Reuters
Tennis β Australian Open β Menβs Singles Final β Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia β January 31, 2022 Spainβs Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning the menβs singles final with trophy REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
Reuters
Tennis β Australian Open β Menβs Singles Final β Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia β January 31, 2022 Spainβs Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning the menβs singles final with trophy REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
Rafael Nadal just made history by becoming the first man to win 21 Grand Slams. He defeated world No. 2, Daniil Medvedev, to cement his place in the history books. He won the extremely well-fought match 2-6, 6(5)-7, 6-4,6-4,7-5.
Watch Whatβs Trending Now!
Proud Papa β€οΈ#AusOpen β’ #AO2022 β’ @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/MFRYe6QTjs
β #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2022
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Twitter reacts to Rafael Nadalβs record
Former world No. 3 Stan Wawrinka who clearly had been following the match closely, said βI love tennis.βΒ He also tweeted about how intense the final has been! Friend and practice partner Diego Schwartzman was also quick to post.
Several other members of the ATP Tour poured in with their admiration for the 21-time Grand Slam winning champion on Twitter, applauding this impossible feat. David Ferrer, from Spain, has not only been Nadalβs teammate for the Davis cup, but he is also a close friend of the 21-time Grand Slam champion. He tweeted his thoughts too.
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What a final π₯πΎ@AustralianOpen @DaniilMedwed @RafaelNadal !!
β Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) January 30, 2022
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The best!! pic.twitter.com/T6x5yRJO6x
β David Ferrer (@DavidFerrer87) January 30, 2022
PARTIDAZO #AusOpen @RafaelNadal πβ€οΈ
β Guillermo Coria (@guillecoria) January 30, 2022
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What a weapon!! @RafaelNadal
β Thanasi Kokkinakis (@TKokkinakis) January 30, 2022
Blackjack @RafaelNadal #21 π
β Juan Ignacio Chela (@JuanIChela) January 30, 2022
βRAFA NADAL is officially GOAT.β This is a sentence no one in the world is going to disagree with.
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RAFA NADAL is officially GOATππππππππππππππ
β Kafelnikov Yevgeny (@KYevgeni) January 30, 2022
GREATEST. ATHLETE. OF. ALL. TIME.
β Nicolas Kiefer (@Nicolas_Kiefer) January 30, 2022
Dingue, surrΓ©aliste β¦#21 #humilitΓ© @RafaelNadal π±πΎπ₯
β Paul Henri Mathieu (@PHMofficiel) January 30, 2022
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No estaba muertoβ¦estaba de parranda πΆπΊ
β Pablo Cuevas (@PabloCuevas22) January 30, 2022
pheNAmeDAL π₯
β Sergiy Stakhovsky (@Stako_tennis) January 30, 2022
Several WTA stars also took to Twitter to congratulate Rafael Nadal on this record. Former world No. 1 Simona Halep, fellow Spaniard, Garbine Muguruza, semifinalist Madison Keys, and Alize Cornet to name only some.
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@RafaelNadal #GOAT π
Que grande eres!
π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π πβ GarbiΓ±e Muguruza (@GarbiMuguruza) January 30, 2022
Rafaaaaa ππ»
#21 @RafaelNadal
β Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) January 30, 2022
Unbelievable @RafaelNadal ππππππππππ wow wow πππͺπͺ
β Ons Jabeur (@Ons_Jabeur) January 30, 2022
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I just cried @RafaelNadal you are my idol π
β Alize Cornet (@alizecornet) January 30, 2022
21 Grand Slam titlesβ¦ Pure admiration for @RafaelNadal and his historic achievement ππ @AustralianOpen https://t.co/n7Vl9tIZFs
β Angelique Kerber (@AngeliqueKerber) January 30, 2022
Wow @RafaelNadal!!! What a legend. π #AusOpen
β Madison Keys (@Madison_Keys) January 30, 2022
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This final was sooo inspiring π₯Ίβ€οΈ wow so much respect for Rafa @AustralianOpen
β Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (@NastiaPav) January 30, 2022
what a match! Literally the best match Iβve ever watched live! Thanks for the ticket to Dasha (Daniilβs wife) I tried to support Dany as much as I could on Dashaβs behalf! Canβt believe I witnessed Rafa get his 21st! What a champion!!! π€π€π€ I love tennis!!
β Daria Saville (@Daria_gav) January 30, 2022
Raaaafaaaa!! Fenomenalny, niesamowity, szacun. @RafaelNadal @AustralianOpen #Respect
β Aga Radwanska (@ARadwanska) January 30, 2022
Sorry but Iβm crying
β Daria Kasatkina (@DKasatkina) January 30, 2022
Retired greats like Kim Clijsters, Andy Roddick, Chris Evert, and Rod Laver also tweeted congratulating Rafa. They also mentioned how great Medvedev had been in the match. Clijsters mentioned a different perspective by calling Marc Lopez, Rafaβs long-time partner and the newest addition to his coaching team, as the luck charm.
Marc Lopez is his good luck charm !!! What an amazing final !β€οΈπ¦πΊπΎπ @RafaelNadal
β Kim Clijsters (@Clijsterskim) January 30, 2022
Wow. Congrats @RafaelNadal ! An absolute pleasure to watch
β andyroddick (@andyroddick) January 30, 2022
VIVA RAFAEL NADAL !!!! El mΓ‘s grande de todos !!! ππππβ€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈ @RafaelNadal #AusOpen
β Juan Monaco (@picomonaco) January 30, 2022
Tremendous respect @RafaelNadal heroic effort.. @DaniilMedwed many more GS titles to come, great fightππWhat a finalππ
β Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) January 30, 2022
A final of Herculean proportions, thank you for a brilliant contest @RafaelNadal and @DaniilMedwed. Two AO crowns and 21 majors, given everything you have endured this historic victory is so special Rafa. It has been a privilege to watch you doing what you love. Congratulationsπ
β Rod Laver (@rodlaver) January 30, 2022
Extraordinary comeback from @RafaelNadal Congrats!! #21 πππππππππππππππππππππ
β Tracy Austin (@thetracyaustin) January 30, 2022
Congratulatory messages were not limited to the tennis world. Many sports icons, as well as organizations and teams from all across the gamut of sports and the world, showed their appreciation for the Spanish bull.
π VAMOS, @RafaelNadal! π #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/XaO0gwBzp3
β Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) January 30, 2022
Que bestialidad @RafaelNadal!! Gracias por tanto leyenda. El mejor ππΌ pic.twitter.com/MCol4dBQdh
β Iker Casillas (@IkerCasillas) January 30, 2022
VAMOS RAFA!!!
β Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55) January 30, 2022
Rafael Nadal. Thatβs the tweet.
β Toni Kroos (@ToniKroos) January 30, 2022
21 Grand Slams, que no son nada comparado con el legado que agrandas dΓa a dΓa. Enhorabuena, @RafaelNadal!!! π #AusOpen #AdvantageNadal @Nike pic.twitter.com/IgXhLWH5fI
β Pau Gasol (@paugasol) January 30, 2022
What. A. Legend. @RafaelNadal Super congrats to my fellow @SunreefYachts ambassador! Watched every minute of it! My daughters thought I was crazy shouting at the TV! Well done also to Medvedev. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/YgjNkT8IWY
β Nico Rosberg (@NicoRosberg) January 30, 2022
A lifetime of fight, effort and determination, all leading to this moment.@RafaelNadal wins his second @AustralianOpen to set a new men's Grand Slam record π pic.twitter.com/jrXqIgXOp5
β Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) January 30, 2022
Rafael Nadal creates history
In a grueling 5 set match, it was the Spaniard who emerged as the victor. He did not start with the greatest momentum, and Medvedev capitalized on that by capturing the first two sets.
But Nadal, always known for his grit, persevered to win back the next two sets, pushing the match to the decider. Both the players showcased their skills, and it was a very close match throughout the five hours and 28 minutes slogger. As the packed Rod Laver Arena stood witness to greatness, Rafael Nadal, in his 35-year-old glory, fought his way to yet another milestone in his journey.
Reuters
Tennis β Australian Open β Menβs Singles Final β Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia β January 31, 2022 Spainβs Rafael Nadal gives a speech to celebrates winning the menβs singles final with trophy REUTERS/Emeahub Aws
Rafael Nadal had been preempting in his press conferences about how his performance here at the Australian Open was all a bonus, given the condition he had been in just a few months back. But Nadal, the king of comebacks, has proved yet again why he is the legend that he is.
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