Rafael Nadal has claimed a men’s record 21st grand slam title, producing an extraordinary fightback to defeat Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in an epic Australian Open final.
With most of the pre-game focus on Nadal’s bid for history, his Russian opponent dominated the first set on Rod Laver Arena. Nadal saved two break points in a long third game but was then broken to love in the fifth, before successive double faults from the Spaniard allowed Medvedev to serve out the set 6-2.
Nadal grew into the contest in the second set and had a set point at 5-3 but Medvedev fought back, breaking in a marathon ninth game to set up a tie-break. The No 2 seed sealed a 7-5 success in the breaker with a backhand pass, before taunting the largely pro-Nadal crowd.
Medvedev looked the stronger player early in the third set, and earned three break points in the fifth game – only for Nadal to fight back and hold serve. The 2009 champion then claimed a crucial break in the ninth game, clinching it with a trademark backhand down the line as he to cut the gap to 2-1 in sets.
The two players exchanged breaks early in the fourth set, before Medvedev saved six points in a pivotal fifth-game battle – only for Nadal to convert the seventh with a cross-court winner. Nadal had to dig deep to deny Medvedev a break in the eighth game, then had a set point saved in the ninth as the match passed the four-hour mark.
The No 6 seed was unfazed, holding serve to love and setting up a decider – and moved in front with a winner down the line to break in the fifth game. Nadal, a beaten finalist four times in Melbourne, had his first chance to serve it out at 5-4 – but suffered a double fault and time violation warning as Medvedev broke back.
With the time creeping past 1am in Melbourne, Nadal immediately put the pressure back on his opponent, breaking as Medvedev sent a forehand long. After five hours and 25 minutes on court, he set up three match points with an ace – and finished with a volley his exhausted opponent could not return.
Nadal’s second Australian Open title means he now stands alone in the all-time grand slam standings with 21 titles. Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are one behind with 20 each, and the Spaniard can move two clear if he claims a 14th French Open title later this year.
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