2022 Australian Open - Day Fourteen
Men’s Singles final:
Rafael Nadal (6) (Spain) v Daniil Medvedev (2) (Russia)
Nadal had won heaps of majors, but only one Australian Open, and that was way back in 2009.
Still, one more than Medvedev, whose best effort was as a finalist last year when obliterated by Djokovic, a fate similarly suffered by Nadal in 2019.
Medvedev won the 2021 US Open, his maiden major, in doing so spoiling the Grand Slam plans of Djokovic, and if he played his cards right he could spoil Nadal’s plans to overtake Roger and Novak in the progressively boring GS numbers game.
Nadal defeated Medvedev in the 2019 US Open, and on two other occasions, but Medvedev won their last contest - semis of the 2020 ATP Finals in London.
Final:
The first four games were shared, but Nadal struggled, needing trips to deuce in both his service games.
In game five, he was broken to love, winners from Medvedev the catalyst.
Game seven saw a pair of double faults from the sixth seed lead to another love game and Medvedev breaking for 5-2.
The #2 seed clinically served out the set 6-2.
Nadal steadied, and in set two was the first to break serve. It was in the fourth game, and after some Medvedev errors and a Nadal winner, two break points were produced. One was saved with an ace, but a failed backhand confirmed the loss of serve.
Medvedev retrieved the break in game seven, only to have Nadal snatch back the advantage immediately the next game.
Nadal served for the set at 5-3, saved four break points, saw one set point vanish, and eventually lost serve with the fifth break opportunity offered Medvedev.
A tie break arrived, and Nadal earned a 5-3 lead. Medvedev then forced the sixth seed into error, and levelled at 5-5.
Two forehand winners granted Medvedev the set 7-6(5) and a two sets to love lead.
Medvedev began set three with a game of six deuces, five wasted game points, and a break point saved thanks to Nadal messing up a forehand.
Then things settled down until the sixth game where Nadal had issues.
Down 0-40 he saved all three of the break points and ultimately held for 3-3.
At 4-4, Nadal, with assistance from his backhand, broke the Medvedev serve, and would serve for the set.
Three forehands and one backhand all were winners, and these comprised a love game for Nadal. He won the set 6-4.
In set four, Nadal broke Medvedev in game three, and Medvedev broke straight back.
Game five was elongated to say the least. Medvedev was down 0-40, saved the three break points to arrive at deuce, then had to save another three break points. He wasn’t able to save a seventh, and Nadal moved ahead 3-2.
Nadal faced two break points in the eighth game but saved them both. Forehand winners and an ace rocketed him to 5-3.
Medvedev served to stay in the set, and from 30-15, Nadal’s backhand produced two successive winners and a set point.
It was saved. Medvedev held on, but Nadal would serve at 5-4 to take the match into a fifth set.
A love game, Nadal’s set 6-4, and a fifth set required.
Three aces from Medvedev in the opening game of the final set, and he still had to save a break point along the way.
As in set four, Nadal broke Medvedev in game five, and led 3-2. Writing on the wall now for Medvedev who had found it difficult to make an impact on the Spanish serve. And too many unforced errors at critical times off the Russian racquet.
Chances actually did come in the sixth game, but Medvedev couldn’t capitalise on the three break points that materialised, and Nadal stood firm.
4-2 and the end so close.
Nadal served at 5-4 for the match.
At 30-15, Nadal double faulted. Then Medvedev hit a forehand winner and created a break back point. Nadal was broken with an unforced error.
5-5.
Unforced errors cost Medvedev in the next game. He saved two break points, but not a third, and he gave Nadal another chance to serve for the match.
This time Nadal served it out.
Rafa Nadal won the 2022 Australian Open 2-6 6-7(5) 6-4 6-4 7-5
