Sunday morning saw the first grand slam meeting between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal since 2014, as the Swiss great defeated his Spanish rival to win the Australian Open men’s singles championship.
Federer’s five-set victory was watched around the globe, but few were watching more eagerly than Arsenal’s first team.
As the Gunners’ players spent the morning in the gym, the national rivalry between Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka and Arsenal’s Spanish contingent (most notably Héctor Bellerín, Nacho Monreal and Lucas Pérez) intensified.
It all came to a head when Federer held serve to win 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to claim his first major since Wimbledon in 2012.
Xhaka wasn’t the only member of ‘Team Federer’, as the video below shows, with German internationals Shkodran Mustafi and Mesut Özil taking great pride in the Basel man’s victory.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BP2UtUfDQWS/?hl=en
The Arsenal players weren’t the only sporting figures to celebrate the victory for one of tennis’ all-time greats, and indeed not the only footballers.
Former Gunner Johan Djourou was among the Swiss footballers to celebrate the win.
What a champion! #respect #18 #GrandChelem
— Johan Djourou (@JohanDjourou) January 29, 2017
What a perfect Sunday!
A great win of 2:0 on a difficult field ⚫️⚪️ after a great victory of @rogerfederer 🏆🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭#FinoAllaFine #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/fVGgylrEs5— Stephan Lichtsteiner (@LichtsteinerSte) January 29, 2017
🇨🇭!!!CHAMP!!!🇨🇭 pic.twitter.com/cW8UwEMOVG
— Yann Sommer (@YannSommer1) January 29, 2017
And, as expected, some stars of tennis shared their support for the 18-time grand slam winner.
What a match! Epic from @rogerfederer 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 #18
— Laura Robson (@laurarobson5) January 29, 2017
Who would have believed it,6 months away from Tennis. 1st tournament back & he wins GS no.18 against his greatest rival.GOAT @rogerfederer
— Greg Rusedski (@GregRusedski1) January 29, 2017
