Australian Open winner
Rafael Nadal: completely overwhelmed, not only by his 21st Grand Slam success
Rafael Nadal and his 21st Grand Slam trophy
© Fiona Hamilton/Tennis Australia / AFP
It was a final that had everyone and should never have ended. But after five and a half hours it was over and Rafael Nadal celebrated an incredible comeback. But he was not only overwhelmed by his 21st Grand Slam success.
By Klaus Bellstedt
Finally it was getting very late. Or early. Depending on your perspective. When Rafael Nadal took the podium in the press conference room at 2.30 a.m. Melbourne local time after this epic final of the Australian Open on the night from Sunday to Monday, it almost got a bit reverent. Tournament Director Craig Tiley offered a quick toast to the champion and raised his glass. The journalists present toasted back and all toasted Nadal. At the Grand Slam tournaments, after the final games, it is a good custom to drink to the winners together. This time it was also so special because before the tournament, very few had expected that the now 35-year-old would be named the winner of the first major event of the year and, more importantly, because nobody knows whether this image would ever repeat again: an overjoyed Nadal with the winner’s trophy of a Grand Slam tournament in his hands.
“Much more important to be able to experience nights like this again”
So there he sat, still sweating as if match point had just been played and couldn’t believe his luck. In a true tennis drama, Nadal had defeated Daniil Medvedev, the second in the world rankings, in five sets with 2: 6, 6: 7, 6: 4, 6: 4 and 7: 5 in just under five and a half hours of play and had thus achieved something historic : Victory at the Australian Open was tantamount to his 21st Grand Slam success. In this elite ranking of the best, Nadal pushed past his two eternal adversaries Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who each won one of the four major tournaments 20 times. But Nadal did not care about this record afterwards: “To be honest, the number 21 is not decisive at all. After everything that happened, it is much more important for me to be able to experience nights like this again.”
During the victory speech in the Rod Laver Arena, the Mallorquin indicated how great his uncertainty and suffering was. “The whole truth is that a month and a half ago I didn’t know if I would even be able to come back,” said Nadal. When he spoke, he had tears in his eyes. “No one can imagine how hard I fought for it.” For months, Nadal, who had fallen back to fifth place in the world rankings before the tournament, had to pause due to a complicated foot injury that can only be medically alleviated but not eliminated. The injury that had plagued him since 2005 resurfaced at the French Open in early June, when he lost to eventual winner Novak Djoković in the semifinals. Nadal only played six tournaments in 2021. The first acknowledgments for his life’s work in sport have already been written. A corona infection also disrupted the preparation for the new season. His start at the Australian Open had long been highly questionable. Now this renaissance followed, which was a renaissance in two senses. In the most important match of his career he celebrated the most important comeback of his career. That’s what he said afterwards. And then there was the completely unexpected and triumphant restart of his sporting career. “Today was probably the best thing that has ever happened to me.” Nadal was also overwhelmed an hour after the match ended.
The game should never stop
The match he won against the up-and-coming and difficult-to-play Medvedev was a tennis match for the history books. There were countless turns, insane rallies, injury breaks, the audience was insulted, the referee was messed with, Nadal used up ten T-shirts in the sweltering heat of this marathon, even a political activist jumped down from the stands for a short time on the Place. One really hoped that this would never end. When escape artist Nadal, who had long looked like the loser and was already 2-0 down, finally converted his match point, he looked like an incredulous little kid. It took him a few moments to realize what had just happened. Then, kneeling on the blue hard court floor, he burst into tears.
It was a mixture of three things that would have led him to really win the Australian Open again, Nadal said afterwards: the love of the game, his unconditional passion and, despite some doubts, a positive basic attitude. He then left the podium, exhausted and blissful. With the trophy under his arm.