Rafael Nadal savours record-breaking 21st title following retirement fears

Rafael Nadal sits proudly atop the men’s tennis tree after producing the most astonishing feat of his glittering career.

The 35-year-old fought back from two sets down to defeat Daniil Medvedev and win a record 21st grand slam title at the Australian Open.

Nadal’s 2-6 6-7 (5) 6-4 6-4 7-5 victory moves him clear of his great rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the most successful male player in grand slam history.

Both men congratulated him on social media having missed their own chances to reach 21. Djokovic felt the weight of history so heavily that he was unable to produce anything like his best in the US Open final against Medvedev last summer.

Nadal, though, takes a different approach, with his place in the pantheon of tennis less important than the chance simply to experience another glorious night, especially after he feared his career may be over as recently as six weeks ago because of a chronic foot problem.

He said: “Of course, for me it’s amazing to achieve another grand slam at this moment of my career. I know it’s a special number, 21. It’s a big significance, this title.

“I feel honoured. I feel lucky to achieve one more very special thing in my tennis career. I don’t care much if I am the one or not the one, or the best of the history, not the best of the history.

“For me it’s about enjoying nights like today. That means everything for me. It means even more to achieve the second Australian Open more than any other thing.”

It was a fittingly epic way for Nadal to achieve such a feat, the Spaniard fighting back from two sets down to win a match for the first time in nearly 15 years and finally wrapping up victory at 1.11am after five hours and 24 minutes.

That made it the second longest grand slam