Rafael Nadal made history in epic fashion Sunday at the Australian Open, rallying from two sets down in the final to beat Daniil Medvedev and win a men’s record 21st Grand Slam title.
Nadal, 35, outlasted the 25-year-old Medvedev 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in a match that lasted 5 hours, 24 minutes.
The Spanish southpaw had been in a three-way tie with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic atop the all-time list for men’s major winners but now stands alone thanks to his second career title at this hardcourt Grand Slam.
The sixth-seeded Nadal also became just the fourth man in history to win all four of the tennis majors at least twice. He last won the Australian Open in 2009.
The second-seeded Medvedev was the favorite to win the Australian Open because of the absence of Djokovic, who was deported after an 11-day visa saga on the eve of the tournament because he failed to meet Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
Federer also missed the tournament because of a knee injury.
Medvedev is the reigning US Open champion and was attempting to become the first man in the Open era to win his second Grand Slam title at the next major tournament. He lost last year’s Australian Open final to Djokovic.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
