Melbourne – Consolingly, Rafael Nadal takes a disappointed Roger Federer in his arms. In a thrilling Melbourne final, the Spaniard prevailed over the Swiss, who bursts into tears during his acceptance speech.
It’s 2009 and the young Nadal still has many highlights of his impressive tennis career ahead of him, but this triumph over Federer – who returned the favour in a memorable final in 2017 – has actually remained his only Australian Open triumph to date.
Will Medvedev be a spoilsport again?
13 years later, a very special success could now be added this Sunday in another Australian Open final, provided Russian US Open champion Daniil Medvedev doesn’t become a spoilsport once again. “I’m happy to have the chance to stop someone again, to make history,” Medvedev said defiantly.
And the 25-year-old from Moscow knows what it’s like to compete against an opponent for whom more than just a Grand Slam title is at stake. It was only on 13 September 2021 that the world number two managed to prevent an extraordinary chapter in tennis history. In the final in New York, Medvedev blocked the path of Serbian world number one Novak Djokovic to his 21st Grand Slam title and triumph in all four Grand Slam tournaments in one year.
Now Nadal is aiming for that extraordinary title number 21, which would give him one more than his long-time rivals Djokovic and Federer. “I know what’s happening. I know what it’s about for Rafa. I knew what it was about for Novak,” Medvedev said, “But that’s kind of their business, not mine. I’m just here to try to win the final.”
leader of the young generation
With his second Grand Slam final in a row, Medvedev cements his role as the leader of the young generation. He is currently a few steps ahead of the Olympic champion Alexander Zverev, who is one year younger than him and failed to reach the last 16 in Melbourne. As the first player in the history of professional tennis, the so-called Open Era from 1968 onwards, Medvedev could follow up his first Grand Slam title with a second. “I know what I’m capable of when I play well. I know I can beat anyone,” Medvedev said after reaching the final against Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Either way, Djokovic will be among the losers on Sunday. The 34-year-old Serb was finally denied entry to Australia the day before the tournament kicked off. Djokovic plans to return to the tennis tour in Dubai at the end of February. On the final day in Melbourne, he will either lose his Grand Slam record to Nadal, like Federer. Or, in all probability, he will lose the top position in the world rankings. Medvedev is likely to replace him at the top in the event of a triumph on 21 February at the latest.
Nadal aims for history
A Medvedev win would continue Nadal’s string of losing finals. At no other Grand Slam tournament has the Spaniard suffered as many disappointments as at the Australian Open. After four of his five Melbourne finals, the left-hander left the court as a loser: 2012 and 2019 against Djokovic, 2014 against Stan Wawrinka, 2017 against Federer. Down Under, his physical problems hindered him particularly often.
This time, Melbourne could hold a happy ending for him after a long period of suffering due to his complicated foot problems. He could hardly put into words what it meant to him to be in the final in Australia once again, Nadal said after his semi-final victory over Italy’s Matteo Berrettini: “For me it’s completely unexpected, that’s why I’m super happy,” the 35-year-old said: “But of course everybody knows me and I always give my best. Of course, my goal is to win now. “
