The analytics of Roger Federer’s  dramatic victory at the Australian Open fly in the face of what we think matters most to succeed in our sport. Federer manufactured a stunning 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Rafael Nadal, despite having a losing record from the back of the court.

Nadal is widely acknowledged as far superior in longer rallies than pretty much every other player on tour, but Federer got the upper hand in the short, medium and long rallies against the Spaniard.

The first four sets were a tantalizing en tree. The fifth set was the main meal and Federer was sitting at the head of the table.

“This was one of the greatest tennis matches that I have ever seen and it was between two great champions,” said Nikhil Sekar, 11.

Federer did not back into the fifth set victory. He grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and willed it out of the balmy summer Melbourne evening.

“Federer hit 23 winners in the deciding set, which was the most of any of the five sets played,” according to atpworldtour.com.

Federer had accumulated six backhand winners in the first four sets, but he crushed eight in the deciding fifth set. Traditionally, the Nadal forehand had ‘owned’ the Federer backhand. Someone simply forgot to tell the Swiss legend how the story was supposed to end.

Our eyes want us to believe that Nadal runs around the back of the court far more than Federer, but their distance run in the final was almost identical.

“Federer averaged 11.14 metres per point to Nadal’s 11.44 metres. Federer ran a total of 3,218 metres to Nadal’s 3,306 metres. That equates to the Spaniard running just 88 metres more over the three hours and 38 minutes,” according to atpworldtour.com.

Federer was magnificent on all levels. He has now 18 Grand Slam titles. After not playing a tour-level match since Wimbledon, this is possibly the sweetest of them all.