Rafael Nadal fights back after Daniil Medvedev wins the first two sets of the Australian Open final, with the Spaniard becoming the first male player to win 21 grand slam singles titles.
Nadal moved ahead of rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer with his 2-6, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 win over Russia's world number two, which lasted almost five-and-a-half hours on Rod Laver Arena.
After the match he said the victory may have given him the energy to return next year after earlier contemplating making this his farewell to Melbourne Park.
"I am going to keep trying my best to keep coming next year," he said.
Look back at how the men's singles final unfolded in our live blog.
Key events
Live updates
By Paul Johnson
Nadal casts doubt on his playing future
Rafael Nadal thought this may have been his last Australian Open and as little as six weeks ago feared he would never be back on the ATP Tour.
Such was the effect of his own battle with COVID-19 and a debilitating foot injury, that he has battled with throughout this tournament.
That the 35-year-old managed to come back from two sets to love down for just the third time in his career to win a record 21st grand slam men's singles title is a testament to his fitness and drive.
But Nadal said post match he thought this trip to Australia may well have been his final one as a player, in a statement that shows just how close the 'King of clay' might be to the end of his storied career.
As he was presented with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after joining Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and Novak Djokovic to be one of just four men to have won each major twice, Nadal spoke of his emotion and what the victory meant to him.
"It has been one of the most emotional matches of my tennis career and to share the court with you is just an honour," Nadal said to vanquished world number 2 Daniil Medvedev.
"A month-and-a-half ago I didn't know if I would be back on the tour playing tennis again and today I am here in front of all of you having this trophy with me and you don't know how much I fought to be here."
Nadal went on to speak about some of his lower moments in the past 18 months and his battle with injuries before he thanked Australian tennis fans and his team for the "love" and support he had received before he dropped somewhat of a bombshell.
"I will say maybe there is a chance that this is my last Australian Open, but now I have energy to keep on going," Nadal said.
"I really can't explain the feelings that I have right now, but I am going to keep trying my best to keep coming next year."
Medvedev seemed to think Nadal would have no such troubles and was amazed at the level of fitness the future Hall of Famer displayed as the five-set epic wore on.
"It was insane," Medvedev said of the match and Nadal's performance.
"I think the level was very high.
"You raised your level after two sets for the 21st grand slam."
"I thought he is going to get tired and maybe he did just a little, but still won the match."
Medvedev then added he thought the two would have more matches in their future.
"You are an amazing champion. I think we have a good rivalry still and it is not over yet."
By Paul Johnson
That's a wrap
A big thank you for everyone who stopped by to read or leave a comment on what was an enthralling night but also an extremely entertaining Australian Open.
Ash Barty and Rafael Nadal both made history on a brilliant weekend of tennis.
Until next time... "good afternoon, good evening and goodnight".
By Paul Johnson
Nadal wins record 21st grand slam men's singles title in epic
Rafael Nadal has won his second Australian Open title and record 21st grand slam singles title after coming from two sets to love down to defeat Russia's Daniil Medvedev in a five-set epic.
Nadal claimed the match 2-6, 6-7 (7/5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in front of an adoring crowd on Rod Laver Arena, who cheered the comeback from the Spanish great, in a match that evoked memories of his 2022 marathon against Novak Djokovic.
The first time Nadal tried to close the match out at 5-4 he faltered, when he broke Medvedev again for a 6-5 lead Nadal held to love and claimed his record-breaking moment with a backhand volley.
The title in Melbourne comes 13 years after his first here, when he defeated his great rival Roger Federer in 2009.
Djokovic and Federer the two men Nadal has for now separated himself from in terms of grand slam success. His 21st title lifting him above the pair, who remain tied on 20.
On Sunday night Nadal created history with a comeback he has not made since 2007 at Wimbledon.
Before this performance only twice in his illustrious career had Nadal come back from 2 sets to 0 down to claim victory.
He was 2 for 12 in that scenario lifetime.
They were both the victories of a much younger man, both on grass and in the second and fourth rounds of Wimbledon in 2006 and 2007.
The first came against journeyman American Robert Kendrick, the second against Russia's former top-10 player Mikhail Youzhny.
This one against another Russian but a grand slam winner in his own right in Medvedev.
And early on it was a match in which Nadal did not look like he had a chance.
Medvedev had perplexed Nadal with an array of off pace groundstrokes followed up by some brutal backhand winners hit at high speed.
And as a result Nadal could not find the rhythm he usually has. The unforced errors flowed, first off the backhand but then the forehand, the vicious weapon Nadal has destroyed countless opponents with over the years deserted him.
He shanked some off the frame and and even gave up a lead in the second set tiebreak with some timid tennis to fall two sets behind.
Then midway through the 3rd set, Nadal was on the canvas — down two sets to love and triple break point while serving at 2-3.
If he was a boxer he would have been given a standing eight count.
But Nadal steeled himself and saved those along with a couple others in a game that proved a turning point.
From there things began to go downhill at a rate for Medvedev as Nadal roared back into the match.
Medvedev struggled to let the lost opportunity go and sought some pickle juice from the trainer, to try and ward off cramp, for what would turn into a 5 hour, 24 minute epic.
It was almost as if Medvedev was resigned to his fate.
Medvedev held for 4-3 but he was busy complaining to chair umpire John Blom about how the ball kids distributed the Dunlops between them.
It was a true sign he was losing his grip in front of a crowd who have treated him like a villain ever since he beat Nick Kyrgios on this very court in round two.
When Nadal broke him for 5-4 in the third set, Medvedev spent the change of ends complaining to Blom about the crowd.
Nadal focussed on closing out the set and did.
Momentum had shifted.
While the third set was the turning point mentally the fourth set was the physical embodiment of that.
The match got extremely physical and Nadal, a chiselled specimen even at 35 years of age grew in stature, routinely testing Medvedev's fitness and resolve by using an array of drop shots and massive forehands to pull Medvedev all over the court.
The Russian was wilting and receiving treatment from the physio as the pair traded service breaks early in the set.
But when Nadal broke on his seventh chance in the fifth game of the fourth set it proved a decisive moment.
Nadal held firm to take the set as both players went off court for fresh clothes in a break that seemed like it lasted longer than the allotted 5 minutes.
Come the 5th both seemed rejuvenated, even if the physicality of the match had taken its toll.
And when Nadal broke Medvedev for a 3-2 lead it seemed he might have it.
But Medvedev to his credit never gave up.
He made inroads on every Nadal service game but could not get the break as Nadal's grit and desire shone through.
And when Nadal got to 30-0 when serving for the championship at 5-4 it seemed academic, only for an unexpected double fault to let Medvedev back in and the world number 2 pounced to break, such was his mettle.
Howevr Nadal then broke back for 6-5, and did not make the same mistake again, as he collapsed to the court in a celebration of history.
By Paul Johnson
Nadal breaks for 6-5
This is ridiculous tennis.
Back and forth we go.
Nadal gets 0-15, Medvedev hits two absolute bombs of serves for an ace and a cheap point for 3015.
Nadal then chases down a drop shot and makes a one-handed backhand pass.
Forehand error from Medvedev gives Nadal break point, backhand error from Nadal on that makes it Deuce.
Nadal then rips a massive forehand up the line for another break point.
Huge serve from Medvedev sends it back to Deuce.
Nadal again forces a Medvedev error for break point.
Medvedev sends a forehand long as Nadal breaks
By Paul Johnson
Medvedev breaks back.
Unbelievable scenes.
Nadal had 30-0 in that game.
Then at 15-30 he double faulted.
And at 30-40 as the chair umpire gave him a time violation warning on break point of all things Nadal faltered and netted a backhand as Medvedev stayed in this one.
By Paul Johnson
Nadal will have to serve this out
Medvedev holds for 4-5 with one of the most nonchalant drop shots you will ever see.
Given the way the serve has gone this match, Medvedev has a chance here.
By Paul Johnson
Nadal holds for 5-3
Medvedev to his credit is not going away and pushing Nadal all the way here.
He holds from 40-30 - still this match remains at a high level.
By Paul Johnson
Medvedev holds to love
Nadal just taking big swings here as he looks to conserve energy.
Medvedev jogs to his chair.
By Paul Johnson
Medvedev pushing hard but Nadal holds
For a guy who looked gone during and at the end of the 4th set Daniil Medvedev has done wonderfully well to reset and refocus.
Right now he is throwing everything at Nadal who had 40-15 in this game and could not put the Russian away.
Similarly neither could Medvedev on his three break points as Nadal sent down some big serves when he needed them.
The slider to the backhand in the second court proving effective for Nadal as he got the errors he needed.
And the statistics backed it up as they showed Medvedev to be making just 60 per cent of returns this set compared to over 90 in the 4th.
Nadal again found the big shots when it mattered a backhand long from Medvedev and a big forehand followed by an overhead getting him the hold for 4-2.
By Paul Johnson
Yeah this is going long
For those who are asking we are 10 minutes from the 5-hour mark
How long have they been playing so far? It must be close to 5 hours.
-Sleepy head
Can’t believe this match is still going. Thank you for all the updates!!! What an exciting final this turned out to be!
-M
Rafa is certainly used to late nights on finals night. His final in 2012 against Djokovic ended at 1:37am. Hoping it's a different result for him tonight than it was that night
-Troy
By Paul Johnson
Nadal breaks
A massive forehand winner down the line gives the Spanish great a 3-2 lead.
He'd got there with the forehand too.
A pair of mammoth ones earlier in the game got him a break point but Medvedev slammed the door closed on that one with a huge serve.
Not the second and it will be interesting to see if this has totally broken the Russian.
By Paul Johnson
Nadal holds to love
Some big serves and Medvedev errors and it's 2-2.
Almost seems like these two guys are withholding their energy reserves for a long final set.
By Paul Johnson
Rafa nearly takes a ball kid's head off as Medvedev makes it 2-1
The Russian holds to love for a 2-1 lead in the 5th.
It was lucky one of the ball kids was alert too with Nadal dragged wide to return he hit one straight over one of the kids at the net and into the umpire's chair.
No malice, he was just late to it.
By Paul Johnson
Nadal holds for 1-1 amid some serious grunting
That grunting is from both players but ultimately a couple of unforced errors from Medvedev proved the difference there.
What was also interesting was that Medvedev looked to flatten out his forehand a couple of times and use more pace. It didn't quite work out but it was a tactical change.
By Paul Johnson
Medvedev holds for 1-0
A couple of big forehands from Nadal got him a break point there but Medvedev saved that with a huge serve.
He then produced mo0re of the same to hold for a 1-0 lead in the final set.
This is still high quality.
By Paul Johnson
This epic is going to the 5th set
Is Rafael Nadal human?
The Spaniard has dealt with heat stroke earlier in this tournament and looked gone at 2 sets to 0 and 3-2 down in the third, when facing triple break point.
But he rallied and now he has held serve to love to take the 4th set 6-4 and level the match at 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4.
Conversely it's hard to know what Daniil Medvedev has left in the tank.
The world number two has sucked down at least two bottles of pickle juice and been treated by the physio at the change of ends for what seems like cramp.
He's also routinely argued with chair umpire John Blom as the match went past 4 hours in that set, complaining about ballkids and the crowd.
While that's been happening Nadal has seemed to find some of his best tennis and looks stoic in comparison.
Nadal started the match making unforced errors all over the place — at one stage he led that stat 20-8.
In the 3rd and 4th set he cut those back and started hitting more winners.
What's even more amazing is that Nadal at 35 has not come back from 2 sets to 0 down since 2007, at Wimbledon, against another Russian Mikhail Youzhny.
Nadal was 22 then.
The toll this match has taken has seen both players go off court at the end of the 4th set as they get ready for a 5th that will either see Medvedev once again play the spoiler of history, as he did at the US Open last year against Novak Djokovic or Nadal will win a men's record 21st grand slam singles title.
Get set people, this one is an epic and one of the most enthralling grand slam finals I have ever seen.
By Paul Johnson
Questions about cramping treatment...
The answer is Medvedev can receive treatment at the change of ends for it, but only twice and he cannot have a medical timeout
Curious about Medvedev getting massaged during the break. Does this count as medical time out or could he get this treatment during every break? Seems a bit unfair if he could and it helps him get through the match.
-curious
The below is the official explanation from the ATP rulebook.
Muscle Cramping
A player may receive treatment for muscle cramping only during the time allotted
for changeovers and/or set breaks. Players may not receive a medical time-out
for muscle cramping. In cases where there is doubt about whether the player
suffers from an acute medical condition, non-acute medical condition inclusive of
muscle cramping, or non-treatable medical condition, the decision of the Physiotherapist, in conjunction with the tournament Doctor, if appropriate, is final. There
may be a total of two (2) full change of ends treatments for muscle cramping in a
match, not necessarily consecutive.
Note: A player who has stopped play by claiming an acute medical condition, but
is determined by the Physiotherapist and/or tournament Doctor to have muscle
cramping, shall be instructed by the Chair Umpire to resume play immediately.
If the player cannot continue playing due to severe muscle cramping, as determined by the Physiotherapist and/or tournament Doctor, he may forfeit the
point(s)/game(s) needed to get to a change of end or set-break in order to receive
treatment.
If it is determined by the Chair Umpire or Supervisor that gamesmanship was
involved, then a Code Violation for Unsportsmanlike Conduct could be issued.
By Paul Johnson
Medvedev holds for 4-5, saves set point
He faced a set point in that game.
Nadal had hit a ripping backhand winner down the line to give him set point but Medvedev saved it with a huge crosscourt backhand of his own that Nadal could do nothing with.
Nadal will serve for the set next.
By Paul Johnson
Nadal saves 2 break points for 5-3
What a save from Rafa.
He put himself down 15-40 with 3 unforced errors but saved one with a massive forehand winner, then Medvedev again missed a drop shot.
Nadal then served his way out of the game.
We're close to a 5th set
By Paul Johnson
Medvedev at the umpire again at the last change of ends
This was the exchange to John Blom from Medvedev, who is unsurprisingly upset about a crowd that are definitely not in his corner and haven't been since he beat Nick Kyrgios in round 2.
"Can you take control? Can you step up?" Medvedev said.
"Please it's not enough."
Could be me but the whole 'do your job' vibe to umpires rarely works.
But now as if on queue what Jim Courier is calling "manipulation" of the chair umpire Blom implores the crowd to keep quiet between serves as "it's extremely annoying to both players"
While that was happening the pair split some quick service holds and Nadal leads 4-3 with the break.
