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Thomas Johansson lifted his first Grand Slam title by shocking birthday boy Marat Safin in the Australian Open final.
The 27-year-old Swede fought back from a set down to triumph 3-6 6-4 6-4 7-6 (7-4) in Melbourne, a result which summed up the tournament which produced surprise results from day one.
Johansson's nervy start was punished by Safin in the first set as two breaks of serve gave the Russian an early lead.
But just when it looked as if the ninth seed could run away with the final as many had predicted, Johansson fought back in the second set, producing some impressive serving along the way.
He gained a vital break of serve in the third game and moved on to level the match.
Safin, seeking to add to his 2000 US Open win, was not a happy man at the start of the third set as the on-court temperature rose
Johansson, knowing Safin had struggled in the heat during his semi-final victory over Tommy Haas, began to move the Russian around the court with a mixture of deep groundstrokes and drop shots.
The tactic worked and when Safin double-faulted at 3-3, he handed Johansson the break of serve he needed to go on to clinch a two-sets-to-one lead.
By the time the fourth set began, Safin looked a tired and beaten man.
He immediately dropped serve and faced a virtual match point at 0-2.
Safin, celebrating his 22nd birthday, was relieved when Johansson's lob dropped inches out as he scampered back towards the baseline and that proved to be a turning point.
Johansson began to show nerves of being so close to the title and in his next service game a number of errors gave Safin his first break points since the second set.
He needed only one, passing Johansson down the line to level at 2-2.
The Swede's service had gone off the boil and with his own serve stepping up a gear, Safin was back in the match.
The set went into a crucial tie-break, but no further.
Johansson raced into a 5-0 lead, one backhand pass leaving Safin sprawling across the court.
And when Safin sent a groundstroke long at 5-1, the Swede had five match points.
Two Safin serves and a missed backhand by Johansson had the nerves jangling, but on the fourth opportunity Safin sent a lob inches out and Johansson's name had joined Swedish greats Mats Wilander and Stefan Edberg on the trophy.
Afterwards Johansson described his victory as "a dream come true".
He said: "I played some great tennis and it's been two great weeks for me."
Safin added: "I have to say congratulations to Thomas, he played too good
today and I just couldn't do anything.
"I tried my best but he was just too good."
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