Hello! And welcome to live coverage of the Australian Open men's final that the whole world seemingly wanted to see (except for the Dimitrovs and the Wawrinkas). 

It's the 'Fedal final'!

Rafa and Roger are back in a Grand Slam final for the first time since the 2011 French Open. They didn't see it coming. We certainly didn't see it coming. 

Will they produce a John Lennon/Double Fantasy-style return, coming back from a hiatus and creating a classic? Or a Stone Roses' Second Coming, decent in patches but nothing like their former glories?

Image source, Getty Images

...and here they are again. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, a Grand Slam final. These two have appeared together almost as much as Morecambe and Wise. Although they're much more entertaining.

Today they're back on the biggest stage. Today is Federer v Nadal XXXV.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Oh, how they laughed. But the exhibition match never happened on the Mediterranean sunshine island that Rafael Nadal calls home. Why? Because the ageing pair both decided they shouldn't put their creaking bodies through it.

So when Roger Federer and Rafa last met in public there was no sportswear in sight. No eye-catching, tight-fitting, T-shirts. No bright trainers. No trademark headbands. Just sharp suits, crisp open-necked shirts and polished loafers.

Fast forward to January 2017...

September 2016

*ringing tone* 

"Hey Roger, it's Rafa. Fancy helping launch my tennis academy in Majorca next month?"

"Hi Rafa, of course I would. Why don't we play a charity match while we're there? I mean, we might never play each other in a competitive match again. And we definitely won't play each other again in a Slam!"

*laughter from both men*

Image source, Getty Images