GRITTIEST OF ALL TIME

Rafael Nadal dropped down on his knees, face buried in the palm of his hands .

- Prajwal.Hegde

 

Rafael Nadal dropped down on his knees, face buried in the palm of his hands . He stayed in that position for a few seconds, perhaps in appreciation of a turf that had finally yielded, after four losses in the title round. Then he rose, much like he had at the halfway mark of the final, and turning to a screaming full house, he let their applause wash over him.

After five hours and 24 minutes, of what Nadal called the biggest comeback of his storied career — down two sets-to-love and a stray forehand away from falling behind by a break in the third — the 35-year-old scripted a stunning turnaround to score a 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 win over world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev.

For Nadal, it was a record-breaking 21st major title, that put him ahead of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, and also his second Australian Open crown that placed him in an elite club of players who have won each of the four Grand Slams at least twice.