Nadal wins Australian Open to bag record 21st Grand Slam title

By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp

ANKARA (AA) - Rafael Nadal on Sunday defeated Daniil Medvedev in the 2022 Australian Open final, becoming the first male tennis player to win 21 Grand Slam titles.

The 35-year-old Spanish legend won his second Australian Open title with 2-6, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-4 and 7-5 sets against world number 2 Medvedev, in almost five and a half hours of gameplay at Melbourne.

Before this game Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer were all level on a men's record of 20 Grand Slam singles titles each.

Federer missed his chance to win the 21st title in the 2019 Wimbledon, losing to Djokovic.

Djokovic also failed to bag his 21st grand slam title after losing to Medvedev in the 2021 US Open final.

Djokovic was not allowed to participate in the 2022 Australian Open after his visa cancellation was upheld by a three-member bench of the Federal Court.

Medvedev lost his second Australian Open final after his first against Djokovic in 2021.