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No limit to what Nadal can accomplish

Rafael Nadal could have surrendered, but he didn't. After an amazing display Down Under, perhaps it's this physical freak who will wind up with the Grand Slam record.

Originally Published: February 1, 2009
By Sandra Harwitt | Special to ESPN.com

MELBOURNE, Australia -- If anyone wants a crash course in the psychology of owning Roger Federer, just call Rafael Nadal.

Battered from hours of exhausting play during the last few days of the Australian Open, the world No. 1 could have surrendered to Federer during the final. But weariness would be too feeble an excuse for someone too stubborn to be submissive.

Instead, the increasingly mighty Nadal won his second straight five-set match -- his semifinal win over Fernando ...

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2009 AUSTRALIAN OPEN

2009 champions
Women's singles: Serena Williams, United States
Men's singles:
 Rafael Nadal, Spain
Men's doubles: Bob and Mike Bryan, United States
Women's doubles: Serena and Venus Williams, United States
Mixed doubles: Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi, India
Official scoreboard: Scores
Slam Central: Follow all the Slam action

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