Roger Federer explains how new racket helped him to beat Nadal

believes that there is one reason why his backhand was so strong in the 2017 season. Finally back healthy, the Swiss was advantaged by his 97 sq inches racket that replaced the 90 inches in 2014. I think with the new racquet I was able to swing through the backhand slightly, a bit more freely, but I did that the entire tournament you know, said Federer. And I think the racquet allowed me to do that and I gained confidence.

And I think Rafa with his lefty play challenges me that way. No one player will challenge my backhand the way Rafa does and I think thats why people looked at this match as a very different match that Ive played against Rafa in the past. Federer headed into the 2017 Australian Open as a world No.

17, following a six-month break due to injuries. Thats why that success is even more special. It was a complete surprise and it was definitely massive … obviously when youre injured, when you have the year that I had the year before, naturally you cant win a slam, you know, the Basel native recognized.

ALSO READ: Rafael Nadal: Worse players than David Ferrer won a Grand Slam title