Rafa Nadal’s Aus Open glory as unbelievable as Novak Djokovic drama as GOAT race changes

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A crazy Australian Open which started with the drawn-out deportation of Novak Djokovic ended with a men’s singles final which was just as unbelievable. And after five hours and 24 minutes of more high court drama, Rafael Nadal took the lead in the GOAT race by breaking the Grand Slam record and the spirit of Daniil Medvedev.

The Spaniard, 35, may have asked for a chair during the presentation ceremony in the early hours of the Melbourne morning but there is no doubting the extraordinary stamina of this amazing athlete who feared his career was over only two months ago due to the chronic foot injury.

Nor his undiminished will to win after he needed to save three break points at 2-3 in the third set when the end appeared nigh.

But cheered on by a boisterous Aussie crowd, the Spanish superstar outlasted the world No 2 who is 10 years his junior to win 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.

Thirteen breaks of serves, ridiculous rallies and a court invasion by a protester. This final had everything until Nadal took his first match point with a backhand volley at 1.11am local time.

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“If we put everything together, the scenario, the momentum, what it means, yeah, without a doubt it was probably the biggest comeback of my tennis career,” said Nadal.

“And the title win was the most unexpected without a doubt. And most surprising I think for everyone. For you guys, too. For me personally, especially. It has been a very emotional night.

“It’s just amazing now being gone one month and a half ago I didn’t know if I will be able to be back on the tour playing tennis again.

“The way that I achieved this trophy tonight has been just unforgettable, one of the most emotional matches of my tennis career. Even now I am destroyed, honestly, physically. I can’t think much, I can’t remember a lot of moments of the match.

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“I was not ready physically for this kind of battle, honestly. I didn’t practice enough to be ready for it. But it was the day to give everything, give everything that I have inside.

“I am, super, super tired in all ways. I can’t even celebrate. I enjoyed the fight. I enjoyed the emotions. I can’t be happier.”

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The incredible theatre was the second-longest Grand Slam final of all time after the 2012 final between Djokovic and Nadal which lasted five hours and 53 minutes and finished at 1.37am.

Then the Spaniard ended up as the loser. This time the clear crowd favourite was pushed on to victory by a Rod Laver Arena crowd wanting to witness history.

“The support of the crowd has been just huge,” he said. “I got very emotional during the whole match.” It was the first time Nadal had recovered from a two-set deficit since the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2007 against Mikhail Youzhny.

And his second Melbourne victory comes 13 years after beating Federer in another classic final when Nadal wore long hair and pirate shorts.

Now he becomes only the fourth man in history – along with Djokovic, Roy Emerson and Rod Laver – to win each Grand Slam at least twice.

Medvedev’s bid to become the first man in the Open era to win his second Grand Slam title at the next Grand Slam event after his first major title failed as he ran out of energy fighting the Spaniard, the crowd and Aussie umpire John Blum.

In the first two sets, Mededev successfully deployed the Djokovic tactic of using his double-handed backhand down the line to pin Nadal and to stop him running round to unleash his forehand. As his legs tired and his brain became frazzled by the crowd, he allowed Nadal’s ferocious forehand to dominate the match.

This rollercoaster encounter saw 44 break points and 13 breaks while Medvedev won seven more points – 182 to 189. But in the end, Nadal’s momentum was unstoppable.

“Sport is unpredictable, no?” he said. “Just fight, just keep on believing and trying to find a solution.”

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