Rafael Nadal beats Medvedev in epic Australian Open final to claim 21st slam

Rafael Nadal has claimed a men’s record 21st grand slam title, producing an extraordinary fightback to defeat Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in an epic Australian Open final.

With most of the pre-game focus on Nadal’s bid for history, his Russian opponent dominated the first set on Rod Laver Arena. Nadal saved two break points in a long third game but was then broken to love in the fifth, before successive double faults from the Spaniard allowed Medvedev to serve out the set 6-2.

Nadal grew into the contest in the second set and had a set point at 5-3 but Medvedev fought back, breaking in a marathon ninth game to set up a tie-break. The No 2 seed sealed a 7-5 success in the breaker with a backhand pass, before taunting the largely pro-Nadal crowd.

Medvedev looked the stronger player early in the third set, and earned three break points in the fifth game – only for Nadal to fight back and hold serve. The 2009 champion then claimed a crucial break in the ninth game, clinching it with a trademark backhand down the line as he to cut the gap to 2-1 in sets.

The two players exchanged breaks early in the fourth set, before Medvedev saved six points in a pivotal fifth-game battle – only for Nadal to convert the seventh with a cross-court winner. Nadal had to dig deep to deny Medvedev a break in the eighth game, then had a set point saved in the ninth as the match passed the four-hour mark.

The No 6 seed was unfazed, holding serve to love and setting up a decider – and moved in front with a winner down the line to break in the fifth game. Nadal, a beaten finalist four times in Melbourne, had his first chance to serve it out at 5-4 – but suffered a double fault and time violation warning as Medvedev broke back.

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