Footballers react to Rafael Nadal's historic 21st Grand Slam win at Australian Open

Rafael Nadal scripted history at the 2022 Australian Open on Sunday. He beat Russia's Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 to become the first male player to win 21 Grand Slam singles titles.

Playing his sixth final at Melbourne Park, Nadal looked on course for his fifth heartbreak as he found himself two sets and 2-3 0-40 down on serve in the third. However, Medvedev managed to grab defeat from the cusp of victory as Nadal joined Novak Djokovic as the only male player in the Open Era to win the multiple calendar Grand Slam.

Nadal's first win at the Australian Open came at the expense of Roger Federer in 2009. He also has 13 wins at Roland Garros, two at Wimbledon and four at the US Open.

There was drama at the fag end of the match, as Nadal lost serve at 5-4 in the fifth while serving for the Championship. However, Medvedev's second wind proved short-lived, as Nadal broke back immediately before serving out the win.

Victory for Medvedev would have made the Russian the newest world no. 1 and the first player in the Open Era to win their second Major immediately after winning their first (2021 US Open). However, that was not to be, as the 35-year-old Nadal scripted his first two-set comeback in nearly 15 years (2007 Wimbledon, beat Mikhail Youzhny).

It was the left-hander's second Major win at the expense of the Russian (also 2019 US Open), which also went the distance. With the victory, Nadal became the oldest Grand Slam singles winner in the Open Era after Ken Rosewall and Roger Federer.

Footballers and football clubs congratulate Rafael Nadal for scripting history in Melbourne

Rafael Nadal's triumph in Melbourne has generated a lot of buzz in the football world, with many players and clubs congratulating him on social media for his stunning win. Here's a collection of a few such messages:

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Bhargav is a veteran sports journalist and editor at Sportskeeda, with a rich professional experience of 17 years, working for the likes of Siemens and Bombay Dyeing. An avid football and tennis follower for over three decades, Bhargav uses his vast knowledge and experience, attention to detail, an unbiased yet interesting writing style, and thorough research to craft insightful articles, which have raked in over 20 million reads so far.

Bhargav supports Italy at national level, a team steeped in tradition and history according to him. He still harbors the heartbreak from the Azzurri’s 1994 FIFA World Cup final defeat against Brazil, and protagonist-turned-antagonist from the game, ‘Divine Ponytail’ Roberto Baggio is his all-time favorite player. His favorite manager is Marcelo Lippi, who ended Italy’s 24-year wait for the World Cup trophy, winning it in 2006.

Outside Europe’s top five leagues, he follows the MLS following Lionel Messi’s move in 2023 but favors Cristiano Ronaldo in the G.O.A.T. debate. During his free time, Bhargav enjoys driving off to new places and singing.

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