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The Times of India

Sport

Prajwal Hegde | TNN

Australian Open: Rafael Nadal's mightiest comeback secures 21st Grand Slam

Rafael Nadal Australian Open Grand Slam Slam Daniil Medvedev Novak Djokovic Roger Federer

Spaniard scripts stunning comeback win over Medvedev in Australian Open final, rewrites history with record Slam

Rafael Nadal dropped down on his knees, face buried in his palm, stayed in that position for a few seconds, perhaps in appreciation of a turf that had finally yielded, after four losses in the title round. Then he rose, much like he had at the halfway mark of the final, and turning to a screaming full house, he let their applause wash over him.

After five hours and 24 minutes, of what Nadal called the biggest comeback of his storied career - down two-sets-to-love and a stray forehand away from falling behind by a break in the third - the 35-year-old scripted a stunning turnaround to score a 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 win over world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev.

For Nadal, it was a record-breaking 21st major title, that put him ahead of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, and also his second Australian Open crown that placed him in an elite club of players who have won each of the four Grand Slams at least twice.

"This has been one of the most emotional matches of my career," Nadal said. "One and a half months ago, I didn't know if I would be playing tennis again, how much I fought to be here. Thank you all for the support, you are all just amazing. It's gonna stay in my heart for the rest of my life."

Nadal didn't come into the final as the favourite, not only was the 35-year-old coming back from surgery, he was up against one of the most successful hardcourt players on the Tour.

The question, however, was that should it come down to a dogfight the sport's ultimate warrior could author a jailbreak.

The Russian, 25, raced away with the opening set, but the second had more drama and suspense in it than the pages of domestic noir.

Nadal appeared to have rattled the cage when he jumped to a 4-1 lead, but the relentless Russian pulled one back with a break in the seventh. Nadal struck again in the eighth, that gave him a 5-3 edge.

In the ninth game, which had it all, including an intruder, Nadal had a set point, but Medvedev closed on his fifth breakpoint to take the set into a tie-breaker.

Nadal led 2-0, 3-2 and 5-3 in the shootout, but Medvedev won four straight points to take a two-sets-to-love lead.

It was clear that Nadal was trying to vary lengths and unsettle the Russian with his backhand slice in the first half of the match, but the world No. 2 smothered the spin, and accepted with gratitude every shot Nadal played to his stronger flank, his rapier-like backhand.

At 1-2, 0-40 in the third set, Nadal appeared done and dusted. The foundation for the break that was to come in the ninth game, a double-hander down-the-line, wrapped in vicious spin, however, was laid in that fourth game, where Nadal fought with his back to the wall.

With a foot in the door after the third set, Nadal kept punching, Medvedev, younger by a decade, lost pace on his shots and court speed. As his tennis strayed the world No. 2's temper flared, he raged against the crowd calling them 'empty brains'.

The Russian, perhaps feeling the weight of the hours he had spent on the court this tournament, called for the trainer, who massaged his quadriceps as he prepared for the decider.

Nadal broke in the fifth game of the final set, setting himself up nicely for a sprint to the title. Just like in 2012 and 2017 against his great rivals Djokovic and Federer, but on both occasions the advantage was nullified. Medvedev broke back when Nadal was two points from victory in the 10th game, but unlike in the past, be broke again before serving it out.