Not only did the win put Nadal ahead of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the Grand Slam race with 21 titles, it also ended the Spaniard’s 13-year-long wait for a second Australian Open crown.
Members of the tennis fraternity have spoken highly of the Spaniard’s performance against Medvedev, especially the fighting spirit that he showed to stay in the encounter. Former tennis players Mats Wilander and Jon Levine are the latest to laud the Spaniard’s record-breaking win.
In conversation with Andy Zodin, host of the KickServeRadio.com podcast, Levine said that the former World No. 1 needed to be given credit for the way he was able to lift the level of his game in the crunch moments.
Levine went on to describe the World No. 5 as a “warrior” who was able to outlast a much-younger opponent in one of the biggest matches of his career, while also likening him to comic book superhero Iron Man.
“This is the most unlikely comeback and Grand Slam victory that I have witnessed” - Mats Wilander on Rafael Nadal
Wilander echoed Levine’s words, saying the Spaniard’s win over Medvedev was “the most unlikely” Grand Slam victory that he had witnessed.
The 57-year-old said Nadal’s win at the Melbourne warm-up event played a key role in his Australian Open triumph as it gave him confidence heading into the season’s first Major.
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