship-in-melbourne-australia-thursday-jan-29-2009-ap-photoshuji-kajiyama-2p975d5.jpg)
Japan's Ai Sugiyama, right, and Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia react after winning a point as they play Nathalie Dechy of France and Maria Santangelo of Italy during a Women's doubles semifinal at
![Japan's Ai Sugiyama, right, and Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia walk to the net after winning over Nathalie Dechy of France and Maria Santangelo of Italy during a Women's doubles semifinal at the Japan's Ai Sugiyama, right, and Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia walk to the net after winning over Nathalie Dechy of France and Maria Santangelo of Italy during a Women's doubles semifinal at the](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2P97461/nathalie-dechy-of-france-right-and-maria-santangelo-of-italy-play-japans-ai-sugiyama-and-daniela-hantuchova-of-slovakia-in-a-womens-doubles-semifinal-at-the-australian-open-tennis-championship-in-melbourne-australia-thursday-jan-29-2009-ap-photoshuji-kajiyama-2P97461.jpg)