Tennis legends salute King Rafael Nadal after heroic win over Daniil Medvedev – Australian Open diary

All hail King Rafa It really seemed like the unlikeliest of victories, especially when Rafael Nadal was staring down a 0-40 deficit at 2-3 in the third set after dropping the opening two sets to Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final on Sunday. Ad/> The infamous “win predictor” showed up on screen and gave the Spaniard a 4% chance of defeating Medvedev. Australian Open'Not for a Russian' – Medvedev hints his nationality led to boos at Australian OpenAN HOUR AGO But Nadal did what he does best; he defied the odds and pulled off an astonishing comeback to overcome the world No.

2 in a five-hour 24-minute contest that earned him a men’s all-time record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title, just two months after he was contemplating retirement due to a chronic foot injury. Tributes poured in as the 35-year-old lifted his second Australian Open trophy – his first since 2009. Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, the two men Nadal has now surpassed in the race for Grand Slam supremacy, posted congratulatory messages on social media.

/> “A few months ago, we were joking about both being on crutches. Amazing. Never underestimate a great champion.

You incredible worth ethic, dedication and fighting spirit are an inspiration to me and countless others around the world,” said Federer, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since Wimbledon last year. Djokovic, a nine-time Australian Open champion, described Nadal’s victory as an “amazing achievement. Always impressive fighting spirit that prevailed another time”.