After his semi-final win over Matteo Berrettini on Friday, Rafael Nadal will play against Daniil Medvedev for his 21st Major title on Sunday. He surprised himself with the final qualification in Melbourne.
After a long period of suffering, Rafael Nadal can become the sole record holder with the most Grand Slam titles.
Rafael Nadal is one of the controlled players on the ATP tour. Outbursts of emotion and even anger are rare. His longtime sponsor and challenger Toni Nadal taught him respect for his opponents and the game as such. But early Friday evening Melbourne time there was no stopping the Spaniard. After his four-set win over Italian Matteo Berrettini, he celebrated as if he hadn’t won a match but the tournament. Shortly thereafter, he cried out his relief into his tennis bag.
Emotional images of an emotional journey
They were emotional images of an emotional journey that carried Nadal into the 29th Grand Slam final, the first since the 2020 French Open. In between there is a foot injury, months of therapy and the fear that his great career would end like this. After the match he said: «A month and a half ago I wasn’t able to play tennis. I had to get through some challenging moments, had some difficult days where I didn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.” More than once he has also grappled with the idea that this could now be the end of his career.
Instead, on Sunday he has the chance to write tennis history twice. As only the second player after Novak Djokovic, he could win all four Grand Slam tournaments at least twice. And more importantly, with a win in Melbourne, he would leave the Serbs and Roger Federer behind with his 21st major title and thus statistically become the most successful player in Grand Slam history.
The last hurdle will be Daniil Medvedev, who beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 7: 6, 4: 6, 6: 4, 6: 1 in the second emotional semi-final, giving him the chance a good four months after his first big one Victory at the US Open in New York to win the second major title. In the second set, Medvedev insulted the chair umpire, who, in his opinion, did too little against the obvious coaching of Tsitsipas’ father Apostolos.
Daniil Medvedev complains to the referee about Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Not for the first time, however, Medvedev drew strength from a controversy and improved significantly after the incident. For him, the final becomes a double déjà vu. In 2019 he lost his first major final against Nadal at the US Open, but involved him in a nerve-wracking five-seater.
Just like a few months ago in New York, Medvedev now faces another opponent in Melbourne on Sunday who has the chance to win the 21st major title. On the pitch he said: ‘I suppose last time Rafa was watching on TV. I have no idea who he has his fingers crossed for. Now I assume that Novak will also watch us in two days.”
The 25-year-old Russian was in the final in Melbourne a year ago. With a win on Sunday, he can lay the foundation for replacing Djokovic at the top of the world rankings on February 21. He is the strongest player of the moment and also the favorite in the final.
Nadal already a winner
But regardless of the outcome of the last match, Nadal is one of the winners in Melbourne. At the age of 35 and after countless setbacks and injuries, he no longer primarily plays against his competitors, but against his own body. The Spaniard was diagnosed with Müller-Weiss syndrome in 2005, a rare foot disease in which parts of the scaphoid bone die off spontaneously. At that time it was said that he could no longer play tournaments. Only special shoe inserts and countless treatments could save his career.
The diagnosis was the prelude to a long list of injuries and physical ailments. But contrary to all forecasts, he has since won 20 major tournaments and 69 other tournaments. But he always had to take breaks. Most recently, he broke off the season last August and took some time off. The type of therapy he underwent is unclear. Nadal did not comment on this, but once showed himself on crutches on social networks.
His coach Carlos Moya had said on Spanish television that the end of the season was inevitable. Nadal has been playing in pain for a long time, which is particularly significant on hard surfaces. A French doctor told the sports newspaper “L’Équipe” that the foot could be operated on. But it makes him stiff. The patient can still walk afterwards, but can no longer run.
Nadal’s career was on the brink for weeks. Then, when he got better and started preparing for the Australian Open, he fell ill with Corona in Abu Dhabi and had to pause again. Now an almost cheesy happy ending awaits him. But no matter how the Australian Open ends. Nadal says: “I’m fine with my tennis life, with my career.”
Melbourne. Australian Open. Grand Slam tournament (CHF 49.71 million/hard). Men, semi-finals: Daniil Medvedev (RUS/2) sees Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE/4) 7: 6 (7: 5), 4: 6, 6: 4, 6: 1. Rafael Nadal (ESP/6) sees Matteo Berrettini (ITA/7) 6: 3, 6: 2, 3: 6, 6: 3. – Final (on Sunday): Medvedev (2) – Nadal (6). — mixed doubles. Final: Kristina Mladenovic/Ivan Dodig (FRA/CRO/5) sees Jaimee Fourlis/Jason Kubler (AUS) 6:3, 6:4.