By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, January 30, 2022
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder on the podium, Daniil Medvedev and Rafael Nadal were at opposite ends of the emotional spectrum after a fierce Australian Open final.
Rallying from two sets down, Nadal out-dueled Medvedev 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 to capture a men’s record 21st Grand Slam title in an epic and astounding Australian Open final.
More: Nadal Wins Record 21st Major Crown
While Nadal embraced the ecstasy of his greatest comeback, Medvedev reflected on the agony of coming achingly close to making history of his own as the first man to win a Grand Slam in his next even after capturing a maiden major.
"Was a huge match," Medvedev said. "Rafa played unreal. Raised his level. I mean, two sets to love up, I was like, C'mon, just go for him, go for more.
"In fifth set, I was like make him run. He was unreal. He was really strong, like the way he played, at four hours I was even surprised. But, of course, we know how Rafa can play. He didn't play for six months. He told me after the match that he didn't practice so much. It was unreal."
Reflecting on a wounding defeat, Medvedev said Nadal's ability to elevate at critical stages, the raucous crowd that energized the Spaniard and his own missed opportunities were keys to his five hour, 24-minute downfall.
"Tactically nothing changed. I feel like I was playing right," Medvedev told the media in Melbourne. "But Rafa stepped up. The only thing, that physically was a little bit up and down, and yeah, he was I think stronger than me physically today. Like starting from the third set, there were some shots and points where I was a little bit on the back foot, let's call it like this. And Rafa takes control of these moments.
"But again, yeah, have to work harder."
The overwhelmingly pro-Nadal crowd, which erupted in the wave at one point, and a few unruly fans who whistled between Medvedev's first and second serve presented audible obstacles for the US Open champion.
"Before Rafa serves even in the fifth set, there would be somebody, and I would even be surprised, like one guy screaming, C'mon, Daniil. A thousand people would be like, Tsss, tsss, tsss," Medvedev said. "That sound. Before my serve, I didn't hear it. It's disappointing. It's disrespectful, it's disappointing. I'm not sure after 30 years I'm going to want to play tennis."
Still, the 25-year-old Medvedev, who trash talked opponents including Maxime Cressy, during the tournament, berated a chair umpire during his semifinal win over Stefanos Tsitsipas and engaged fans with sarcastic gestures tonight, didn't let negative emotion cost him the match.
One reason Medvedev is so exciting to watch is because he can be so real, raw and unfiltered on court.
During his inspired run to the 2019 US Open final where he fought ferociously from two sets down to force Nadal to a fifth set, Medvedev completely won over tough New York City fans with his candor and competitiveness. In Melbourne, facing one of the most popular champs in history, his sometime love-hate relationship with the fans made the fight with Nadal that much tougher as Medvedev found himself fighting battles on multiple fronts agains both Nadal and some fans.
In the end, Medvedev, who hit more winners, more aces and won more points in the match than Nadal, showed his respect for the 21-time Grand Slam champion and earned major respect for his efforts.
"The way he managed to play throughout all these sets, even in the tough moments, for him it's for making the history," Medvedev said. "Even for sure he tries not to think about this, it must have been somewhere in his head.
"Huge respect. Yeah, huge respect for beating me because I tried my best. I really tried."
Photo credit: Getty