Nadal on the 2022 Australian Open Final Against Medvedev: "Accepting Things Allows You to Find Solutions More Easily"
Rafael Nadal has undeniably left his mark on tennis history. The Spaniard, part of the legendary Big 3 generation that dominated the sport for two decades, has won 22 Grand Slam titles, including 14 at Roland Garros. But he was far from just a clay-court specialist.
Indeed, Nadal is one of only two players in history—alongside Novak Djokovic—to have won every Grand Slam at least twice. This proves his ability to excel not only on hard courts but also on grass, having triumphed at Wimbledon in 2008 (after an unforgettable final against Roger Federer) and in 2010 (against Tomas Berdych).
In an interview with AS, Nadal revisited an episode that only strengthened his legend. In 2022, during the Australian Open, the Spaniard—who had been on crutches just weeks before the tournament—delivered an outstanding fortnight in Melbourne, capped by a legendary comeback against Daniil Medvedev (2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5).
Trailing 2-6, 6-7, 2-3, and then facing 0/40 on his serve, Nadal turned the match around to claim his second Australian Open title, his first in Oceania since 2009.
"I remember at one point—I think it was when I was down two sets to love—the prediction software gave Daniil a 96% chance of winning at that moment.
To be honest, I thought I was going to lose. But it was very important not to give up. I’ve always been a player with good self-control and emotional management.
I’ve never been a frustrated player on the court, and accepting things allows you to find solutions more easily.
I only had a 4% chance of winning, but I truly believed it was worth fighting for. That has always been my perspective and my mindset," he told the local media.
