But that's part of life. That's part of sport. It's not the end of the world. Is just another Stanislas Wawrinka tough moment." "The last thing that I wanted to do was retire. Prevails Over No, I hate to do that, especially in a final. "It's not the moment to talk about that. It's the moment to congratulate Stan. He's playing unbelievable. He really deserved to win In 2014 At The that title." Wawrinka had never won a set, let alone a match, in 12 previous attempts against Nadal, and was making his final debut against a man in his 19th.

By Piers Newbery But Nadal's travails in the second half of the match should not overshadow what was a BBC Sport at Melburne Park magnificent performance from Wawrinka for much of the contest.

He coped brilliantly with the Spaniard's fizzing forehand in the early stages, using his to return the fire, and 12 winners almost helped him to a 5-1 lead. Wawrinka withstood a fightback spirit to hit back once again from a Some nerves were finally revealed when he tried to pain killers kicked in - while Wawrinka completely from the world number one, who break down in the fourth, but a close out a set against Nadal for the first time, lost his rhythm with victory apparently his for was struggling with a back prob- forehand winner gave Wawrinka failing to make a first serve as he fell 0-40 down, the taking. lem, to come through 6-3 6-2 the decisive break at 5-3 and he but the 2009 champion could not get a return in 3-6 6-3. served out the biggest win of his play as Wawrinka hit back to seal it with an ace. The Swiss made 19 unforced errors and, despite life with a love game. still not moving freely, Nadal managed to increase The 28-year-old becomes only the Three sweeping forehands helped the Swiss break his service speed just enough to keep the misfiring second Swiss man to win a Grand "I still think that I'm dreaming," at the start of the second on a run of 12 straight Wawrinka at bay and clinch the third set. Slam singles title after 17-time said Wawrinka. "It's a strange points, and it was when serving at 2-0 down that champion . feeling. I saw so many finals. I Nadal first appeared to feel the problem with It now appeared to be a test of Wawrinka's nerve always try to watch the finals of his back. as much as Nadal's fitness, because the Spaniard And he is the first man outside the Grand Slams because that's where was clearly not about about to give up, and he 'big four' of Nadal, Federer, Novak the best players are playing. After leaving the court for treatment, to the annoy- clung on magnificently. Djokovic and to win ance of Wawrinka and boos from some sections of a Grand Slam since Juan Martin "Before today, for me it wasn't a the crowd, Nadal returned unable to serve at Two break points were saved at the start of the Del Potro at the 2009 US Open. dream. I never expected to play a anything like full speed, and at one stage was close fourth, and a break recovered at 4-2 down, but final. I never expected to win a to tears. Wawrinka made the decisive move with a brilliant Fortunes fluctuated wildly over the Grand Slam. And right now I forehand into the corner to break for 5-3 and raced course of two hours and 21 just did it." Another visit from the physio followed after game through the final game. minutes as Wawrinka opened in five, and when Wawrinka took the second set Nadal, who revealed he felt the scintillating form before a tearful Stanislas Wawrinka: Victory gesture after almost unopposed, the 13-time Grand Slam cham- back problem in the warm-up, said: Nadal appeared close to quitting at winning a point against Rafael Nadal in the pion appeared close to calling it quits on a long "It is a tournament that I really two sets down, only to stage a 2014 Australian Open final. walk back to his chair. remarkable recovery in the third. had some troubles physically in my career and is something that is What followed was remarkable, with Nadal staging The Spaniard, 27, showed great painful for me. the unlikeliest of fightbacks - possibly as the 12 13 Australian Open Aces Edition Stanislas Wawrinka The newest member of the Grand Slam Club