Nadal Makes History In Australian Open Five-Set Classic Against Medvedev

Rafael Nadal made history once again as he roared back from two-sets-to-love down to capture his record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

Under the lights on Rod Laver Arena, the legendary Spaniard looked down and out against Daniil Medvedev. However, the sixth seed demonstrated his trademark big-match mentality as he overcame the Russian 2-6, 6(5)-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in front of a raucous crowd in a Melbourne classic.

With his dramatic victory, Nadal has claimed sole ownership of the record for the most men’s singles Grand Slam titles, moving past Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic who are both on 20 major crowns. The 35-year-old, who also clinched the trophy in Melbourne in 2009, has become just the second player in the Open Era alongside Djokovic to win each of the four majors at least twice.

“It was one of the most emotional matches of my career,” Nadal said during the trophy ceremony. “To share the court with Daniil was just an honour. It is amazing. To be honest, one and a half months ago I wasn’t sure if was able to be back on the Tour playing tennis again. But today I am here in front of all of you with this trophy in front of me. You are just amazing, thank you so much.”

In a high-quality and physical match that ebbed and flowed, a pumped-up Nadal showcased his fighting spirit to put water on a red-hot Medvedev performance. With his back firmly against the wall after the second set, Nadal's champion mindset shone through as he began to hit through Medvedev with more success in a brutal, heavy-hitting performance to table the turns. He rallied from 2-3, 0/40 on serve in the third set to change the momentum of the match and sealed his win on serve at the second time of asking in the decider.

The World No. 5 was aggressive from the baseline throughout, demonstrating great footwork to run around his backhand and dictate with his heavy topspin forehand. The sixth seed fired 67 winners, closed the net effectively to shorten the points and broke seven times to triumph after five hours and 25 minutes.

Nadal now leads Medvedev 4-1 in their ATP Head2Head series, with this their second meeting in a Grand Slam final. At the US Open in 2019, Medvedev rallied from two-sets-to-love down before Nadal prevailed in the decider in a Flushing Meadows epic.

“Having the huge support I received over the past three weeks is going to stay in my heart for the rest of my life, so thank you very much,” Nadal added.

Following the Citi Open last August, the former World No. 1 did not compete the rest of the year due to a left foot injury. This was his second tournament since. But the Spaniard has played as if he has never been away in Australia, with his win over the Russian extending his perfect 2022 record to 10-0.

The 35-year-old, who earned his 89th tour-level title at the Melbourne Summer Set earlier this month, was tested to his limits en route to the championship match, clawing past Denis Shapovalov in five sets in the quarter-finals, before he downed seventh-seeded Italian Matteo Berrettini in the semi-finals. However, he kept enough fuel in the tank to dig deep one final time against Medvedev to claim victory.

In a fast start, Medvedev quickly found his range against Nadal, forcing the Spaniard into errors as he showcased his impressive defensive skills to stay in brutal rallies. The Russian read the Nadal serve well, breaking the 35-year-old to love in back-to-back service games to pull 5-2 ahead before holding to lead.

In a mammoth second set that turned one way and then the other, both were strong on return as they matched each other’s intensity off the ground. Nadal twice had a break advantage, but was unable to put the Russian away, with Medvedev recovering from 1-4 and then 3-5.

Medvedev saved a set point on the Spaniard’s serve at 3-5, Ad-Nadal, before eventually breaking back as they moved to a tie-break. From 4/5, Medvedev raised his level, setting up set point with a drive volley winner, which he then converted by guiding a backhand pass down the line, lifting his arms in celebration.

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But Nadal showed everyone his fighting spirit at the start of the third set. He crucially held from 0/40 down at 2-3 before he turned the screw on Medvedev with his brutal hitting to break. When serving for the set, the Spaniard opened his shoulders and fired three winners to hold to clinch the set, roaring in delight as he gained a foothold in the match.

A pumped up and reenergised Nadal continued to go on the attack in the fourth set. He fended off two break points at the start of the set before he found the breakthrough on Medvedev’s serve as he pulled the World No. 2 from corner to corner with his brutal striking.

Medvedev refused to go away, responding immediately when Nadal fired a forehand long, but Nadal once again demonstrated his fighting spirit, sealing his second consecutive break with a deft backhand pass crosscourt. The Spaniard rifled 23 winners in the set and effectively went back behind the Russian into the forehand corner to draw level.

Nadal then showcased his supreme fitness levels in the decider, not letting his intensity wane in the fifth set. The former World No. 1 fired a forehand winner down the line on the run to break for a 3-2 advantage as the Spaniard gained the lead for the first time in the match since the start of the first set, more than four hours earlier.

The 35-year-old then came through a 14-minute service game, firing three big first serves to fend off three more break points, but was unable to serve out as Medvedev broke back from 4-5, 0/30 behind to level. However, Nadal was not to be denied, breaking back immediately before finally putting Medvedev to bed at the second time of asking.

With his triumph, it is just the fourth time Nadal has come back from two-sets-to-love down in his career. The last time he accomplished this was nearly 15 years ago when he battled past Mikhail Youzhny in the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2007.

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Medvedev, who also reached the final in Melbourne last year, was trying to become the first male player in the Open Era to follow his maiden major trophy with his second at the next Grand Slam event, after triumphing at the US Open in September.

The World No. 2 defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals to advance to his fourth major final, equalling countryman Marat Safin's all-time record for most appearances by a Russian man in a Slam championship match.

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