Rafael Nadal Plays Daniil Medvedev In Historic Aussie Open Final
Australian Open
January 28, 2022
Rafael Nadal stands on the brink of history in Melbourne, just weeks after thinking he might have to quit tennis.
But Daniil Medvedev is determined to spoil the party and keep Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic happy.
Incredibly Nadal, Federer and Djokovic all have 20 Grand Slam titles. But Rafa will edge ahead if he wins Sunday’s final.
Mischievous Medvedev feels he will have Novak and Roger on his side for the Australian Open showpiece.
And later this year, Wimbledon 2022 could well be the ultimate decider in the battle of the giants.
If the much-loved Federer doesn’t win Wimbledon 2022, it seems unlikely he will ever win another Slam.
So Wimbledon 2022 could make or break him in the race to become the greatest of all time in the record books.
But Novak remains very much in the hunt for all-time supremacy, despite his absence from the Australian Open action.
And if Nadal beats Medvedev in Australia, Djokovic will be even more desperate to strike back at Rafa at Wimbledon 2022.
But let’s not forget what could happen in between those two Grand Slam events.
Further French Open glory for Nadal could then put him two majors ahead of Djokovic.
Alternatively Novak could prevail in Paris and then the pair could be level-pegging going into Wimbledon 2022!
Medvedev is convinced he can leave the GOAT race as a three-way tie indefinitely. He just hopes to keep on winning the big titles now as he reaches his peak.
Daniil said: ‘Rafa was probably supporting me when I beat Novak in the US Open final and now Novak will probably be supporting me against Rafa here in Melbourne. I might hear from Roger Federer afterwards too.’
It’s all so deliciously poised that the situation seems scarcely believable. Rafael Nadal is such a great gladiator and now he can almost touch history.
Wimbledon 2022 will arguably become the biggest the winner – because the all-time-greats will likely fight it out there for the very last time as a trio.
There is no greater or more suitable stage than Wimbledon for these epic arguments to be decided once and for all.
Just when we thought our beautiful sport couldn’t get any more mesmerising, we have history unfolding before our eyes.
Nadal was first to reach the Australian Open final with a superb display against Matteo Berrettini.
Rafa was totally dominant for the first two sets and played like a man ten years younger.
Berrettini hit back in the third but seemed to lack the self-belief to maintain momentum.
So the older man cruised through 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 with plenty left in the tank.
Nadal could then start to rest for what is arguably the biggest match so far in his long and illustrious career.
Some thought Stefanos Tsitsipas looked strong enough in the previous rounds to give a jaded Medvedev a serious problem.
But Daniil took the first-set breaker before going into meltdown when he felt his opponent’s father was coaching from the stands.
Medvedev admitted that his tantrum probably cost him the second set because of the negative energy he created.
But Tsitsipas ultimately received a coaching code violation and probably lost some of his intensity as a result.
Medvedev eventually triumphed 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 after his complaints were vindicated.
And now we have a classic final and an irresistible clash of generations.
Nadal and Medvedev are perfectly matched. We can’t wait!
How it all makes us long for Wimbledon 2022 – the greatest Grand Slam of them all!
That won’t stop us enjoying the climax to the Australian Open first.
Can the wonderful Rafael Nadal land his twenty-first Grand Slam title?
Or will the relentless and eccentric Medvedev take revenge for his 2019 US Open final defeat to the Spaniard at last?
It’s going to be a thriller. And in a few months Wimbledon 2022 will provide even more drama and history.
Will you be there?
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