Melbourne – Overwhelmed, Rafael Nadal fell to his knees and held his hands to his face in disbelief after his 21st Grand Slam triumph. The Spanish tennis star celebrated one of his most improbable titles at the Australian Open to become the record Grand Slam winner.
The day after Ashleigh Barty triumphed to become the first Australian tournament winner in 44 years and a historic day of celebration for Australian tennis fans, Nadal turned around a 0-2 set deficit with an impressive display of strength in a history-making and thrilling five-set final against Russian US Open champion Daniil Medvedev. After 5:24 hours, the 35-year-old Spaniard won 2:6, 6:7 (5:7), 6:4, 6:4, 7:5. 13 years earlier he had won his only trophy so far at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Nadal overcome by emotions
“It’s one of my most emotional matches in my tennis career – and to share this moment with you, it’s an honour for me,” Nadal said visibly moved, turning to Medvedev again and again. “This will be unforgotten and in my heart for the rest of my life,” the great campaigner assured, also recalling tough times of uncertainty: “To be honest, a month and a half ago I didn’t know if I could come back to the Tour,” Nadal said, “and now I’m here and I have this trophy.”
When Medvedev couldn’t counter his backhand volley on match point, Nadal had plopped the tennis racket. He shook his head in disbelief, tapping his heart again and again. He made a fairy-tale comeback after his long break because of his foot injury and delivered the second-longest final match in tournament history with Medvedev. “I can’t really explain how I feel right now, but I will try my best to come back next year,” he announced.
At 1.30am early on Monday morning, Nadal beamed as he lifted the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup. Exactly two weeks to the day after Novak Djokovic was forced to leave Australia, Nadal moved ahead of the Serb and Switzerland’s Roger Federer in the fascinating Grand Slam race. Both his rivals have collected 20 trophies in this most important category – as Nadal did until this crazy final.
“It was a day for tennis history!” said Boris Becker on Eurosport: “I’m convinced Roger (Federer) and Novak (Djokovic) watched the final too – now it’s your turn to follow suit,” he said, laughing.
Congratulations from Federer and Djokovic
His two Grand Slam record opponents, beaten for the time being, also congratulated Nadal and more or less bowed to the tennis giant. “What a match!” wrote Federer on Instagram. “Fantastic performance,” Djokovic commented on Twitter.
“To my friend and great rival Rafael Nadal,” the 40-year-old Federer further wrote on Instagram Story. “A few months ago we were joking about us both being on crutches. Awesome. Never underestimate a great champion,” Federer stressed, writing of Nadal’s incredible work ethic, dedication and fighting spirit. They are an inspiration to him and many others in the world, he said. “I am proud to share this era with you and honoured to contribute to help you achieve even more. Like you did for me for the last 18 years.”
And Djokovic, who had hoped so much for his tenth win in Melbourne and the sole Grand Slam record, but ultimately had to leave unvaccinated by court decision, also paid his respects: “Always impressive fighting spirit that has prevailed one more time.”
Djokovic had been priced highest for the first Grand Slam tournament of the year before the opener and was aiming to achieve what Nadal has now managed. But the unvaccinated Serb had lost his appeal against his cancelled visa in Australia’s Federal Court. Nadal took advantage of the absence of the most outstanding player in Melbourne history.
Barty triumphs on home soil
For women’s winner Barty, a childhood dream had come true the previous day. All the tension was released in a loud scream after her 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) after withstanding the pressure as the hosts’ great hope and crowning herself the first home tournament winner in 44 years. In her red summer dress, she splashed bubbly on Sunday. There had been no Australian success in either the women’s or men’s events since Chris O’Neil won the tournament in 1978. “This is just a dream of mine come true. I’m so proud to be an Aussie,” said Barty – who also received congratulations from Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
But the greater excitement was in the men’s final. It was impressive how Nadal rallied against Medvedev, who is ten years younger, and how he won the fifth set. The result did not reflect the drama of the match: Nadal was already leading by a break in the fifth set. When he was serving for tennis history at 5:4 and only two points were missing, he lost his service game. But he immediately regained the lead – and had done it a little later. Australian tennis icon Rod Laver also captured the moment on his mobile phone and later congratulated the champion personally in the fitness room. There, Nadal first let himself fall on a mat before cycling out. “I thought he was going to get tired,” Medvedev said.
Nadal comeback after foot problems
Nadal had played only two matches between mid-June and early January because of his complicated foot problems. He discussed with his family whether it was time to say goodbye to tennis if the problems did not improve.
Now the clay-court dominator is only the fourth player – besides Djokovic, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson – to win every Grand Slam event at least twice. He triumphed in a similar way to Federer in 2017, who won in a complete surprise after a knee injury and long break Down Under.
In the last match of the tournament, it didn’t matter in the end that Nadal committed too many unforced errors in the first two sets. Medvedev initially looked like the better player for a long time. It seemed as if he could once again spoil the show for one of the stars of the tennis scene. Only four months ago, Medvedev had prevented Djokovic from winning his 21st title and the historic Grand Slam with all four major titles in one year at the US Open in New York. Cool and defensively strong, the Russian defied the atmosphere in the Rod Laver Arena for a long time, because the sympathies were clearly on the side of Nadal, who is ten years older.
In the second set, a person on the court protesting against Australia’s refugee policy briefly disrupted the match, but was quickly stopped by security. That was not the reason why Nadal failed to equalise the set despite leading 5:3. From the end of the third set, Nadal turned up the heat and generated more power. Medvedev, on the other hand, deviated a little from his line and also lost his cool. In the meantime, the Russian also discussed with the umpire John Blom about spectators being disturbed by shouts and had his thigh massaged and treated. The 2019 US Open final had already developed into a thrilling five-set duel between the two, with Nadal leading by two sets and only winning in the decisive set at the end.
