Wanaka holiday no match for Federer-Nadal showdown

Roger Federer, right, holds his trophy after defeating Rafael Nadal, left, during their men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne. Photo / AP

Not even the scenic wonders of Wanaka was going to stop one tennis fan from being at this year's ultimate tennis showdown between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Dutch student Saskia van Rheenen was holidaying in the South Island town when Federer reached this year's Australian Open Men's Final in Melbourne.

The keen tennis fan had earlier been in Melbourne for the first week of the tournament.

Speaking to the New York Times, she said she could not stop thinking about heading back to Melbourne for the final - especially if Nadal got through.

"I thought: 'No. It's too much money, too much hassle','' she told the newspaper.

"But I couldn't stop thinking about it. I was in Wanaka and I thought if I'm going to do it, I have to do it now because if Nadal wins, the prices are going to go crazy and then I can't afford it anymore.''

With her mind made up, van Rheenen purchased a flight and a ticket to sit at the big final - costing her more than $2000 in total.

Despite the high cost, a Federer-Nadal match was something she had always wanted to see.

"It is a lot of money. But for me, I thought: 'I'm never going to get this chance again'.

"This is probably their last Grand Slam final against each other and for me, it was literally my number one bucket-list item - a Federer-Nadal match - and I was only a three-hour flight away," she said.

"Already after the first set, I sent a message to my family: 'It's already worth the money'.

"I already forgot about the money.

"This was, hands down, the best day of my life.''