Down two sets and facing triple break point—not to mention his diminishing prospects of winning a record 21st Grand Slam title—Rafael Nadal battled back.
A notorious competitor, Nadal dug deep and won the next four points to survive Daniil Medvedev. Moments later he held for 3-3 in the third set and grabbed the momentum of the Australian Open final.
Call him Black Jack, because Nadal did get to 21—setting the record for Grand Slam singles titles with an improbable 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 comeback win that went on for five hours and 24 minutes.
The 35-year-old currently has one more major than Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic—the “Big Three.” The former is injured and the latter wasn’t able to participate, if you hadn’t heard. Though neither played, they both were watching and chiming in on social media.
“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.”
He said, all things considered, “the scenario, the momentum, without a doubt probably the biggest comeback of my tennis career … The most unexpected. And most surprising, I think, for everyone.”
There was plenty of drama in the final that started Sunday night, was delayed in the second set when an activist jumped onto the court, and finished to 1:15 a.m.
“Should have done better; should have hit a winner,” Medvedev said. “Maybe would have won the match.
“Tactically nothing changed, but Rafa stepped up.”
“Good evening. No, good morning!” Nadal joked.
It was the second-longest Australian Open final ever, as Nadal’s loss to Djokovic a decade ago was 5:53.
Nadal won despite competing in only two matches in the second half of 2021 as he was sidelined with a foot injury and overcame COVID-19. His first Australian Open title came in 2009, before he lost four other finals there. He’s now 21-8 in major finals.
“For me, it’s just amazing,” he said. “[Six weeks ago] I didn’t know if I’d be able to play on the tour again.”
Medvedev was aiming to be the first man in the Open era to win his first two Grand Slam titles back-to-back. He lost the 2021 final in Melbourne to Djokovic.
“From now on, I’m playing for myself,” Medvedev said. “For my family. To provide [for] my family, for people that trust in me. Of course, for all the Russians, because I feel a lot of support there.”
“I want to congratulate Rafa,” he said. “What he did today was amazing. You’re an amazing champion.”
