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MALLORCA-BORN whizz-kid Rafael Nadal is officially the best tennis player since the game was invented: At 35 and with an injured foot, he has become the first man on earth to win 21 Grand Slam titles.
Only three women are still ahead of him – Margaret Court, with 24; Serena Williams with 23 and Steffi Graf with 22.
Already, Rafa holds the record for the most Roland Garros wins in the Open era, with 13 tournaments at the Paris stadium under his belt – and another two would see him with more victories at the venue than anyone else in history.
Now, his epic win after a punishing five-hour final against an up-and-coming player 10 years his junior has left Nadal physically wiped out, but with his name permanently scribed into tennis history, guaranteeing his immortality.
The Australian Open victory has also entered the Guinness Book of Records for the second-longest final at five hours and 24 minutes, as well as giving Rafa one Grand Slam title more than his two biggest and best rivals, Novak Djoković and Roger Federer, with 20.
In fact, Nadal was also one of the players in the longest-ever final yet recorded, also at the Australian Open, in 2012, at five hours and 53 minutes, against Djoković – although that time, he lost.
From two sets down to victory: Nadal last did that when he was 21
Daniil Medvedev, 25, would have been forgiven for thinking he had the Melbourne tournament in the bag, given that his Spanish rival was still grappling with unhealed injuries and lost the first two sets to the younger player.
But from 2-6 6-7 down, Rafa's explosive comeback showed it is never worth relaxing even for a split second when you're up against this shy, self-deprecating and unassuming man from Manacor, not even if it looks as though you're going to walk it.
And not even if you're up against a player who has not won the Australian Open since 2009, as is the case with Nadal – his gruelling ordeal in the south-eastern State of Victoria gave him only the second title in this tournament of his entire career.
And he has only ever come back from being two sets down on three occasions in his professional life – all of which were when he was much younger.
Indeed, the last time Rafa won a match after losing the first two sets was when he was 21, against Mikhail Youzhny at Wimbledon in 2007.
Curiously, the second time in 14 years Nadal managed to haul himself back from the brink this way was also against a Russian player.
Even then, it was closely-fought, with Medvedev and Nadal ending on 2-6 6-7(5-7) 6-4 6-4 7-5.
Chronic foot pain and convalescing from Covid...but still unstoppable
Rafa was seeded sixth, and after months with no major competition – in the final seven months of last year, he played in just one, and in the past five, only in a warm-up event at the Australian Open venue – the mere fact he was able to enter was, for Nadal, a bonus.
He had been seriously concerned that his ongoing left-foot pain would force him out of the sharp end of the sport for another season, if not altogether – and having been ill with Covid barely a month and a half ago, complete with fever and feeling very unwell, Rafa would not have shocked his mammoth international fan base if he had crashed out in one of the earliest rounds.
Rafa told reporters he was 'physically destroyed' after his extreme performance – and even asked for a chair for the trophy presentation as he was unable to stand for another second longer.
“Amazing!”: Federer and Djoković praise their biggest rival
Fellow world-class players Roger Federer and Novak Djoković have both sent congratulatory messages and waxed lyrical about one of their most-feared rivals.
Federer wrote on Instagram: “What a match!
“To my friend and great rival Rafael Nadal, heartfelt congratulations on becoming the first man to win 21 Grand Slam singles titles,” the Swiss legend said.
“A few months ago we were joking about both being on crutches. Amazing. Never underestimate a great champion.
“Your incredible work ethic, dedication and fighting spirit are an inspiration to me and countless others around the world. I am proud to share this era with you and honoured to play a rôle in pushing you to achieve more, as you have done for me for the past 18 years.
“I am sure you have more achievements ahead, but for now, enjoy this one!”
Djoković wrote: “Congratulations Rafael Nadal for 21 Grand Slams. Amazing achievement. Always impressive fighting spirit that prevailed another time. Enhorabuena ['congratulations' in Spanish].
“Daniil Medvedev gave it his all out there and played with the passion and determination we have come to expect from him.”
The Serbian number one, who was unable to play in Melbourne as he was deported due to not having had a Covid vaccine, also praised the women's Australian Open champion on Twitter: “Congratulations to Ashleigh Barty for an amazing performance in front of her home crowd and to Danielle Collins for an incredible tournament,” Djoković wrote.
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