Rafael Nadal made history by winning an epic match against the Russian Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open, with it, at 35 years old, he became the first player to have reached 21 titles of Grand Slam.
In this way, Nadal gains an advantage over his rivals, the Serbian Novak Djokovic and the Swiss Roger Federer, who have won 20 “majors” each.
After a match that lasted five hours and 24 minutes, the Spaniard sealed a 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 victory, it was the second longest final in Australian Open history, after the triumph of Novak Djokovic over Nadal in five sets, which took place in 2012 and lasted 5 hours and 53 minutes.
In his career, Nadal has won 13 Roland Garros titles, four US Open titles and two Wimbledon titles.
A controversial Australian Open
Djokovic did not participate in this occasion in the Open because he was deported from Australia before the tournament began, as he was the protagonist of a controversy.
The 34-year-old Serb was looking to use a medical dispensation to avoid requirements that all participants in the Australian Open they had to be vaccinated against COVID, Djokovic is not vaccinated, so the government considered that his presence could fuel the anti-vaccine current and left the country on January 16.
Nadal commented on his partner’s case in a press conference: “The Australian Open is much more important than any player. If he finally plays, fine. If he doesn’t play, he Australian Open it will be a great Australian Open with or without him. That’s my point of view. I wish him well. I think I had a good relationship with him throughout our career. We have done important things for the tour, for our foundations, for charity”.
Federer was also absent from this year’s matches as he recovers from knee surgery.
Also, a month after the start of the Australian Open, Rafael Nadal announced that he had given positive for COVID on his return from the exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi, fortunately managed to recover in time to make history.
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