Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates in the semi-final of the Australian Open 2019
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Rafael Nadal finished 21st, broke the men’s record for most Grand Slam singles titles and did it the hard way by coming back in two sets to beat Daniil Medvedev in the extended Australian Open final. almost 5 1/2 hours.
Nadal broke serve for the first time 5-4 in the fifth set, but he made no mistake in the next two games when he served an ace for three championship points and swapped it the next time. try first.
The 35-year-old Spaniard now has one more major title than Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, his longtime rivals in the so-called Big Three.
With a 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 win that began Sunday night, it was delayed in the set by 84 minutes when a protester jumped onto the field, and then ended Early Monday morning, Nadal also became the fourth man in history to win all four of the sport’s major titles at least twice.
“Good evening. No, good morning!” Nadal, looking at his watch, addressed the crowd at Rod Laver Arena as he finally stood up to give his acceptance speech at 1:30 a.m.
In the background, Rod Laver, the senior Australian tennis player, is in the stands holding up his smartphone to record the scene. A woman nearby held up a sign that read: “Rafa is GOAT.”
Currently, at least in terms of men’s major titles, Nadal is the greatest tennis player of all time.
Nadal said it was “one of the most emotional matches of my tennis career,” and he praised Medvedev for his part in the final, which lasted 5 hours and 24 minutes. It was the second-longest Australian Open final ever, following a 5:53 loss to Nadal’s Djokovic in the decisive 2012 match.
His victory is even more remarkable as Nadal flies to Australia for just two matches under his rule in the second half of 2021 as he is sidelined with a chronic foot injury that can be treated. but cannot be cured. He also overcame a bout of Covid-19.
“For me, it was amazing. Honestly, a month and a half ago, I didn’t know if I would be able to compete on the tour again,” said Nadal. “Without a doubt, (it was) probably one of the most emotional months of my tennis career.
“The tremendous support I’ve received over the past three weeks will stay in my heart for the rest of my life.”
Nadal won his first Australian Open title in 2009 and lost four other finals at Melbourne Park to a dramatic victory over US Open champion Medvedev. His conversion rate in major finals is now 21 to 29. Federer and Djokovic each have 20 majors from 31 finals.
Medvedev, who is aiming to become the first man in the Open Era to win a second Grand Slam title at the next major, was very close to spoiling another 21st celebration.
Djokovic is chasing the same record at last year’s US Open, and a Grand Slam in the calendar year, when Medvedev beat him in consecutive sets in the final.
Federer also had a chance at 21, but Djokovic stopped that when he saved match points before reaching the 2019 Wimbledon final.
Medvedev now joins Andy Murray among those who have lost the final at the next major after breaking their careers at the highest level.
It was only the fourth time Nadal has risen two sets or less to win the best match of five sets, and the first since his 2007 fourth-round victory at Wimbledon over Mikhail Youzhny.
He is the first Australian Open champion to return to victory after beating the first two sets of the final since Roy Emerson in 1965.
