Watch: Federer wins wild, dizzying rally with brilliant forehand winner

The Australian Open final delivered on every bit of its promise, and it was never better, or more tense, than it was in its delirious fifth set.

Rafa Nadal had grabbed an early break, and held through for a 3-1 lead.

Roger Federer had stormed back with three straight games, and with Nadal serving at 3-4, he was angling for another break that would've let him serve for the match. After Nadal miraculously wiped away triple break point to get to deuce, the two played perhaps the point of the tournament: a grinding, see-sawing, side-to-side, 26-shot rally that Federer ended with a picturesque stretch forehand down the line.

Three points later, he'd finally clinch the break, and serve out the match for his 18th major title the following game.