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On Sunday, Rafael Nadal became the first man to win 21 Grand Slam titles. The Spanish phenomenon made a sensational comeback against Daniil Medvedev in the final of the Australian Open 2022. The former world number 1 looked doomed when he found himself two sets down, but he found a way to crack the certainties of the younger opponent and lift his second trophy in Melbourne Park.
The Spanish champion is one of only four players capable of winning all the Grand Slams at least twice, adding to absolute myths of the caliber of Novak Djokovic, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson. "I don't mind being considered the greatest ever" - said the 35-year-old from Manacor with the trophy next to him.
“There have been very hard moments during the last six months, I fought a lot to get back on the pitch. I don't care if I'm the best in history or not. It's all about enjoying evenings like this. " Thanks to this success, Nadal overtook Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the all-time rankings of the Majors.
Rafael Nadal talks about Federer
"I'm gonna tell Roger Federer in private, no? I wasn't able yet, to answer but yeah it means a lot to me, no? We have an amazing relationship. We did amazing things together, for me it's a huge honor to be part of his era," the World No.
5 said. "Together I think we lived amazing moments of the history of our sport. And you know, receiving this message from him means a lot to me, no?" The Spaniard then extended his best wishes to Federer, who is himself battling a serious knee injury at the moment.
"I wish him well, he knows, I really hope we will be able to play again in important stages." Towards the end of the interview, Rafael Nadal insisted that he was uncertain about whether he could win the title prior to arriving in Melbourne.
"I never thought I'm gonna have a chance again to enjoy like this... have been impossible to imagine a day like this few years ago, so. I think I worked hard, all my team and family were next to me supporting me during these hard times.
I was not ready for a match like this, at all. Was a big surprise, the most unexpected of my tennis career. But yeah, very very special," he concluded. Tennis stars Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have certainly carried the sport forward to supreme heights.
These athletes have been in top form for close to two decades and have given the ATP Tour an unprecedented era of dominance.
