Rafael Nadal made history at the Australian Open as he became the first men’s player to win 21 Grand Slam titles.
Under the lights on Rod Laver Arena, the legendary Spaniard demonstrated his trademark big-match mentality, overcoming Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 to win the trophy in front of a raucous crowd in a Melbourne classic.
ALSO READ: Home favourite Ash Barty wins 2022 Australian Open
The sixth seed fired 67 winners, closed the net effectively to shorten the points and broke seven times to triumph after five hours and 25 minutes.
Legendary status 💪#AusOpen • #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/7uDDds3x7z
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2022
Prior to January, Nadal had not competed in a tour-level event since Washington in August due to a foot injury.
But the Spaniard has played as if he has never been away in Australia, with his win over the Russian extending his perfect 2022 record to 10-0.
Sharpen your forehand with our FREE guide
The 35-year-old, who earned his 89th tour-level title at the Melbourne Summer Set earlier this month, was tested to his limits en route to the championship match.
He clawed past Denis Shapovalov in five sets in the quarter-finals, before he downed seventh-seeded Italian Matteo Berrettini in the semi-finals.
Another chapter is written 🏆@RafaelNadal defeats Daniil Medvedev 2-6 6-7(5) 6-4 6-4 7-5 to win his second #AusOpen title in an epic lasting five hours and 24 minutes.
⁰
🎥: @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/OlMvhlGe6r— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2022
However, he kept enough fuel in the tank to dig deep one final time against Medvedev to claim victory.
ALSO READ: Stefanos Tsitsipas in the eye of illegal coaching controversy
The 35-year-old is the third-oldest man in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam title after Ken Rosewall and fierce rival Roger Federer.
