WATCH: When Roger Federer Completed Third Sunshine Double in 2017

In the year 2017, the Swiss maestro Roger Federer snapped his five-year-old Grand Slam-less streak at Australian Open finals. He bounced back from a break down situation in the fifth set and pulled off the 18th Slam against his greatest adversary, Rafael Nadal.

The victory in Melbourne was followed by his six-month-long hiatus from professional tennis. That win is arguably considered one of the best comebacks in tennis. And Federer’s revived backhands during that tournament are still revered today.

His comeback was not just limited to Melbourne, Federer extended his title victories on the courts of USA. Roger Federer lived two fairy-tale weeks during the big tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami.

He stepped on the courts of Palm Springs in California as the ninth seed of the tournament. After a straightforward first-round victory, Federer had to take the extra mile in his next match against Steve Johnson.

Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal

Following that win, his arch-rival Rafael Nadal was waiting for in the round-of-16. And his blitzing backhands from the baseline, left the Spaniard perplexed on the desert court. In little more than an hour, Federer swept aside his Spanish nemesis 6-2, 6-3.

Post his one-sided loss, Rafa praised Roger’s game. That day, the Swiss played some inhuman tennis and Nadal said, “it’s difficult to play against Roger this way.”

Maintaining his dominance in the following matches, Federer stormed into the finals to set up the title clash against his compatriot Stan Wawrinka. In the battle of Helvetians, Federer was victorious over Wawrinka.

After losing a close 6-4, 7-5 final match against his friend and foe Federer, Wawrinka became emotional and funny during the on-court interview. “I would like to congratulate Roger,” Wawrinka said with teary eyes. “He’s laughing. He’s an asshole, but it’s OK,” he joked.

Post that win, at the then-35-year-old Roger, he became the oldest Masters 1000 finalist and champion ever. Throughout his stay in Indian Wells Federer did not drop a set.

Moving to the courts of Florida, Federer faced a few tough opponents en route to his Miami title. After straight-set victories over Frances Tiafoe, Juan Martin del Potro and Roberto Bautista Agut, Thomas Berdych was a tough challenge in the quarterfinals.

The Nick Kyrgios Test

After 6–2, 3–6, 7–6(8-6) win Roger’s path to the finals became more difficult. With Nick Kyrgios as the semifinal opponent, the Swiss had to tussle for three-long hours to reserve his final berth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI16Ea5qtTg

With Kyrgios acing 130 miles per hour serves and Federer coming up with SABR, the Miami audience experienced a great tennis evening that day. With the Swiss syncing in with the atmosphere and coming up god-level tennis, Roger Federer won 7-6 (11-9), 6-7 (9-11), 7-6 (7-5) against Kyrgios.

Up next was the match for Federer’s third American Sunshine Double crown. Federer was once again playing his greatest-rival Nadal for the third time in 2017.

The match could have been pulled off by either of the two, but Federer did amazingly well on big points.  It was a 6-3, 6-4 win for the Swiss to clinch his third Sunshine Double and that added value to his glittering comeback in 2017.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdEvBz0pNtc