Australian Open 2022 Highlights, Men's Final: Nadal beats Medvedev in five sets for record 21st major

Madison Keys applauds the new champion

Daniil Medvedev in the speech: “It’s tough to talk after five hours and 30 minutes. I want to congratulate Rafa, what you did was amazing.

“I tried to play but I was really tired. The level was really high.

“You raised the level after two sets, I thought you might get tired. You are an amazing champion. You guys have a great rivalry and it is not over yet.

“I want to thank my two guys in my box who were here all week. I hope we have more victories to come.

“I thank my wife but I think maybe the TV is broken now. I want to thank my team, I will forget someone but thanks for being with me. My parents, if you are still watching. I thank you for your support and I will try to be better next time.”

WHAT A SHOW FROM RAFA!

RAFAEL NADAL IS THE CHAMPION!

Rafael Nadal beats Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 to win the 2022 Australian Open. This is his 21st Grand Slam title, his second in Australia and he has now won all four majors at least twice. No one has come from two sets down to win the Australian Open final in the Open Era.

Nadal 2-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Nadal serving for the championship once again. He’s quickly raced away to 30-0 once again. And then an ace out wide brings up three Championship points. Nadal volleys and Medvedev is unable to get it back!

Nadal* 2-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-5 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev with the drop, Nadal runs along and plays a sumptuous angled winner. Just the flick of the wrist there. On the next, he sees Medvedev miss and has a break point opportunity. Saved! But Nadal gets back and creates another with a mammoth forehand down the line. And this one is saved too. Nadal is unable to get the serve back and we’re on to deuce once again. Medvedev with a backhand missed and Nadal has a third break point. BREAK! Nadal gets a huge serve down the T back and then Medvedev overcooks the forehand.

Nadal 2-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 5-5 *Medvedev (*denotes next server)

From 30-0 up, Nadal sees his serve brought back to break point. From 30-0 to 30-30 on a double fault and then Medvedev gets back to BREAK!

Nadal* 2-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 5-4 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev comes from 30-30 to hold with a sublime drop shot

Winning line in sight?

Nadal 2-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 4-2 *Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Nadal is not pleased as a member of the crowd yells out in the middle of the point. Chair umpire asks the crowd to contain their excitement. Nadal with a serve and volley attempt but Medvedev is quick to latch on for a winner. Plenty of life in those legs for the 25-year-old. This game keeps going, both players continue to fight and run around like we’re just getting going. Medvedev pings the sideline with a backhand once again and creates a break point opportunity. Saved! Serve out wide and Medvedev return is into the tramlines. Nadal with a mishit on the forehand and Medvedev has a second break point. This game clocking past 10 minutes now. Once again, the return doesn’t come back and that is another chance gone begging. Another break point and another one squandered. This is now longest match of Daniil Medvedev’s career. Medvedev misses yet another serve return and Nadal has chance to hold. HOLD! That is a huge, huge hold. A 13 minute 39 second game where Nadal saved four break points

Nadal* 2-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 3-2 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev has his serve being pushed once again. A forehand error brings up break point and it quickly goes away with a big serve. Medvedev smacks the net on the backhand and another chance comes Nadal’s way. In typical Nadal fashion, he runs along, romps to a forehand winner and BREAKS!

Nadal 2-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 2-2 *Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Staying on serve in the fifth set with Medvedev needing to save a break point in the first game.

???? WATCH OUT!

John Blom has been poked through the course of the match and been hit by Nadal twice now. Been a tough final!

Win predictor not capturing effectively the journey this match has been

Chair umpire laying down the hammer

Fifth set approaching

After 4 hrs and 12 minutes, past midnight in Melbourne, we’re headed to a fifth setter. Who would have though after the first two sets?

Fourth set: Rafael Nadal 6-4

Into the fifth set we go! Medvedev missing on both wings to bring the game to 30-0. Nadal brings up three set points with a forehand winner into the corner. Medvedev goes wide on return and this match is going the distance!

Nadal* 2-6, 6-7, 6-3, 5-4 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

From a set point down, Medvedev holds to keep the fourth set going. Medvedev with a backhand winner and then seeing Nadal’s return go long to hold serve

Nadal 2-6, 6-7, 6-3, 5-3 *Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Out of nowhere, Nadal with absurd misses and Medvedev has a look in at 0-30. Medvedev goes for a drop shot (has that even worked for him so far?), Nadal moves up and creates a smash opportunity on the next ball to make it 15-30. Nadal backhand goes into the tramlines and Medvedev has two break points. One saved. Medvedev doesn’t get enough depth, Nadal pounces with plenty of sidespin on forehands. Medvedev looks for another drop shot and misses. Both break points saved. Nadal goes behind Medvedev with a forehand winner and has turned things around. Ace down the T gets him out of the logjam!

Medvedev repeatedly asking the chair umpire to intervene

Nadal* 2-6, 6-7, 6-3, 3-2 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev with a low volley pick up but Nadal runs along to finish the point out with a backhand winner. Three straight backhand winners from Rafa bring up three break points. One saved as Nadal mishits a deep Medvedev shot into the net. Now Medvedev changing things up. Serve out wide, plenty of angle on it and moves up to the net for a simple volley winner. Another break point remains. Nadal rocks into his forehand, goes cross and misses. On most other days he would make that. Today has been hit and miss. Deuce, three break points come and go. Medvedev with a shaky drop but gets out of it somehow. On game point, Nadal with a high lob and Medvedev looks to smash it away. The ball hits the top of the racket and goes wide. On deuce, serve-and-volley attempt again but the angle on serve wasn’t good enough, Nadal brings up another break point with a winner. Medvedev saves another break point. A 17-shot rally completed with a forehand winner behind Rafa. But Nadal staying in it. Moves up to the short ball and dispatches it for a winner. Medvedev, meanwhile, keeps fighting. Nadal’s return on the serve goes long. Sixth break point for Nadal now as he goes behind Medvedev whose squash-esque shot hits the net. Terrible drop from Medvedev but Nadal is unable to close the point out, Medvedev plays a forehand winner. Deep return on deuce and Nadal has a seventh (!!) break point. BREAK! Nadal with a drop shot, Medvedev slices up to it and Nadal finds the angle for a winner. 10 minutes 19 seconds that game.

Nadal 2-6, 6-7, 6-3, 2-2 *Medvedev (*denotes next server)

BREAK BACK! Medvedev completely unfazed by the break of serve and crowd going against him. Turns right around and levels the the fourth set at 2-2. Nadal goes for far too much and sends the ball long

Nadal* 2-6, 6-7, 6-3, 2-1 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev looks to have lost a step or two in this now. Two break points for Nadal. One saved with an ace out wide and then a double fault. BREAK! Medvedev shows a thumbs down to the crowd as he takes the seat

Nadal 2-6, 6-7, 6-3, 1-1 *Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev playing with more urgency now. Finds the absolute corner of the court and has Nadal miss to bring up break point. But Nadal saves it with a HUGE forehand winner down the line. Takes the ball on the up and smacks a thundering winner. On to deuce. Nadal gets the right angle on the serve but the drop attempt on the next doesn’t work out. Another break point. Medvedev sends his backhand into the net and another chance goes begging. Not seen this before, have we? Nadal drop shot again and this time he gets the angle right on the next ball with Medvedev missing a volley. On game point, another drop shot, and Medvedev chases it down for a winner. A neat exchange from the back and Medvedev finds the net once again. Hold! Nadal goes behind Medvedev and ekes out an error.

Things boiling over right now

Third set: Rafael Nadal 6-3

Rafael Nadal with back-to-back forehand winners and is suddenly looking much better. Make that three set points for Nadal with a backhand winner. SET! Nadal closes the set out with a one-two, forehand winner into open court

Nadal* 2-6, 6-7, 5-3 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev with a gorgeous volley. Nadal with a dipping shot but the World No 2 moves up to it and flicks it to push it away from Rafa. Couple of misses from Medvedev and Nadal has two break points. Medvedev sarcastically applauds the crowd. Medvedev saves one by forcing Nadal to scramble up to the net and then back, only to force a miss. BREAK! Nadal with a backhand winner down the line and he has the break

Nadal* 2-6, 6-7, 3-4 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev is able to quickly refresh and keep things going his way. Having missed a routine putaway to see the serve go to 30-30, Medvedev with a cross court backhand winner and then holds with a forehand winner

Nadal 2-6, 6-7, 3-3 *Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev could do practically anything right now. Picks a smash up, turns it into a perfect lob and closes the point with a jump backhand winner down the line. Three break points. One saved with a perfect drop shot by Nadal and then Medvedev rushed into a backhand, only to see it go wide. Nadal saves yet another. Medvedev doesn’t get the right elevation on the drop shot, Nadal moves up and forces Daniil into a miss. Deuce. Medvedev misses another backhand and Nadal has a game point. Looks to serve-volley but the volley is poor, Medvedev with a backhand pass. A 19-shot rally goes Nadal’s way as Medvedev’s forehand comes under the pump. And a 21-shot rally gets the hold. Medvedev with a forehand going long and Nadal is still fighting, still staying in it.

This match has gone Medvedev’s way from start to now. Is the finish near?

Nadal* 2-6, 6-7, 2-3 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Nadal throws a deep return at Medvedev and the Russian gets it back somehow, Nadal goes to the corner on return and Medvedev plays a backhand winner. A quick, love hold for Daniil

Great insight from Patrick

Which way is this going?

Nadal 2-6, 6-7, 1-1 *Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev so so precise right now. Finding the angles perfectly, hitting deep when he wants. Getting almost everything back and Nadal, despite throwing the kitchen sink, is unable to make it count. Nadal claws from 0-30 down to make it 30-30. At 40-30, Nadal overcooks the forehand. Had the court there to find but looks to find the edge and misses. The amount of times he’s done that today though… Medvedev misses a backhand and Nadal closes the game out with a big serve down the T.

Nadal* 2-6, 6-7, 0-1 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev with an errant game. Making plenty of mistakes, a double fault and now Nadal has a break point. The Spaniard looked to force himself on break point but overcooks it. Medvedev serves out wide and Nadal sends the return into the net. On game point, Medvedev has the big serve but tries to be perfect with the drop shot only to hit the net. Back-to-back aces gets Medvedev the hold

STATS!

Second set: Daniil Medvedev 7-6

Medvedev with a passing winner to go two sets up. What a turnaround from being break down twice in that set. Nadal not serving well and it is extremely obvious at this point

TIEBREAK

Nadal gets a mini-break but throws it away on the next. Looks to serve and volley but Medvedev has a great return. In a tense point, Nadal gets a volley back but it is wide. Medvedev shanks it into the net and Nadal has to be told it has gone wide