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Rafael Nadal beat Daniel Medvedev 2-6, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday, breaking the tie with Roger Federer and Novak Jokovic’s three-peat, won his 21st Grand Slam title in the 2022 Australian Open men’s singles final, 7 wins and 5 losses. Nadal bounced back from a two-set deficit — only the third time in his career Nadal’s 0-2 comeback in a major, and first since 2007 — to win a marathon in five sets .
“A month and a half ago, I didn’t know if I would be able to play tennis on the tour again,” Nadal said in post-match speech“Today I stand in front of all of you and lift the trophy with me, and you really have no idea how hard I have worked to get here. I thank you for all your support since I got here. Here .”
Nadal has been sidelined with repeated foot injuries since last May, even having to undergo surgery that left him on crutches four months ago. Then, in December 2021, Nadal suffered a breakthrough case of COVID-19. After Nadal’s 2022 Australian Open first-round victory, he told Eurosport in Spain: “A month and a half ago, due to various factors, including the problems I had, I didn’t know if I would play professional tennis again. My feet and the coronavirus.”
This is the second Grand Slam meeting between Medvedev and Nadal, who are building an epic generational rivalry.The two met in another final, The 2019 U.S. Open, which is also a five-set match for Nadal. The 25-year-old Medvedev has a near-identical style of play to Nadal, returning far from the baseline and covering the court with impressive speed. On paper, Medvedev has the advantage as a better hard court player, while Nadal is known to be more dominant on clay. The 6-foot-6 Medvedev also has an excellent serve and an impregnable defense.
Medvedev’s goal is to win back-to-back majors after winning the US Open in 2021 and have a chance to wreck history again. 2021 US Open final, Medvedev thwarts Djokovic’s bid for calendar Grand Slam and Grand Slam No. 21But beating Djokovic and Nadal in back-to-back Grand Slam finals won’t be easy. In fact, Federer and Stan Wawrinka are the only players to beat both Djokovic and Nadal in a Grand Slam final.
In this title race, Medvedev led 3-2 and 40-0 in two sets, but the more experienced Nadal was able to use perfect volleys and passes to complete the seemingly impossible comeback. Sheer perseverance and determination certainly played a part in the 5 hours and 24 minutes of the final. Nadal struggled with unforced errors in the longer rally in the first two sets, but managed to cut the points at the start of the third set. Nadal finished the third set with four consecutive victories and won 6-4. Medvedev was down 5-3 in the fourth set, quickly falling behind after a few ill-advised shots. Nadal wobbled 5-3 in the fifth, but ended up 7-5. Medvedev has just reached the third final of his young career, and the 2022 Australian Open will be Nadal’s 29th Grand Slam final.
Nadal, 35, joins Federer and Djokovic in a generation-defining triumvirate who have dominated the professional circuit for more than a decade. With Nadal’s 2022 Australian Open title, the second of his storied career, he broke his, Djokovic and Federer’s Grand Slam record of 20 titles each. Djokovic, 34, He was disqualified from this year’s Australian Open as an unvaccinated player after being rejected by government officials.
In 2019, Federer won a match point with Djokovic in the Wimbledon final and advanced to the 21st place in the Grand Slam, but failed to do so. In 2021, Djokovic lost to Medvedev in straight sets in the US Open final and also failed to reach 21 wins. Now, Nadal seized the opportunity and won the 21st title of his career. Also, if Nadal plans to play at this year’s French Open, he can continue to extend his lead, with a record 13 titles, Win a clay court title in 2020Djokovic’s status at the French Open (and other Grand Slams) remains in doubt due to his refusal to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Federer, meanwhile, has yet to return to the court in 2022 after undergoing knee surgery in August 2021.
With Nadal’s second Australian Open title, he broke the Open Era record for the longest span between first and second titles in the same Grand Slam, 13 years apart. Nadal won his first Australian Open title in 2009 against Roger Federer in five sets in 4 hours and 23 minutes. Previously, Jimmy Connors held the men’s singles record eight years apart (Wimbledon 1974 and 1982). Nadal also became the fourth man in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam twice.
Road to Finals:
Nadal (No. 6 seed in the championship)
R1: Definition. Marcos Gillon, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2
R2: Definition. Yannick Hanfman, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4
R3: Definition. No. 28 Karen Khachanov, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
R4: Definition. Adrian Mannarino, 7-6 (16-14), 6-2, 6-2
QF: Definition. No. 14 Denis Shapovalov, 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3
SF: Definition. No. 7 Matteo Berrettini, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
Medvedev (2nd seed in tournament)
R1: Definition. Henry Laxonen, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
R2: Definition. Nick Kyrgios, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
R3: Final. Botic van de Zandschulp, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
R4: Definition. Maxime Crecy, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (4-7), 7-5
QF: Definition. Felix Auger Aliassime, 6-7 (4-7), 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5, 6-4
SF: Definition. No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
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