TENNIS - Has he become the famous "GOAT", the greatest tennis player of all time? In any case, it will be increasingly difficult to deny Rafael Nadal this symbolic title. Because on Sunday 30 January, the Spaniard wrote a new page in his legend and in that of the sport.
Trailing two sets to nil, the current world number 6 finally toppled Daniil Medvedev to win in five sets and over five hours (2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5) in the final of the Australian Open.
This second title in Melbourne (he won the first in 2009) is not just another victory for Rafa. Above all, at 35, it is his 21st Grand Slam title. That's no mean feat, as it's one more than Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, both of whom rival him for the famous nickname of GOAT. Both reacted to their rival's victory. On Instagram, the Swiss praised the "incredible work ethic, commitment and fighting spirit" of his "friend", while on Twitter the Serb hailed his rival's "impressive fighting spirit".
Impossible is not Nadal
Having arrived in Australia after several months' absence through injury, Rafael Nadal also contracted Covid just before his departure for Melbourne. This relieved him of the pressure that had gripped Djokovic in the final of the US Open last September, when he had the chance to win the Grand Slam.
After two easy opening rounds, the Mallorca native gradually came into his own in the tournament. But we were still wondering how he would react in long five-set matches. He provided the first clue in the quarter-finals, getting the better of Denis Shapovalov. However, in this final, when he was 2-0 down and had three break points to save in the 3rd set, it was hard to imagine him reversing the situation.
But impossible is definitely not in his vocabulary. And in a breathtaking end to the match, Rafael Nadal concluded on his first match point to become the greatest (at least in the Grand Slam).
Text by huffingtonpost.fr
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