‘It’s just amazing’: Nadal stands alone
MELBOURNE, Australia — Searching for inspiration when he was down two sets and facing triple break point, with his prospects of winning a record-21st Grand Slam title almost shot, Rafael Nadal thought back to some of his most difficult defeats.
A renowned right-to-the-end competitor, Nadal dug deep in that critical moment and won the next four points to survive the immediate threat from Daniil Medvedev. Minutes later, Nadal held for 3-3 in the third set and swung the momentum of the Australian Open final.
Nadal eventually did get to 21, setting the men’s record for most Grand Slam singles titles after a dramatic 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 comeback win that lasted 5 hours and 24 minutes and finished early Monday morning.
The 35-year-old Spaniard has one more major title than Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, his longtime rivals in the socalled Big Three.
Nadal was the only one of three who had a chance to claim the record solo in Australia.
Federer is still recovering from knee surgery and Djokovic was deported from Australia on the eve of the tournament because he wasn’t vaccinated against COVID-19.
It’s all history now that Nadal has become just the fourth man to win all four of the sport’s major titles at least twice.
“I was repeating to myself during the whole match, ‘I lost a lot of times here having chances, sometimes I was a little bit unlucky,’ ” Nadal said.
“I just wanted to keep believing until the end.”
“Tonight has been unforgettable. I feel very lucky.”
Nadal was broken when trying to serve it out for the first time at 5-4 in the fifth set, but he made no mistake two games later, converting the first of his championship points.
Taking everything into account, “the scenario, the momentum,” he said, it is ”without a doubt, probably the biggest comeback of my tennis career.”
Certainly, he added, “the most unexpected. And most surprising, I think, for everyone.“
Federer and Djokovic were watching, from a distance, and both used social-media messages to offer congratulations to Nadal for breaking their threeway tie atop the men’s Grand Slam standings.
Nadal and Medvedev packed a lot of drama into the final that started Sunday night, was delayed in the 84-minute second set when a human rights activist jumped onto the court, and finished close to 1:15 a.m.
Nadal was serving for the second set but was broken in that game. Medvedev then had his moments to break again in the third set but admitted he got tight.
“Tactically nothing changed,” he added, “but Rafa stepped up.”
Indeed, he did. And at 1:30 a.m., he stepped up onto the podium to give his victory speech.
“Good evening. No, good morning!” Nadal joked, looking at his watch.
In the background, Rod Laver, the ageing Australian for whom Melbourne Park’s main stadium is named, was holding up his smartphone to capture the scenes. A woman nearby held up a sign that stated: “Rafa is the GOAT.”
For now, in terms of men’s major titles at least, Nadal is the Greatest Of All Time.
Nadal praised Medvedev for the part he played in what eventually became the second-longest Australian Open final ever. Nadal’s loss to Djokovic a decade ago lasted 5:53.
Nadal’s 21st major title was even more remarkable considering he had two matches under his belt in the second half of 2021 because he was sidelined with a chronic foot injury. He also overcame a bout of COVID-19.
“For me, it’s just amazing,” he said, adding that it was only six weeks ago “I didn’t know if I’d be able to play on the tour again.”
Nadal won his first Australian Open title in 2009 and then lost four other finals here. His conversion rate in major finals is 21 of 29.
Medvedev, who was aiming to be the first man in the Open era to win his second Grand Slam title at the very next major, was ever-so-close to spoiling another 21st celebration. But in the end, he didn’t quite have the endurance.
“I want to congratulate Rafa,” he said. “What he did today was amazing. You’re an amazing champion.”