Rafael Nadal won his 21st grand slam trophy after defeating Daniil Medvedev 2-6 6-7 6-4 6-4 7-5 in an Australian Open final to remember.
The Spaniard broke the previous men’s record of 20, which he shared with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, the latter of whom was refused admission when his visa was canceled.
There were serious questions regarding Nadal’s ability to compete in the Australian Open after he missed the second part of 2021 due to a foot issue.
However, he resumed to competition in early January at the Melbourne Summer Set event, where he won his first ATP title since May 2021.
Nadal remarked after defeating Matteo Berrettini in the Australian Open quarterfinal that he was simply glad to be back on the court after being plagued by ailments.
As he collapsed to the floor, fatigued but triumphant after five-and-a-half hours of scintillating tennis, Nadal demonstrated that he was not only healthy enough to participate in grand slams but that he could possibly win many more.
“It was one of the most emotional matches of my tennis career, and sharing the court with you [Medvedev] was an honor,” Nadal remarked during his on-court interview. “I don’t really know what to say, folks; it’s simply fantastic to me.”
“I can’t thank all the guys [in my box], all the team, family… just how hard the past year and a half has been and in the difficult periods you have been there to encourage me and none of this would be possible without you guys.” To be honest, I didn’t know whether I’d be back on the tour playing tennis again one and a half months ago, and now I’m here in front of you with the trophy again “he remarked after the final on Sunday. “You have no idea how hard I struggled to get here. “Thank you so much for all of your love and support.”
Without a question, [it was] one of the most emotional matches of my tennis career, and the overwhelming support I got throughout the three weeks will live on in my heart for the rest of my life, so many, many thanks.” ” “I would have said it would be my final Australian Open a month and a half ago, but now I have a lot of energy to keep on.” “I can’t express the emotions I have today, but I’m going to do my hardest to come back next year.”
Medvedev takes an early cruise.
When the two players went out onto the court, the audience was clearly in favor of Nadal, with a few boos reverberating across Rod Laver Arena when Medvedev was announced.
In Nadal’s second service game, the duo played a tough 26-shot rally that culminated in Medvedev’s exquisite backhand down the line to take a 0-30 lead.
The Spaniard then closed the door with two stunning points, the first a ludicrous passing shot after Medvedev had smashed a short forehand right at him, and the second a volley winner after being obliged to go full stretch to reach a big forehand.
Nadal ultimately held service to take an early 2-1 lead, but he was being pushed to work very hard for every single point and was already having to play some of his finest tennis.
When Medvedev sailed through his own service games, instantly piling the pressure back on Nadal, you had to wonder whether the 35-year-old could continue this kind of play for five sets.
After just 20 minutes of play, Nadal was saturated in perspiration, his shirt sticking to his chest and beads pouring from his head. Medvedev seemed to have scarcely broken a sweat at the opposite end of the court.
In fact, Nadal’s serve was broken to love in his second service game, giving Medvedev a 3-2 lead. Things were looking bleak.
Two more easy holds, as well as another easy break of Nadal’s serve, followed as Medvedev wrapped out the opening set without losing a game.
Nadal responded
In the second set, Nadal sorely wanted to do something new; Medvedev was striking the ball harder and more cleanly, and he seemed like the favourite to win every point at the start of every rally.
The Spaniard began the second set with a pretty easy hold of service – maybe his only one of the match thus far – and celebrated with a cry of “si” and a fist pump towards his box as he sought to energise himself.
It definitely worked, as Nadal gained his first break of the match in Medevedev’s following service game – and he battled hard for it.
To build up a 15-40 lead, Nadal capped a massive 40-shot sequence with a spectacular sliced backhand that Medvedev couldn’t get anywhere near, finally breaking serve on his second break opportunity to go 3-1 up.
However, after an easy hold of service, Medvedev maintained his own serve before breaking Nadal again, much to the chagrin of the loud Rod Laver crowd.
This match, on the other hand, was getting unpredictable, as Nadal broke Medvedev’s serve once again to take a 5-3 lead and offer himself the opportunity to serve for the second set.
To complicate things further, an incident in the stands prompted a number of security personnel to enter the floor and surround the two players as a guy allegedly tried to climb onto the court.
Never down, but never out
Despite the stinging loss, Nadal started the second set brilliantly and had two early break points, but a less-than-perfect approach shot enabled Medvedev to unleash a tremendous backhand winner that flashed past his opponent at the net.
Nadal looked up in his box, a troubled expression on his face, knowing how expensive these missed chances would be.
The set – and the match – seemed to be gone when Nadal fell down 0-40 when serving at 2-3.
However, the Mallorcan has established a reputation as one of the most ferocious fighters on the court, and even now, in the twilight of his career, there are traces of that battle disappearing.
Nadal battled his way back to deuce before winning the point and tying the third set.
The momentum of this final switched significantly with Medvedev serving at 4-4, as the Russian’s nerves seemed to be getting the best of him as he reached the finish line.
One strange drop shot effort succeeded in the ball hitting the net, and Medvedev sarcastically congratulated the audience, whom he claimed had created noise before he struck the shot, prompting a chorus of boos.
With a spectacular backhand passing shot down the line, Nadal stunned his opponent, and the Rod Laver Arena roared – it was by far the loudest sound of the night.
Unlike in the second set, Nadal held serve with easily, scoring four consecutive winners to make it 2-1, and Medvedev seemed startled.
During the changeover, he warned the umpire that certain supporters were “idiots with empty minds” when one fan yelled immediately before Nadal was about to serve.
The comeback has begun.
The tide continued to shift in Nadal’s favour at the start of the fourth set, as the Spaniard saved two break chances to tie the match at 1-1.
Medvedev had clearly let the supporters to get into his mind, as a double fault that gave Nadal a break of service finished with him sarcastically cheering and giving the audience the thumbs up.
During the change of ends, the Russian calmed himself and answered with an instant break back, causing the crowd to erupt in a chant of “let’s go, Rafa, let’s go.”
He couldn’t, though, halt a resurgent Nadal.
After being 0-40 down, Medvedev managed to push his next service game to deuce, but Nadal remained persistent in his chase of another break of serve, ultimately getting it at the seventh time of asking to conclude another long game.
Nadal was now playing some of his greatest tennis of his career – and it had to be that good to overcome his opponent – holding his next service game to grab a 4-2 lead in the fourth set.
Medvedev had also asked the trainer to massage his right thigh, which he looked to be moving with difficulty at times.
At the back of the court, Daniil Medvedev seemed to be struggling.
Nadal’s following service game was the most important of the set, with four consecutive games from 15-40 down to make it 5-3.
Medvedev held the following game, fighting off a set point, but it was just postponing the inevitable, as Nadal finished it off with a perfect service game. This was swiftly becoming one of the greatest grand slam finals of all time.
Rafa is back.
Medvedev had to dig deep once again at the start of the fifth set to save another early break opportunity. It was his 12th breakpoint save of the match, a new high for the Russian.
There seemed to be no stopping Nadal now, as he broke his opponent’s serve once again to take a 3-2 lead, possibly for the first time allowing himself to consider number 21.
Nadal kept Medvedev out of the set for the time being, surviving several break opportunities in a game that went to deuce six times to make it 4-2.
The match clock now indicated that these two show stoppers had been dueling for five hours, and neither player seemed to be relenting any time soon.Nadal was soon serving for the title at 5-4 and had a 30-0 lead, apparently on the verge of making history. Medvedev, on the other hand, dug even deeper to win four consecutive points and break back at the most crucial of times.
Rafael Nadal receives his unprecedented 21st grand slam title.
Nadal, on the other hand, was not about to relinquish his historic crown. He instantly broke back, maybe playing his greatest tennis of the final, and then got his second opportunity to serve for the title.
It was a chance he wouldn’t pass up again, brilliantly holding his nerve to engrave his name into history.
Given where he was just six months ago, contemplating retirement at times, Nadal’s victory here in Melbourne will be remembered as one of tennis’ greatest triumphs.