The Latest: Federer takes opening set versus Nadal in last

The Latest: Federer takes opening set versus Nadal in last 

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Latest on Sunday at the Australian Open (all circumstances nearby): 

8:15 p.m. 

Roger Federer has caught the opening set against Rafael Nadal 6-4 in the last of the Australian Open. 

The seventeenth seeded Federer changed over the main break purpose of the set when Nadal hit a strike mistake in the seventh diversion, giving the Swiss star a 4-3 lead. Federer just lost four focuses on his serve in the whole set. 

Federer is back in the Australian Open last interestingly since 2010 when he won his fourth title at Melbourne Park. He's expecting to expand his record Grand Slam aggregate to 18 with a win here. 

The ninth-seeded Nadal is planning to win his first real title since the 2014 French Open and his fifteenth general. He's just won once in Australia in 2009. 

5:30 p.m. 

Abigail Spears and Juan Sebastian Cabal have consolidated to beat second-seeded Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodig 6-2, 6-4 to win the Australian Open blended pairs title. 

The 35-year-old Spears had her impact at the Australian Open blasts from the past gathering with her win. 

Lances were endeavoring to win her first Grand Slam title in her goodbye year. She wants to resign toward the finish of this season after a vocation in which she was twice runner-up in blended pairs finals with Mexican Santiago Gonzalez at the US Open in 2013 and 2014. 

The triumph by Spears and 30-year-old Cabal proceeded with the veteran's topic of the titles with 30 or more players in the men's and ladies' singles finals, as well. 

3:15 p.m. 

There was a great deal of shared regard going around before the Australian Open last on Sunday between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. 

"Rafa's unquestionably given me the greatest test in the diversion," Federer said after his elimination-round win over U.S. Open champion Stan Wawrinka. "I'm glad we've had some epic, epic fights throughout the years ..." 

Nadal said neither one of the players could have envisioned making the last of the year's first Grand Slam in the wake of returning from their individual wounds in 2016 — Federer, his left knee; Nadal, his left wrist. Both men required some serious energy off last season and had troublesome attracts Melbourne on account of their lower rankings. 

"For me, it's a benefit," Nadal said. "It's an, exceptionally unique thing, I think, for the two of us to be in the last of a noteworthy once more, have another opportunity to contend with each other following two or three years having a few issues." 

Nadal, who has won 14 Grand Slam singles titles, has commanded Federer, who has a main 17 men's majors, in their no holds barred matches. Nadal has a 23-11 record in general and has won nine of their 11 Grand Slam matches. 

The match was an early night begin, expected under clear skies and in temperatures of around 25 Celsius (77 Fahrenheit), permitting the rooftop on Rod Laver Arena to be open. 

2:55 p.m. 

A Grand Slam last almost six years really taking shape is hours away at the Australian Open. 

The last time Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal met in a noteworthy last was at the French Open in 2011, when Nadal won in four sets. Nadal holds a 23-11 edge, including elimination round, wins at the Australian Open in 2012 and 2014. 

Federer, with a main 17 Grand Slam men's singles titles, has gone further in the competition than he ever expected in the wake of being out for six months with a left knee harm. Nadal, as well, invested augmented harm energy in the sidelines in 2016. 

The blended pairs last will open the activity at Rod Laver, with American Abigail Spears and Juan Sebastian Cabal playing Sania Mirza of India and Ivan Dodig.