Roger Federer hit 20 aces in the 2017 Australian Open final. He defeated Rafael Nadal 6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3 in a three-hour, 37-minute classic to win his 18th Grand Slam singles title.
The final was played on 29 January 2017 at Melbourne Park. Federer returned to competition after a six-month absence caused by a knee injury, and he entered the tournament as the 17th seed. His 20 aces helped him protect service games against Nadal, while he also struck 73 winners.
The match carried extra weight because Federer had lost his previous three Australian Open meetings with Nadal and had not beaten him at a Grand Slam since the 2007 Wimbledon final. He finally broke that drought in the deciding set, recovering from a 1–3 deficit to win the last five games.
This was Federer’s first major title since Wimbledon 2012. It also made him the first man to win 18 Grand Slam singles championships, extending his record at the time.