When you’re going for the kind of history that Rafael Nadal was seeking on Sunday night, it shouldn’t be easy.
For Nadal, it couldn’t have been more difficult.
The 35-year-old needed five hours and 24 minutes in an incredible Australian Open final against Daniil Medvedev to become the first man in history to win 21 Grand Slam singles titles and the second man in the Open Era to complete the double-career Grand Slam. Nadal came back from two sets down to stun the world No. 2 and reigning U.S. Open champion 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.
“If we put everything together, the scenario, the momentum, what (it) means,” the Spaniard reflected afterward, “yeah, without a doubt probably it [has] been the biggest comeback of my tennis career.”
That “scenario” was even more dire than a simple two-set deficit would suggest. Nadal also trailed 2-3, 0-40 in the third, when Medvedev capitalizing on a triple-break point situation would have all but ended the match. In fact, “this is all but over” is exactly what ESPN commentator Patrick McEnroe had to say at that point in the match.
Of course, the world No. 5 had other ideas. He dug out of the 0-40 hole, held for 3-3 to stay on serve in the third set, and the rest is history. Nadal ended up breaking at 4-4, served out the set one game later, and went on to break Medvedev in the third and fifth games of the fourth. The sixth seed ultimately gave back breaks in both the fourth and fifth sets, but as the enthralling encounter progressed into its sixth hour it was Nadal who held up better both physically and mentally. After Medvedev broke back for 5-5 in the fifth despite being two points from defeat, he turned in a loose service game with some wild forehand errors.
That allowed Nadal to serve for the championship again, and this time he made no mistake–clinching victory with a love hold.
With that Nadal achieved perhaps the most satisfying win of his career, and not just because of the history that was made. It also helped erase the demons of four Australian Open final losses–several in heartbreaking fashion–since his first triumph back in 2009 and it completed his latest improbable comeback from injury, this one a foot problem that had sidelined him for the last four months of 2021.
“I just wanted to keep believing ’til the end,” Nadal explained. “I just wanted to give [myself] a chance. That’s what I did. Just fight; just keep belief in trying to find a solution. Of course, I was lucky to save [0-40 in the third]. [There were] a lot of moments that can decide the final like this, no? He had a big advantage.
“But I don’t know. Tonight was for me (like) 2012, 2017, 2014 with the injury, too; I have been in that position a couple of times in my career here in Australia. Tonight has been unforgettable.”
It also won’t be an easy one to forget for Medvedev–and not in a good way.
“For sure (there were) some small points, small details that I could have done better if I wanted to win,” the 25-year-old Russian assessed. “But that’s tennis; that’s life. (It) was a huge match. Rafa played unreal; raised his level…. He was really strong; the way he played at four hours, I was even surprised. But, of course, we know how Rafa can play.
“Talking about tennis, I have not much regrets. I’m going to try to continue my best. Yeah, I’m going to work even harder to try to be a champion of some of these great tournaments one day.”
Medvedev is already a champion of one. Only a Nadal miracle prevented him from being a champion of two.
It’s funny how the GOAT debate is re-ignited whenever one of the “Big 3” wins another GS. It’s been said over and over that they can hardly be compared between themselves and just cannot be compared with legends of the tennis history. Conditions were way too different.
What if GS tennis was still played only on grass and clay, like it was up until recently? You just cannot compare someone who won most of his titles on HC with all-time greats and say he’s GOAT.
If you need numbers to back greatness, that’s actually just a bunch of records. Nobody has all of the records so everyone can argue that one record is more important than the other. You can just tell that Rafa and Roger are great, while Novax is only a hell of a tennis player.
I started by liking Roger, he was something else. Then he became complacent as he didn’t have much competition so I started to be annoyed by him. Then comes pirate 17yo Rafa and gives the king a proper beating. It became an instant favourite for me, not (just) because he startled Fed, but because of his passion and never-say-die attitude. Then Djokovic arrives, desperately trying to get some attention with his histrionic behaviour – instant dislike. Fast-forward 18 years: Nadal learns to be classy like Federer, Roger learns to constantly improve and overcome adversity like Rafa and the two become as friends as they can be under the circumstances. As a Nadal or Federer fan you just cannot disdain the other guy anymore since he’s obviously admiring your favourite so much. Novax… still there being a Djoker.
Anyway, this is about Rafa and his 21st GS title and most of all him proving that anything is possible with the right commitment. Just ask his detractors. He should have never won a GS on anything than clay. He should have never won Wimbledon. He should have retired at 27 (then 30, then every year). He should have never matched Roger’s GS tally. He definitely shouldn’t have won this AO. But guess what: he did. For me, he is the greatest competitor of all times, in tennis if not in any sport.
Rafans ..lovely interview by Moya .enjoy it. I really like reading what Moya has to say
https://mobile.twitter.com/bounzifu/status/1488110009837830146
Agree with Raj, just ignore the sado spewing his hatred folks, it changes nothing, Rafa won the AO, and its as simple as that, he can keep coming up with different monikors, imaginary sinarios all he wants, don’t bite, not worth bothering with
Nice to see you Alison!😀
Hope you’re well my dear?
You’re right about the troll and I am going to ignore him from now on.
Rafa’s victory was incredible no? I feel really drained still today after the tension of watching yesterday..
This GOAT debate always bring an inconclusive discussion, and the way I see it that it will never be settled and shouldn’t actually.
There should not be a GOAT in any sport, as the comparison will never be based on the same assumptions. how can we compare Pete Sampras during his generation of Agassi, Edberg, Courier, Becker,..etc and the Big 3 along with their generation of Murray, Wawrinka, Roddick and moving on to the next Gen of players, Medv, Time, Zverev and others.
The same applies to Football, as Pele cannot be compared to Ronaldo and Messi simply because their environment of competition is completely different.
fair. especially in tennis. baseball also tough.
easier in basketball, football, and hockey. those sports don’t change as much.
Agree about the toxic GOAT debate. Hate to disagree with Ricky but tennis DOES change over the generations. There have been massive equipment changes in past decades. Plus a huge surface change from clay and grass to hardcourt. Laver won most of his slams on grass! Also top tennis players are getting taller, as serve plus one takes over the game and players 6’6″ and taller learn to move better. At 5’8″ Laver would probably have been a second tier player like Schwartzman in today’s game!
Fact is, Rafa is too Mallorcan to care or even be comfortable about being called the GOAT. He loves competition, he enjoys winning, but being the GOAT doesn’t come with a trophy. It’s a fan thing. Tennis players settle it on the court.
you are agreeing with me
Some seem to think it’s more than one person. I remember his bad it got last year when Novak beat Rafa at RG.
These are miserable people who just have nothing better to do. They can’t change what happened. Too bad. So sad.
Such a nicely written article. Resonates very well. The articles written for rafa seem so logical and emanating from respect for his sheer grit and people really loving him and wanting good things for him.
https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/people/why-rafael-nadal-not-novak-djokovic-winning-australian-open-2022-and-grand-slam-no-21-feels-right/cid/1850052
A very thoughtful article indeed. A Rafa win has united the tennis/sporting fraternity. So many non-tennis fan commenting on this match. Rafa’s incredible endurance in the 5th set, hopefully also provides proof that vaccination does not harm you in any which way.
Djokovic now getting vaccinated. Haha. What happened to the strong beliefs. All he wants is slams ,beliefs be damned ..fake and hypocricy 🙂
Bring it on ..get vaccinated and see you at RG
Haha https://mobile.twitter.com/97InThe5th/status/1488857171303489536
LMAO!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. The hypocrisy is astonishing.
So Mr “I am against vaccination” went and got vaccinated bc of rafa’s incredible 21 slams. His dignity is abysmal. Let the slams and countries do a thorough check to make sure he’s genuinely vaccinated bc we all know he can forge another one like he did in Australia. Laughably stupid. See you at RG indeed.