Rafael Nadal secures 21st career Grand Slam after stunning Australian Open final comeback

Rafael Nadal won a record 21st career Grand Slam title by coming from two sets down to beat world No.2 Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling Australian Open final.

The 35-year-old recorded a 2-6, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 victory to pick up his second title in Melbourne and now sits top of the men’s all-time titles list having won one more than rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, who both sit on 20 Grand Slams.

Nadal, who’d spent six months out with a foot injury and wasn’t even sure if he’d play Down Under a few weeks ago, becomes the second man in the Open Era – and only the fourth man in history – to win each of the four Grand Slam tournaments twice, joining Djokovic, Roy Emerson and Rod Laver.

Nadal had to put in the performance of his life in order to beat Medvedev, and if you needed any confirmation this match would be a long one then Nadal’s opening service game of seven minutes was proof.

Medevedev had discussed how the pressure was more on his opponent in the lead up to the final and that was certainly evident in the early stages, the Russian winning eight straight points on Nadal’s serve to take a 5-2 lead.

That soon turned into five games in a row as Medvedev took the first set comfortably with Nadal yet to find his rhythm and struggling to cope with his opponent’s athleticism around the court.

Nadal’s devastating forehand that so often leaves the man on the other side of net unable to respond, was coming up against a 25-year-old returning his every ball and the Spaniard could be seen looking to his box for answers from his coaches at the start of the second set.

He wasn’t going to roll over though was he? Nadal set himself two break points after an incredible 40-shot rally ended with a stunning backhand drop shot and