- Spaniard fights back to win epic battle 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5
- Nadal one clear of Djokovic and Federer in all-time standings
For two sets and more, Rafael Nadal trailed an opponent aged 10 years younger who had built a fortress behind the baseline and outplayed him from all parts of the court. Even with all of Nadal’s iconic fight, the deficit was thorough and clear, and as Daniil Medvedev flitted towards another grand slam title in the greatest form of his young career, Nadal could have no complaints in defeat after a run that was already beyond his own imagination.
But what the sixth seed could do was keep his head up, focus on each point as it came and search for solutions until the bitter end. He did so, as he does every single time he steps on to a tennis court, and before a manic crowd on Rod Laver Arena, Nadal produced one of the great masterstrokes of his endless career. From two sets down, Nadal somehow recovered to defeat Medvedev 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 after five hours and 24 minutes and, in the process, win his 21st grand slam title.