via Reuters
Tennis – ATP Masters 1000 – Italian Open – Foro Italico, Rome, Italy – May 16, 2021 Spain’s Rafael Nadal shakes hands with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic after winning the final REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
via Reuters
Tennis – ATP Masters 1000 – Italian Open – Foro Italico, Rome, Italy – May 16, 2021 Spain’s Rafael Nadal shakes hands with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic after winning the final REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
Before the start of the 2022 Australian Open, Rafael Nadal wouldn’t have believed if anyone told him that he would end up winning all the seven matches and surpass two of his biggest rivals – Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, to clinch the 21st Grand Slam title.
Even though Nadal won the Melbourne Summer Set event ahead of the ‘Happy Slam’, there were fewer expectations from him, as fans were just happy to see the Spaniard play tennis. However, Nadal slowly grew with each round and finally surpassed Daniil Medvedev in a breathtaking final at the Rod Laver Arena on Sunday.
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Novak Djokovic congratulates Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev for an enthralling Australian Open 2022 final
There was another champion who frequently creates records at the same venue. Novak Djokovic, who didn’t participate in the Australian Open, will look forward to begin his 2022 ATP season after a discouraging experience. The Serbian took to social media to congratulate both Nadal and Medvedev on putting up a great fight in Melbourne.
“Congratulations to @RafaelNadal for 21st GS. Amazing achievement. Always impressive fighting spirit that prevailed another time. Enhorabuena. @Medwed33 gave it his all out there and played with the passion and determination we have come to expect from him.”
Congratulations to @RafaelNadal for 21st GS. Amazing achievement. Always impressive fighting spirit that prevailed another time. Enhorabuena 👏🏆👍 @Medwed33 gave it his all out there and played with the passion and determination we have come to expect from him. pic.twitter.com/DsOvK8idNc
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 30, 2022
The match-up between Nadal and Medvedev lasted for five hours and thirty minutes. The Spaniard was part of another long final contest at Rod Laver Arena against Djokovic in 2012. The result didn’t go Nadal’s way after a physically taxing contest, which went on for almost six hours.
Watch this story: From Locker Room Fights to Deportation: Biggest Australian Open 2022 Controversies
Djokovic will make his comeback in Dubai next month
After getting deported from Australia, Djokovic went back to Serbia and is currently resting to make a comeback on tour soon. The Serbian star is all set to take part in the ATP 500 Dubai Duty Free Championships. The same was confirmed by the tournament as well.
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He’s back! Novak Djokovic, the world number one, is returning to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium next month.#DDFTennis #30Years #Tennis #Championships @atptour @DubaiDutyFree pic.twitter.com/sEvwlM3DmL
— Dubai Tennis Champs (@DDFTennis) January 27, 2022
Unless Djokovic decides to pull out of the event in the last moment, his participation is almost confirmed. His fans will get to see the World No.1 return to tennis after a chaotic start to his season.
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Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal’s schedule for the rest of the year is yet to be revealed. Because the Spaniard had few big matches at the Australian Open, he might need extra time to rejuvenate and could very well skip the tournaments over the next few months to prepare for the European clay-court season.
