Australian Open final LIVE: Rafael Nadal vs Daniil Medvedev tennis result and latest updates
Follow live reaction from the Australian Open men’s final
Follow live reaction as Rafael Nadal produced a stunning comeback from two sets down to defeat Daniil Medvedev and win a record-breaking 21st grand slam title in an epic Australian Open final. The Spaniard, just months after almost retiring from the sport due to a foot injury, moves clear of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer after winning his second Australian Open title in a classic and exhausting battle over more than five hours in Melbourne.
The 35-year-old defeated tournament favourite and world No 2 Medvedev 2-6, 6-7, 6-4 6-4 7-5. Medvedev, the US Open champion, was aiming to become the first player in the Open era to win a second grand slam title immediately after winning his first. The Russian moved two sets up after prevailing in a tiebreak at the end of a marathon 84-minute second set, only for Nadal to stage a remarkable fightback.
A forehand winner earned Nadal the crucial break of serve in the decider, before he held off three break points from Medvedev in a 13-minute service game as he tried to close out the match. Nadal was two points away from victory as he served for the match at 5-4, only for Medvedev to produce a fightback of his own and claim the break. But Nadal struck back with a second break, before serving for the most remarkable win of his career. Follow live reaction from the Australian Open final:
Australian Open final: Nadal 2-6 *2-1 Medvedev
Nadal forces Medvedev to play a backhand into the net - one of the few longer rallies the Spaniard has won since the match begun.
And another goes the way of Nadal as they exchange forehands before he comes out on top, making Medvedev search for the winner and not allowing him to execute.
That’s long from Nadal though. 20 unforced errors for him. Just seven for Medvedev.
30-15.
Nadal narrowly misses with a backhand down the line. 30-30. Yet more pressure on his serve.
Finally he finds a big first serve at a crucial time and Medvedev skews the return long. And Medvedev produces a rare unforced error as Nadal sees out the game.
Australian Open final: Nadal 2-6 1-1* Medvedev
Barely any pressure at all has been put on the Medvedev serve. No break points and, from memory, Nadal is yet to even reach deuce.
Into the net the Spaniard goes once more as Medvedev takes a 30-0 lead.
Nadal gets the luck with a net call which bamboozles Medvedev as he goes long with the resulting forehand.
But a fifth ace of the match from the Russian takes him to 40-15. And a serve-volley completes the hold.
Australian Open final: Nadal 2-6 *1-0 Medvedev
Nadal has to make a positive start to this second set or the match could very quickly go away from him.
He begins with a couple of nicely worked points, forcing Medvedev to run and finishing him off with some tidy forehands.
The slice-forehand combination works for Nadal as he slows the pace of the rally down before punishing Medvedev with the vicious shot crosscourt. Very reminiscent of what works so well for him on clay.
Double fault again. 40-30.
Medvedev can’t break this time though. He returns into the net and Nadal nudges in front at the start of the second set.
Australian Open final: Nadal 2-6 Medvedev
Wow! Some start to this game from Nadal as he zips in the flattest forehand you will ever see. Medvedev barely saw it fly past him.
An ace then settles things down for the Russian. And that serve is too hot for Nadal as well. 30-15.
Nadal works Medvedev around the court nicely but can’t finish it off as he places a volley into the net.
And that’s into the net as well from Nadal.
Five games in a row. Medvedev takes the first set with ease. 6-2.
Australian Open final: Nadal 2-5* Medvedev
One. Way. Traffic.
Australian Open final: Nadal *2-5 Medvedev
Medvedev making more than 80 per cent of his first serves. That’s a statistic even Nadal in his prime would have struggled to combat.
And the Spaniard starts his latest service game with a double fault. The first of the match.
Make that two double faults in a row! Nadal’s first serve percentage down at 50 already.
Nadal tries to finish Medvedev off with a forehand slice but the Russian is straight onto it as he passes the 20-time Slam champion with ease. Three more break points.
That’s long from Nadal too. Broken to love once more.
Australian Open final: Nadal 2-4* Medvedev
This time it’s Medvedev who calls for the ball girl to wipe his side of the court down. Not just Nadal sweating all over the place then.
Nadal makes a positive start after dropping his serve as he fires a brilliant forehand crosscourt which Medvedev can’t return over the net.
Not this time though. Nadal goes into the top of the net with a backhand. And an ace takes Medvedev 30-15 in front.
Another first serve from Medvedev - he has only had to use two second serves so far. 40-15 as Nadal fails to return inside the tramlines.
But Nadal fires in another sharp forehand which Medvedev has no answer to. 40-30.
Medvedev holds though. Nadal goes long with a forehand under pressure.
Australian Open final: Nadal 2-3* Medvedev
It’s all getting on top of Nadal already. Medvedev showing his class from the word go.
Australian Open final: Nadal *2-3 Medvedev
Nadal needs to find more first serves if he is going to avoid this constant Medvedev pressure.
The second seed takes the lead again on the Nadal serve with a lovely backhand down the line.
And he makes a brilliant hooked backhand as Nadal charges to the net! Unconventional but it dropped inside the line!
That backhand is long from Nadal. He can’t find a way through the brilliant defence of Medvedev. 0-40. Three break points.
Another wild backhand from Nadal and Medvedev breaks to love.
Australian Open final: Nadal 2-2* Medvedev
Commentators curse? Medvedev skews a forehand to hand Nadal a 0-15 lead.
Perhaps not. Two wild Nadal returns see Medvedev move in front. But a long forehand from the Russian then brings up 30-30.
Medvedev forces the issue with his powerful groundstrokes and Nadal can only hook the ball up and a couple of yards wide of the tramline.
And another ace seals the game for Medvedev. A much quicker hold than either of Nadal’s.
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