Rafael Nadal wrote a brand new chapter on this extraordinary period of males’s tennis by changing into the primary of the ‘large three’ to win a twenty first grand slam singles title.
By beating Daniil Medvedev over 5 gruelling units on the Australian Open, the Spaniard moved forward of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on the high of the all-time checklist.
Right here, the PA information company solutions the important thing questions across the triumph and what comes subsequent.
How stunning was this?
Rafael Nadal reveals his disbelief after successful the Australian Open title (Mark Baker/AP)
(AP)
One take a look at Nadal’s face answered this query. He at all times has large perception in himself however, after fearing a month and a half in the past {that a} continual foot drawback would possibly finish his profession, he definitely didn’t count on to be strolling away with a title he had not gained since 2009. That he did so from two units down in opposition to a person who might quickly be world primary made it all of the extra outstanding.
Is Nadal now the GOAT?
Males’s grand slam singles champions. Infographic PA Graphics. An editable model of this graphic is accessible if required. Please contact graphics@pamediagroup.com.
(PA Graphics)
The best of all time debate has raged ever since first Nadal after which Djokovic started to shut in on Federer’s data. The grand slam tally is seen as crucial one however it’s removed from the one metric, and the others largely favour Djokovic. He’s beginning his 358th week on high of the rankings in comparison with 310 for Federer and 209 for Nadal. Djokovic has additionally gained all of the ATP Masters tournaments no less than twice and leads each Nadal and Federer in head-to-head data. He’s additionally a yr youthful than Nadal.
What distinction did Djokovic’s absence make?
Novak Djokovic was deported from Australia (Darko Bandic/AP)
(AP)
We are going to by no means know if Djokovic would have made it 10 titles in Melbourne had he not been deported – a sentence that also appears extraordinary to jot down. His report on the match, together with two last victories over Nadal, will surely have made him an enormous favorite.
What subsequent for Nadal?
This unimaginable feat can absolutely solely enhance the 35-year-old for the season forward and the years to return. He proved he can nonetheless bodily match and higher gamers a decade his junior and he’ll wish to regain the French Open title from Djokovic and win a 14th crown in Paris. If he may attain 22 with the others nonetheless on 20, it will be a major hole.
And the way about Djokovic?
That would be the key query in tennis over the subsequent few months. If restrictions keep the identical and he continues to refuse to be vaccinated in opposition to Covid-19, then he’ll discover his choices restricted. Because it stands, he’s unlikely to have the ability to play the large ATP tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami in addition to the French Open. There’s a sensible state of affairs whereby Wimbledon is his subsequent main match, though the scenario may change considerably within the coming months. Federer, in the meantime, continues to get well from knee surgical procedure.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
