An inspired Rafael Nadal has claimed a record 21st major after fighting back from two sets down to defeat Daniil Medvedev in a gripping Australian Open men’s final.
After an exhausting 5 hours and 24 minutes on court inside Rod Laver Arena, Nadal prevailed in five sets 2-6, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in a match that did not finish until just after 1am AEDT.
The victory moves Nadal ahead of his great rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer to the top of the men’s all-time major winners list.
Nadal served for the championship at 5-4 in the fifth set, only for Medvedev to show nerves of steel to break his opponent to level the set at 5-5.
But when he broke Medvedev in the following game, Nadal had another chance to serve out the match at 6-5 and this time he made no mistake.
More to come.
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