Melbourne. Former world number one Rafael Nadal created history by defeating Daniil Medvedev in a five-set clash in the Australian Open final on Sunday. This is Nadal’s second Australian Open and 21 men’s singles Grand Slam titles. Nadal has become the first player to achieve this feat.
The final between Spain’s 35-year-old Nadal and Russian star Medvedev ended in the early hours (Australian time) on Monday. Sixth seed Nadal lost the first two sets to beat second seed Medvedev of Russia 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in a match that lasted five hours and 24 minutes. In the fifth and deciding set, when Nadal was serving at 5-4 to win the championship, Medvedev broke his serve. However, he made no such mistake on his next serve. It is the second longest-running final of the Australian Open.
Rafael Nadal becomes the first men’s player to win 21 Grand Slams, defeats Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in the final to win his second #AustralianOpen title
(File photo) pic.twitter.com/YkVVTB92l0
— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2022
Earlier in 2012, Novak Djokovic of Serbia defeated Nadal in five hours and 53 minutes in a five-set match. Nadal now holds one more Grand Slam title than Roger Federer and Djokovic. Before the Australian Open, all three had the same record of 20 Grand Slam titles. During the final, play came to a halt in the second set when a protester came onto the court. Nadal also became only the fourth male player in tennis history to win all four Grand Slam titles at least twice.
Nadal won his first Australian Open title in 2009 but lost four finals at Melbourne Park. On Sunday, the Spaniard defeated US Open champion Medvedev to win his second Australian Open title. Nadal registered his 21st victory in 29 major finals. Federer and Djokovic have played in the same 31 Grand Slam finals and won the same 20 titles. This victory of Nadal is also spectacular because he reached Australia in the second half of 2021 after playing just two matches.
The Spaniard missed most of the second half of 2021 due to a chronic leg injury. His injury can be treated but it will not heal completely. He was also infected with COVID-19.
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Medvedev was challenging to become the first male player in the Open era to win the next Grand Slam title after winning his first Grand Slam title. Medvedev has now become only the second player after Andy Murray to lose his next Grand Slam final after winning his first Grand Slam title. This is only the fourth time that Nadal has won a best-of-five set after coming back from two sets down. He last achieved this feat in the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2007 against Mikhail Youzhny. (with agency input)