Epic final victory: Rafael Nadal makes history!

Overwhelmed, Rafael Nadal fell to his knees after his memorable 21st Grand Slam triumph and held his hands to his face in disbelief. The Spanish tennis star celebrated one of his most unlikely titles and became the sole record Grand Slam winner with his Australian Open success. In a historic and thrilling five-set final against the Russian US Open winner Daniil Medvedev, the 35-year-old Spaniard turned a 0-2 set deficit with an impressive show of strength on Monday night and secured his 21st Grand Slam -Title. It was 2:6, 6:7 (5:7), 6:4, 6:4, 7:5 for Nadal after 5:24 hours. 13 years earlier he had won his only trophy to date at the Australian Open in Melbourne.

The 25-year-old Medvedev actually seemed to set the course with the break to make it 3-2 in the first set. He won the first round quite safely 6:2, before Nadal put him on the defensive for the first time in the second with a break to make it 3:1. Medvedev worked his way back from 3:5 to what he ultimately considered a successful tie-break and didn't allow himself to be irritated by a spectator storming onto the pitch. One banner read “Abolish the internment of refugees.” Security forces immediately shielded the finalists and arrested the person (we have the pictures here) .

With the historic achievement in mind, Nadal didn't give up. The third set was evenly balanced until 4:4, Nadal finally managed the break and served out to make it 6:4. The fourth movement was not only a battle with one's own physique, but also a battle of nerves. Once again, Medvedev struggled with the audience, who had clearly sided with Nadal.

In the meantime, Daniil Medvedev struggled with himself and the audience. © ANSA / DEAN LEWINS

Nadal managed the break to make it 2-1 and, after Medvedev's rebreak, broke the Russian's serve again to make it 3-2. With a 4:3 lead, he fended off two break points, made it 5:3 and finally had set point as a return player. The game still went to Medvedev, but Nadal was finally back in the match with a zero service game. In the final set, Medvedev fended off a break point at 2:2, only to concede the 2:3. Medvedev fights, Nadal fights tirelessly The Russian fought back and subsequently earned three break points, but was unable to take advantage of any and was 2:4 behind. The following games went to the respective servers before Nadal showed nerves and a double fault in the supposedly decisive game. Medvedev used the first break point to make it 5:5 and ensured a highly dramatic finish. But Nadal stayed cool, took his opponent's serve again and scored the first match point after 5:24 hours.

Nadal not only overtook the 40-year-old Federer, who was missing from Australia after a knee operation and does not want to return to the tour until the summer. In the ranking of major titles, he also moved ahead of Djokovic, who took himself out of the game before the start of the tournament after the sensational entry antics and his unwillingness to be vaccinated.

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Epic final victory: Rafael Nadal makes history!

In an incredible final that lasted almost five and a half hours, Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open and achieved something that tennis had never experienced before.

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Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Hockey

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

Epic final victory: Rafael Nadal makes history!

In an incredible final that lasted almost five and a half hours, Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open and achieved something that tennis had never experienced before.

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