History beckoned for Rafael Nadal at the 2022 Australian Open as the Spaniard captured a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title after beating Daniil Medvedev in the final in a five-set epic under the lights at Rod Laver Arena. Novak Djokovic and border restrictions dominated the build-up to the first major of 2022, but Rafael Nadal and Ash Barty’s heroics on the blue courts at Melbourne Park relegated that story to a footnote as the two Grand Slam champions capped off one of the most memorable Australian Open’s in recent memory with two magnificent displays in the final.
▶ Rafa the Record Breaker
View this post on Instagram
Rafael Nadal completed the stuff of dreams in the early hours of Monday morning in Melbourne as the Spaniard outlasted Daniil Medvedev to become the third-oldest man in the open era to win a major title. Trailing two sets to love, Nadal displayed his legendary mentality and determination to come back and win his second Australian Open title 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 5-7 in five hours and 24 minutes.
With this win, Nadal now holds the record of the most men’s singles Grand Slam titles in history, surpassing his rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who are both on 20 majors each. Following his first Australian Open triumph since 2009, Nadal has also become just the second player in the open era after Djokovic to win each of the four majors at least two times.
What makes this win even more special for the Spaniard is the adversity he has faced along the way on his road to recovery. The 35-year-old spent six months on the sidelines with a foot injury after Roland Garros, and openly admitted that he wasn’t sure if he could continue playing the sport six weeks out from the Australian Open.
Fittingly, Nadal was also pushed to the absolute limit in the final by world number two Daniil Medvedev, with the 21-time Grand Slam champion having to come back from two sets down for the first time since 2007 to complete his fairy-tale victory.
▶ The Barty Party
View this post on Instagram
While Nadal stole the headlines with his 21st Grand Slam title, Ash Barty was equally dominant in the Women’s draw as the world number one ended Australia’s 44-year long wait for a home Australian Open winner. Barty dominated from the minute she stepped foot onto the Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night, beating USA’s Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-6(2) to become the first Australian since Chris O’Neil in 1978 to win an Australian Open singles title.
With this monumental victory, Barty also joins an elite cast of players to have won a Grand Slam on three different surfaces. Before Saturday’s final, the list of active players to have completed that feat includes Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. The 25-year-old dominated from start to finish in Australia in 2022, dropping only 29 games throughout the tournament and conceding just seven breaks across her seven matches in Melbourne.
▶ Doubles Delight for the Special K’s
View this post on Instagram
Following on from Ash Barty’s dominance in the women’s singles, Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis completed their dream run in the Australian Open with a victory over fellow Aussies Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell in the Men’s Doubles final.
The home favourites – who had the crowd in raptures throughout the two weeks in Melbourne – became the first wildcards to win the Men’s Doubles at a major since Wimbledon 2012 and the first all Aussie pair to become Australian Open Men’s Doubles champions since 1997. Friends from the age of eight, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis, previously won the junior Wimbledon doubles title in 2013 and went on to beat four seeded opponents with their big serves and heavy groundstrokes from the baseline.
[Featured Image Credit: ANI]
Shivaan Shah