As the curtain closed on the epic Australian Open 2022 final between Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev, you could see what it meant to the Spaniard to have won his second Melbourne title
A smile as wide as the Port Phillip Bay spread across his face as he took in the magnitude of his achievement.
Rafael Nadal Australian Open 2022 Win Makes Him Holder Of Most Grand Slams Titles In Men’s Tennis
The victory means the Spaniard has now won every Grand Slam tournament on more than one occasion, but most importantly, it brings him to a total of 21 Grand Slam titles in all, one more than both Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
This intriguing battle between the three greats of modern tennis has twisted and turned deliciously over the last decade or so. For a while, most thought that Federer could never be caught, that his supreme talents would render him the most successful men’s player of all time. Then, Djokovic began winning at a rate of knots, racking up a huge number of Grand Slam titles during a time when Federer and Nadal began to suffer with injuries.
Throughout it all, Nadal’s record at the French Open remained essentially unblemished. He has won 13 of the last 17 editions of Roland Garros, making up the bulk of his Grand Slam haul, whilst adding a smattering of the other big titles for good measure.
Now, Nadal stands alone at the top of the list, and although Djokovic may yet outstrip both he and Federer, the Spaniard deserves recognition for the way he dusted himself down and produced such stunning tennis at the Australian Open.
Having suffered with injuries for the last while, it’s fair to say that not a whole lot was expected of Nadal in Melbourne. Yes, he was a favourite on sites like Betdaq for obvious reasons, but many were thinking that in the absence of Djokovic, it was an opportunity for someone like Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas or Alexander Zverev to get their hands on a major title.
Rafael Nadal Is The True GOAT Of Tennis
But the final proved that, even at the age of 35, and after a number of recent injury setbacks, Nadal is still a level above that new generation of talent. Medvedev pushed him all the way, taking a two-set lead in the showpiece, before Nadal demonstrated just what has made him such a great champion over the years. A combination of power, speed, and raw desire saw him draw level and eventually see out the win in the fifth and final set.
“For me, it’s just amazing. Being honest, one month and a half ago, I didn’t know if I’d be able to play on the tour again,” Nadal said after the match. “Without a doubt, (it’s) probably been one of the most emotional months in my tennis career. The huge support I’ve received for the last three weeks will stay in my heart for the rest of my life.”
Nadal can bask in the glory of being the most successful men’s player of all time — for now at least. Whether or not Djokovic or Federer ultimately outstrip his total of major titles is ultimately irrelevant — this Australian Open triumph reminded us that we should savour his unique talents, because we may never see the like of them again.