World stunned as Rafael Nadal re-writes history with astonishing Aus Open win

Rafael Nadal has given an Australian Open victory speech full of class after becoming the greatest player of all time in a bonkers final win.

Simply unbelievable. Photo: Getty Images

He’s done it.

Rafael Nadal has cemented a legacy as the greatest male tennis player of all time after he won his second Australian Open crown — and 21st grand slam title — in an unforgettable marathon final against Daniil Medvedev.

As the clock went past 1am (AEDT) on Monday morning and the match ticked over the five hour mark, an exhausted Nadal served out his fairytale comeback win 2-6 6-7 6-4 6-4 7-5 — sending Rod Laver Arena into pandemonium

Jim Courier said in commentary the victory “re-writes history” as Nadal broke the deadlock of 20 grand slams he shared with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

He is now the only male player ever to win 21 majors.

Rafael Nadal couldn’t believe it. Photo by William WEST / AFP.

He had to go to hell and back to do it.

Medvedev appeared well on his way to a straight sets victory after he broke Nadal’s heart in a rollercoaster second set tiebreak.

But Nadal responded as all the great champions do to win the next two sets. In the fifth set the drama got plain silly.

Nadal was broken trying to serve the match out at 5-4, but then showed incredible mental strength to come out two service games later and land the decisive blow that gave him an opportunity to come out and serve for the match.

He did exactly that.

Speaking after the match, Nadal had a golden reaction to how he felt when he was broken at 5-4 in the deciding set. “I thought, f***, I am going to lose like in 2012 and 2017. But I just kept fighting. I can lose, he can win, but I can’t give up.”

It was a contest Aussie legend Todd Woodbridge said will go down as one of the greatest tennis matches of all time and the 5hr 25mins battle set a record as the second longest Aussie Open final ever — the longest since the 5hr 53mins final between Nadal and Djokovic in 2012.

The triumph will go down as one of Nadal’s most iconic victories – less than two months after he thought a long-term foot injury may have forced him to retire.

Now the fairytale is complete.

English tennis writer Stuart Fraser summed up the mood when he tweeted: “I cannot believe what I have just seen.”

Fellow journalist Carole Bouchard called it an “insane comeback” while tennis commentator David Law wrote: “One of the best Grand Slam finals I’ve ever seen. One of the greatest, most astonishing sporting accomplishments I’ve ever seen. Rafael Nadal.”

Aussie tennis champion Rennae Stubbs tweeted: “This guy!!!!!!!! @RafaelNadal #21 no words!”

WTA Insider Courtney Nguyen added: “We’ve watched this guy do some absolutely mindblowing things over the course of his career. Rafael Nadal just topped them all. What an unbelievable fortnight.”

Pure ecstasy. Photo by Michael Klein

How did he come back from two sets down? (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

At 35 years and 241 days, Nadal is now the fourth-oldest winner of the Australian Open in the Open Era.

The victory also means Nadal is the fourth man ever, after Novak Djokovic, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson, to win all four slams twice for his career.

It’s easy to see why he is — for now at least — the GOAT of men’s tennis.

Nadal showed all the sporting class expected of his unique position in history when he delivered the perfect victory speech.

“It has been one of the most emotional matches of my tennis career and to share the court with you is just an honour,” he said firstly to Medvedev.

“So all of the best in the future.”

Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates No. 21.

He then needed a quick moment to compose himself before he began to try to explain how much the win means to him.

“I even don’t know what to say. It is just amazing,” he said.

“A month-and-a-half ago I didn’t know if I would be back on the tour playing tennis again and today I am here in front of all of you having this trophy with me.

“You don’t know how much I fought to be here. I can’t thank enough all of the support I received since I arrived here. You are just amazing. Thank you for the love and the support.

“Without a doubt probably one of the most emotional ones in my tennis career and having the huge support that I received during the three weeks, it is just going to stay in my heart for the rest of my life. So many, many thanks.”

It is the fourth time in his career that Nadal has clawed back to win from two sets down, but the first time in a slam final.

It was the second time Nadal had denied Medvedev in a major decider, winning a five-set epic at the 2019 US Open. Nadal holds a 4-1 lead over Medvedev in their five matches to date.

It crowned an extraordinary effort from Nadal at the year’s opening major, having to modify his game to compensate for a degenerative bone disease in his left foot that ended his 2021 season last August.

He then caught Covid in December which, he said, made him “very sick”.

Medvedev had wrecked Djokovic’s calendar Grand Slam push and bid for a 21st title in New York four months ago and was aiming to do the same to Nadal in Melbourne.

Medvedev lost his second consecutive Australian Open final after falling in straight sets to Djokovic in last year’s final.

“It’s tough to talk after five hours 30 and losing but I want to congratulate Rafa because what you did today, I was amazed,” Medvedev said.

“You raised your level after two sets for the 21st Grand Slam. I thought you were going to get tired, and maybe you did a little, but you still won the match. You are an amazing champion.”

Winners are grinners. (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP)

Spanish royalty, athletes and politicians were quick to heap praise on compatriot Nadal after his incredible achievement.

“Rafa, we are running out of words. There are no obstacles for those who have no limits. You represent the best tennis in the world,” tweeted the official account of the Spanish Royal Family.

The Spanish Olympic Committee echoed the theme.

“When it seems impossible. When there is hardly any strength left. When things don’t work out. You show us the way, you teach us to believe and to never give up,” it tweeted.

“You are an example of dedication, work and perseverance.”

“You’re the greatest!” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez rejoiced on Twitter.

Some of Spain’s biggest sports stars also praised Nadal on social media. Marc Marquez, the six-time world MotoGP champion, wrote: “What a commitment, what mental strength, what grit, what a benchmark, what everything!!!.”

Pau Gasol, a double NBA champion and winner of two Olympic silvers and a world title representing Spain, also focused on character.

“21 Grand Slams is nothing compared to the legacy you accumulate every day,” Gasol said.

With AFP