Nadal won his forst Grand Slam at 19 years and two days of age and 17 years later he has achieved perhaps his most famous in Australia, with a tremendous victory
Rafael Nadal has come of age, breaking the 20 Grand Slams he shares with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. The Balearic tennis player won his first at 19 years of age and now, in Australia, he has achieved his most famous, and perhaps also the most difficult Grand Slam who was playing his sixth final in Melbourne winning only once, in 2009.
At 35 years and 241 days the new champion of Australia enters a distinguished club of veterans who have won in Melbourne with the oldest Ken Rosewall (37 years, 62 days, winner in 1972; Roger Federer (36 years, 173 days, winner in 2018) and again Ken Rosewall (36 years, 73 days, winner in 1971).
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Backed by a loud Melbourne crowd, sixth seed Nadal rallied to win 2-6 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-4 7-5 on Rod Laver Arena.
US Open champion Medvedev was going for his second successive major title.
Medvedev, 25, was in command before Nadal showed all of his renowned grit and fight to earn an extraordinary win.
The 35-year-old Spaniard has been at the centre of some of the sport’s most incredible triumphs – but this surely goes down as the most amazing Grand Slam victory of his illustrious career.
Nadal’s achievement comes only a few months after he thought he would never be able to return to the tour because of a foot injury.
In the absence of the deported Novak Djokovic and the injured Roger Federer in Melbourne, Nadal has moved one ahead of his great rivals in the race to finish with most major men’s singles titles.
BATTLE OF THE GRAND SLAMS
