Rafael Nadal stands alone after winning record 21st grand slam in Australia

Nadal has established himself on top of the majors race between his two great rivals, Federer and Djokovic, by defeating Medvedev in a come-from-behind, five-set thriller, 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.

For the better part of the last two decades, there are three titans in the sport of tennis who have stood the test of time and defined excellence in their race of majors dominance. Since last year, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic remained tied with 20 incredible grand slams—60 total!—a colossal obstacle that no one else could crack.

At the 2022 Australian Open, one of the sport’s great icons has now pulled ahead to sit atop the monumental slam tally. Rafael Nadal has done the impossible with a record-breaking 21st major, after a nail-biting, five set match against Daniil Medvedev that went the full distance, 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.

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In typically humble fashion for the Spaniard, it was not an easy victory. The record books and stats say one thing, but defying the odds in reality is something else. If there’s one tournament that has been an Achilles heel for Rafa it’s been the Australian Open.

He’s fought injuries during the final only to come up short and watch a surprise win by Stanislas Wawrinka. In six finals, he’s lost twice to Djokovic, once in the epic 2017 final to Federer, in addition to the 2014 defeat to Wawrinka. Bad luck seems to have always plagued Rafa when it came to the “Happy Slam.” But no longer, Nadal now owns a second Australian Open, a quest that’s been over a decade in the making (2009 win).

The Big 3, all in their mid-30’s-40’s, have been pushing each other for the past 20 years. It’s a storied narrative that has come to define their brilliance as the Greatest Era in men’s tennis. The only competition has been each other. And the test of who would surpass the 20 three-way tie was a fascinating journey that has left sports fans enthralled.

Novak Djokovic attempted to become the first of the tennis triumvirate at last year’s U.S. Open, but succumbed to the enormous pressure, with Medvedev this time coming out on top to quell his thunder. Federer was just two match points away at the 2019 Wimbledon final, only to watch Djokovic steal the spotlight with the win. If Fed had accomplished No. 21 then, he would have been sitting with the record of 21 all this time, with Djokovic having settled for 19. That’s how close to a knife’s edge their fiercely competitive contest has been.

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What sets the three legends apart from the rest of the pack is their ability to face adversity and still power through the win. Federer did that in the 2017 final against Nadal, rallying from two sets down for his great comeback. This time, it was Rafa who did the same to Medvedev after losing the first two sets to the Russian. The conclusion was never a given, however, and the final set was a testament to the high level of playing that defined the entire match. The final set kicked it up a notch as the reigning U.S. Open champ pulled even at 5-5, only to watch the great fighter Rafa grab the momentum in the end for a historic 21st major.

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"“It has been one of the most emotional matches in my tennis career and to share the court with you [Medvedev] was an honor,” Nadal said during the trophy celebration, according to CNN. “I don’t even know what to say, guys, for me it’s just amazing.“Being honest, one and a half months ago I didn’t know if I would be back on the tour playing tennis again and today I am here in front of you with the trophy again. You don’t know how much I fought to be here. Thank you so much for the love and support.”"

The second AO trophy makes only Nadal and Djokovic the players who hold more than one title at each of the slams (Federer just has the one French Open). Rafa also sets the record for the longest time between achieving a first and second slam title, with 13 years between the two (2009, 2022).

Leading the grand slam tally, Nadal has positioned himself in phenomenal standing to keep adding to his haul. The next grand slam is the French Open, where he has won an incredible 13 titles, and he’s poised to get his crown back after watching Djokovic oust him last year. The Spaniard said that he was taking inspiration from his hard-fought win in Australia to keep going.

“One month and half ago I would have said it would be my last Australian Open, but now I have a lot of energy to carry on,” he said after being handed the AO trophy. “I can’t explain the feelings I have now, but I’m going to try my best to come back next year.”

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How the other two rivals will deal with the aftermath of Australia is another matter. Novak Djokovic is still grappling with the humiliating consequences of his deportation situation, and how he will deal with COVID measures at the other slams is still in question. He’s set to participate in the Dubai tournament next month. Roger Federer’s status is more tenable, recovering from a knee injury and operations at age 40. One thing we’ve learned about the Big 3, however: only they and they alone define their tennis narrative.

As it stands right now, Rafael Nadal has established himself as the greatest fighter among the three, with more slam glory clearly set in his sights.