Is Rafa Nadal the best tennis player in history after adding a new Australian Open 2022?

Rafa Nadal made history at the Australian Open after beating Medvedev in a 2022 Australian Open final to remember. The Balearic tennis player, who came to the tournament with many doubts after his physical problems in his left foot, showed -once again- the courage he treasures and was able to turn the match around against a Daniil Medvedev who went up two sets …and that seemed to fly straight to his first Australian Open. Nothing is further from reality. And it is that Rafael Nadal did not lose focus and helped by greater efficiency in the first service and a much deeper and more accurate ‘drive’ managed to turn the score around and beat the Russian in an epic final of more than five hours. Nadal was crowned the new king of the Australian Open. Nadal repeated the success of 2009. Nadal confirmed himself as a great legend.

Nadal, king of the Australian Open 2022

After the resounding absence of Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal began his career against the American Marcos Giron, whom he easily beat in three sets, as well as his next rival, the German Hanfmann. His first major clash at the 2022 Australian Open was the one in which he faced the Russian Khachanov in round of 16, against whom he lost his first set of the tournament to finally win 6-3, 6-2, 3-6 and 6-1 . In the quarterfinals, Rafa Nadal also suffered to defeat Frenchman Mannarino, especially after a first set that ended in a tie break of up to 28 minutes. And in rooms Denis Shapovalov. Eye.

The aggressive game of the Canadian, one of the tennis players called to dominate world tennis in the coming years, put the Balearic against the ropes and was able to overcome a deficit of two sets down. However, Nadal recovered and reached the semifinals, where he also dismantled the ‘bombardier’ ​​Mario Berrettini (another who is very strong on the circuit).

The Australian Open final against Daniiel Medvedev was another story. Major words, maximum demand and extreme suffering. This time the Russian put aside his most controversial side (against Tsitsipas Medvedev he called the referee stupid) and based on ‘aces’ and crossed backhands he put Rafa Nadal, one of the most talented tennis players of the Open era, on the ropes. .if not the largest in history. Of course, the Balearic pulled pride and got an epic comeback.

Nadal, better than Federer and Djokovic?

Nadal’s triumph at the 2022 Australian Open has allowed him to add his 21st Grand Slam title, thus undoing the equality that prevailed between Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and the Balearic himself at the world tennis scepter. As if that were not enough, Rafa Nadal has another 36 Masters 1000 titles, in addition to 5 Davis Cups and 2 Olympic gold medals (one single and one in doubles). Taking these numbers into account, do you think Rafael Nadal is the best tennis player in history?