Nadal wins Australian Open for record 21st major title

Re Medvedev's "moments":

I've watched the comments he made after the Kyrgios match. If that counts as "having a go at the crowd", I'd give it a 3 out of 10 for intensity. No bad there from him, IMHO. 2nd round...no one has heard these moronic "sius", or whatever they are, at a tennis tournament before. They still sound like boos to me, and I'm a native English speaker. And if they're supposed to be supportive, why do them between his 1st & 2nd serves?? It can only mess with his concentration. Doesn't add up (i.e. pile of BS).

Yes, he gets a bit angry in the semi. Did he smash a water jug, like McEnroe did at Wimbledon? Maybe you don't remember watching McEnroe, but he was definitely worse than anything I've seen so far from Medvedev, and he was quickly forgiven (warmly so, in fact) time and again. I can't escape the conclusion that if Medvedev was from the US or UK, crowds would cut him a bit of slack, and at least offer some polite applause when he wins a great rally.

Medvedev killed his chances of crowd support when he had a go at the crowd in his winners speech after beating Kyrgios, then screamed at a chair umpire in the semi final as well as having a go at the ball kids. Such bad boy theatrics will ensure you get little crowd support against a fan favorite like Nadal who is always gracious during and after matches. If Daniil wants the support a vocal crowd can provide he needs to alter his behavior during games and emulate the greats by containing his temper.

The cheering after Medvedev double faulted was because Nadal won the point, not because Medvedev lost a point. It can be disheartening to have a crowd giving so much vocal support to your opponent, but Daniil was his own worst enemy and the Aussie crowd, though it can be forgiving afterwards as shown by the applause given to Medvedev's fine speech after the match, will generally be unforgiving during a match once the "bad boy" has been set loose at a number of points during a tournament.

Congratulations to champion Rafa Nadal and to challenger and runner-up Dan Medvedev. Well played.

Sounds like Nadal played a good match and tournament, pity he couldn’t have faced off against Novak like in a normal Grand Slam tournament!

Khaos @2.04

Good job Alex Hawke. Problem only being that Medvedev took up the arrogance mantle on his behalf.

Djokovic did absolutely nothing wrong, he was kicked out only because of fear from public opinion. Even Australian Court ruled that he did not break any law and can compete.

In any case, the person who has been the tournament's champion for most of the past 10 years wasn't allowed to play, for political reasons.

Nadal should be grateful to Alex Hawke for removing his greatest obstacle to becoming "GOAT".

Sorry to be picky, but he's Serbian, actually. Croats tend not to be too keen on Serbs (since the Serbian attacks of the 1990s).

The crowd were an embarrassment though. What did Medvedev do? Strangle someone's cat?

he got fined for being an ahole during the semi final. Australians hate drama queens, Australia just like Nada far more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH4R5HNq-6s

It's neither. Nadal played great and won a tournament. But this tournament wasn't Open to some players, including the defending champion. So, some even call it "Australia Closed"

certainly didnt looked closed during the final, it was packed. Australia was rooting for Nadal.

in the words of Rafa, "all he had to do was get the vaccine" Nadal 21 grandslam champion and currently GOAT lol

But Djokovic has a problem.

It's the easiest problem in the world to fix. Roll up his sleeve a couple of times, 3-4 weeks apart, and he's all set.

I really should have not spent 5 hours and a half on a Sunday evening watching tennis, but I could not leave the screen. As Mocheake, I was waiting to end in a short 3 sets affair, and Nadal doing all those unforced errors was painful to watch. And then, one of the greatest comebacks in a slam final! A great fight, congratulations to both players.

And yes, maybe they should stop selling alcohol at these events. This used to be a gentlemen's sport, don't let it go to the way of football.

@ Mocheake : I think you may have misudestood my original comment which was directed at @Khaos.

I fully disagreed with him and personally thought the whole tournament was excellent.

> KhaosToday 08:13 am JST

@theResident

> It's neither. Nadal played great and won a tournament. But this tournament wasn't Open to some players, including the defending champion. So, some even call it "Australia Closed".

It was open to all invited players who followed the rules and regulations. If it was closed to some players then it was because those players themselves closed the door by their selfish actions and they need to own that.

I was going to turn off my TV when he lost the second set after leading big. Glad I didn't. Medvedev played pretty well and seems to be an amicable guy and I loved his speech afterward but it has to really hurt being up that big and losing. Now Rafa's clear of Noshots Djokovic and Federer.

An amazing match - two great players, and one great champion. I really enjoyed this one.

However, Aussie fans once again embarrassed themselves on the world stage. They are by far the rudest fans among the 4 Slams. Of course they're going to support Rafa, but there was no need for the booing and harassment of Medvedev from the moment they stepped on the court. Yes, Medvedev harassed them back later, and they got worse. But the crowd was on his case from the beginning. All the shouting and jeering between 1st and 2nd serves... very poor form. Anyone who saw the mens' doubles final as well could see terrible behavior from the audience. One fan had to be thrown out for shouting during the service motions - and it was for an all-Aussie final! I'd be happy if they refused to sell beer during these events.

Great on a Rafa. He is deserving of the championship and the achievement. The men’s single’s AO tournament deserves the asterisk for their handing of Novak (also deserving of disqualification), but every sporting events have controversy and are better for it. Can’t wait for the French Open.

What a warrior! Great job Rafa.

The crowd were an embarrassment though. What did Medvedev do? Strangle someone's cat? He's not the first player to dispute a call or two. It's fine to support the other player more, but to boo him onto court? Cheer his double faults? Not a good look at all.

Searching for inspiration when he was down two sets and facing triple break point, with his prospects of winning a record 21st Grand Slam title almost shot, Rafael Nadal thought back to some of his most difficult defeats.

Well done Rafa, you are a deserving winner!

Records are meant to be broken. Congrats

from a Federer Fan

Ego: Sorry, but as of today it's Rafa 21 Fed 20 Joker 20 Sour grapes 1.

Man, after the first two sets even I was seeing the end. Well done, Rafa 'No Asterisk' Nadal.

@Khaos: Surely a joke or disrespect of the highest order.

This & other negative comments are just sour grapes.

we’ll put an asterisk next to your names

Khaos:

No tournament is open to players that refuse to abide by the Immigration rules of the country they will play in or as may be the case in other tournaments in the future, the rules of said tournament.

I suggest you go back over the years and look at not only defending champions but top seeds who have withdrawn from the Slams for various reasons. Does that make then any less valid?

Djokovic lied - that''s it at the end of the day. I'm disappointed he didn't play either but what sort of example would that set? How on earth do you think the residents of Victoria would have felt having endured (for right or wrong) an enormous amount of time under lockdown?

Amazing match - Amazing comeback.

So happy Nadal won!!

perhaps Djokobich should take the vaccine so he can play too!

Good boys finish first!

pmsl

And very good, just don't mention Operation Puerto and Dr Fuentes. But of course Nadal isn't the only one, out of competition testing in tennis is a joke.

@theResident

It's neither. Nadal played great and won a tournament. But this tournament wasn't Open to some players, including the defending champion. So, some even call it "Australia Closed".

He would be if he won a Grand Slam, but he won a Grand Sham. This tournament just doesn't count.

Many of the players disagree with that having stated during press conferences and interviews that most players enjoy the Australian open the most out of the four slams (see Danielle Collins runner up speech). It remains an awesome event and anyone who missed the Nadal fightback missed one of the greatest games of any grand slam ever.

Australia remains one of the best nations in the world at holding top level events. And for the time being, Nadal is the GOAT.

@Khaos: Surely a joke or disrespect of the highest order.

not the most flattering headline photo, but what an awesome tournament for "old" rafa. congrats on 21 and passing joke-ovic

A quintessential champion.

This tournament just doesn't count.

Only in the minds of the bitter.

Nadal is the Greatest Of All Time

He would be if he won a Grand Slam, but he won a Grand Sham. This tournament just doesn't count.

Congratulations on 21 Rafa!!!

Best comeback I have ever seen! You can never count out the greats. To do what he did, for over 5 hours, at 10 years older than his opponent is phenomenal. Medvedev played a great game but mentally just wasnt at GOATs level. Cursing ballkids, the umpire and fans was a telltale sign he was losing it. Rafa just stays calm and held his nerve.

Lets hope Rafa can go on for a few more years, what a champion!!! Vamos!!