(CNN)Rafael Nadal clinched a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title after beating Daniil Medvedev 2-6 6-7 6-4 6-4 7-5 in an Australian Open final for the ages.
The Spaniard surpassed the previous men’s record of 20, which he held alongside Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who were refused entry to the country after his visa was revoked.
There were big doubts if Nadal would even be fit enough to play at the Australian Open after missing the second half of 2021 with a foot injury.
However, in early January he returned to action at the Melbourne Summer Set tournament and won his first ATP title since May 2021.
After beating Matteo Berrettini in the Australian Open semifinals, Nadal said he was just happy to be back on the court after his injuries.
As he sank to the ground exhausted but victorious after five and a half hours of grueling action, Nadal proved that not only was he fit enough to still compete in Grand Slams, but realistically he could still win a few more.
“It was one of the most emotional games of my tennis career and sharing the court with you [Medvedev] was an honour,” Nadal said in his interview in court. “I don’t even know what to say guys, to me it’s just amazing.
“I can’t thank all the guys that are there enough [in my box]the whole team, the family…how tough the last year and a half has been and in the deep moments you were there to support me and without you none of this would be possible.
“To be honest, a month and a half ago I didn’t know if I would play tennis again, and today I’m back in front of you with the trophy,” he said after Sunday’s final. “You don’t know how much I fought to be here. Thank you for the love and support.
“Without doubt [it was] One of the most emotional matches of my tennis career and the tremendous support I received over the three weeks will stay in my heart for the rest of my life so thank you so much.
“A month and a half ago I would have said it would be my last Australian Open, but now I have a lot of energy to keep going. I can’t explain the feelings I have right now, but I’ll do my best to come back next year.”
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Medvedev crosses early
The crowd was audible to Nadal as the two players entered the pitch and a few boos echoed around the Rod Laver Arena as Medvedev was introduced.
In Nadal’s second service game, the two traded a grueling 26-shot rally that ended with Medvedev’s pinpoint backhand down the line to open up a 0-30 advantage.
The Spaniard then closed the door with two quite remarkable points; The first was a ridiculous pass shot after Medvedev smacked a short forehand straight at him, the second a volley winner after being forced to go the full distance to get a huge forehand.
Nadal eventually held serve to take an early 2-1 lead, but he had to work brutally hard for every single point and was already forced to produce some of his best tennis performances.
By comparison, when Medvedev drove through his own service games and immediately put the pressure back on Nadal, one had to wonder if that level of tennis was viable for the 35-year-old for five sets.
The pair had barely played 20 minutes and Nadal was already drenched in sweat, his shirt clinging to his torso and beads falling from his head. Across the courtyard, Medvedev looked as if he had barely broken a sweat.
In fact, Nadal’s serve was broken in his next service game as Medvedev took a 3-2 lead. Things looked ominous.
Two more easy holds followed, as did another easy break from Nadal’s serve as Medvedev closed the opener without losing another game.
Nadal fights back
Nadal desperately needed to try something different in the second set; Medvedev hit the ball harder and cleaner and felt like the favorite at every point at the start of every rally.
The Spaniard opened the second set with a relatively comfortably held serve – perhaps his only one of the match so far – celebrating with a “Si” yell and a fist slam towards his box as he tried to cheer himself on.
It clearly worked as Nadal grabbed his first break of the game in Medevedev’s next service – and he really was made to deserve it.
Nadal finished a mammoth 40-shot rally with a rather ridiculous sliced backhand that Medvedev couldn’t even come close to matching to open a 15-40 lead, eventually breaking serve with his second break point to take a 3-1 lead to go.
After a slight serve, however, Medvedev held his own serve before breaking back to Nadal – much to the exasperation of the boisterous crowd at Rod Laver.
However, that match turned unpredictable and Nadal broke Medvedev’s serve again to take a 5-3 lead and give himself a chance to serve for the second set.
To complicate matters further, an incident in the stands forced a number of security guards to come onto the pitch and stand around the two players as a man appeared to be attempting to jump onto the pitch.
In keeping with the rest of the game, it was a brutal game that lasted more than 12 minutes and it was Medvedev who prevailed, finally breaking back with his fifth break point to make it 4-5 and deny Nadal the set .
The pair exchanged serves until the set reached a tiebreak. Nadal had done well to make this match a competitive one, but winning that set was seen as crucial to ensure the final would go the distance.
The Spaniard has made some Herculean efforts throughout his career but coming from two sets down here was certainly above him. Wasn’t it?
As the clock passed the two hour mark, both players continued to show excellent tennis but it was once again Medvedev who defeated Nadal.
A crucial point in the tie-break – Nadal leading 5-4 – went to the Russians when Nadal’s volley went just wide of the target. The Hawkeye system confirmed the linesman’s reputation, but the decision was still booed by the crowd.
After hitting the backhand winner that gave him the tie break and emptied the crowd, Medvedev turned to face the stands and raised his arms overhead as a mixture of cheers and jeers rained down.
Down but never outside
Despite the bitter disappointment, Nadal started the second set strong and had a wonderful chance to grab two early break points, but an imperfect approach shot allowed Medvedev to hit a huge backhand winner that flashed past his opponent at the net.
Nadal looked up at his box with a worried look on his face, knowing how costly those missed opportunities would be.
The set – and the match – soon looked like it was over as Nadal trailed 0-40 while serving at 2-3.
But the Mallorcan has earned a reputation as one of the greatest warriors on the pitch and even now, in the twilight of his career, there’s no sign of that struggle waning.
Nadal fought his way back to Deuce before eventually winning the game to level the decider.
The momentum of that final took a dramatic turn when Medvedev served 4-4 as nerves seemed to get the better of the Russian as he neared the finish line.
A bizarre attempt at a dropshot resulted in the ball hitting the net and Medvedev sarcastically applauded the crowd, who he said had made some noise before hitting the shot, prompting a loud chorus of boos.
Nadal interrupted his opponent with an incredible backhand pass over the line and the Rod Laver Arena erupted – it was easily the loudest noise of the night.
Unlike in the second set, Nadal held serve with ease thanks to four straight wins to make it 2-1 and Medvedev seemed unnerved.
During the changeover, he told the referee that some fans were ’empty-headed idiots’ after a supporter screamed just before Nadal served.
The comeback is imminent
The momentum continued to swing in Nadal’s favor early in the fourth set as the Spaniard somehow managed to salvage two break points to make it 1-1.
Medvedev had allowed himself to let the fans into his head when a double fault of giving Nadal a break of serve ended with him applauding sarcastically and giving the thumbs-up to the crowd.
The Russian calmed down during the change of sides and responded with an immediate breakback, causing the area to erupt in a chorus of “Let’s go Rafa, let’s go.”
However, he simply could not stop a resurgent Nadal.
Medvedev managed to bring his next service game on from a 40-0 deficit, but Nadal relentlessly pursued another break of serve and finally got it for a seventh time as he asked to finish another marathon game.
Nadal was now playing some of the best tennis of his life – and it had to be that good to beat his opponent – and held at love next to take a 4-2 lead in the fourth.
Medvedev had also called the coach to massage his right thigh and at times he seemed a little uncomfortable moving that leg.
Nadal’s next service was the biggest of the set as he scored four straight points from 15-40 to 5-3.
Medvedev managed to hold the next game and repel a set point, but it only delayed the inevitable as Nadal ended it with a clean service game. This match quickly became one of the great Grand Slam finals of all time.
Rafa returns
Medvedev had to dig deep into his pocket again at the beginning of the fifth set and saved another early break point. It was the 12th break point he saved in the game, a new record for the Russian.
Now Nadal seemed unstoppable as he broke his opponent’s serve once more to take a 3-2 lead – perhaps allowing himself to think of number 21 for the first time.
For the time being, Nadal kept Medvedev from getting back into the set, saving multiple break points in a game that went 4-2 six times.
The game clock now showed that these two showstoppers had battled each other for five hours, but neither player looked like their level would drop any time soon.
Nadal soon served 5-4 to win the championship and held a 30-0 lead seemingly on the verge of making history. However, Medvedev dug even deeper to win four straight points and hit back in the most crucial moments.
However, Nadal simply wouldn’t be denied his record title. He broke back immediately, playing perhaps his best tennis of the finals and then having his second chance to serve for the championship.
It was a chance he would not squander again, expertly maintaining the nerve to get his name engraved in the history books.
Given where he was six months ago and at times contemplating his retirement, Nadal’s win here in Melbourne will stand as one of tennis’ greatest wins.
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