Rafael Nadal staged many brilliantcomebacks over his incredible career. The 2022 Australian Open final keeps a special place on that list as Rafa turned the tables against Daniil Medvedev en route to his 21st Major title.
Medvedev led 6-2, 7-6, 3-2, 40-0 against the legend, who looked done and dusted. However, Nadal kept fightingand prevailed 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in five hours and 24 minutes, prevailing in the second-longest Major final in history!
Describing the match in his recent interview, Rafa admitted he thought he would lose. However, he maintained his fighting spirit and imposed tools that allowed him to stage a comeback and deliver one of his career-best victories.
Rafa survived a titanic battle against Denis Shapovalov and ousted Matteo Berrettini en route to his sixth Australian Open final. Nadal had lost the previous four, and the fifth loss looked inevitable! Daniil was off to a perfect start.
He prevailed in the second set and had a massive chance to break the rival's resistance in the middle of the third. Still, Rafa survived that sixth game and launched his comeback. The Russian claimed seven points more thanks to the opening set.
We saw collosal 44 break points, 22 for each player! Rafa lost serve six times and provided seven breaks to emerge at the top and become the first player with 21 Major trophies. The Spaniard raised his level in the second set before falling in the tie break.
Daniil made another push in the sixth game of the third set and created three break points. Nadal denied them and provided a crucial hold that kept him alive. Rafa gained a boost and provided a break in game nine with a backhand winner.
The Spaniard served for the set at 5-4 and held at love with a forehand winner, reducing the deficit and staying alive. Nadal saved two break points in the second game of the third set and delivered a break in the next one after Medvedev's double fault.
Daniil pulled the break back in the fourth game before experiencing more issues in the next one. The Spaniard generated seven break points and seized the last with a backhand winner for another advantage and momentum.
The veteran denied two break points in the eighth game and held with an ace for 5-3. Medvedev served to stay in the set in game nine and denied a break point before holding with a service winner. Rafa fired a service winner at 5-4, holding at love and introducing a decider after four hours and 12 minutes.
Nadal gained a massive boost and provided a break at 2-2 with a forehand down the line winner. He saved three break points with service winners in the next one and cemented the lead. The Spaniard served for the title at 5-4 and showed his nerves.
Rafa sprayed a backhand error, losing serve and allowing Daniil to pull the break back and lock the result at 5-5. Nadal used his vast experience and converted the third break chance in the 11th game when his rival sprayed a forehand error.
The Spaniard served for the title at 6-5 and landed a backhand volley winner, holding at love and lifting the record-breaking 21st Major crown.
"I thought I would lose to Daniil in the 2022 Australian Open final. However, it was essential not to let myself go and keep fighting. I have been a player with good self-control, avoiding on-court frustrations and embracing things that allow me to find solutions.
If I had only a 4% chance of winning, I would still fight for it - that has always been my point of view," Rafael Nadal said.
