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.