Australian Open 2022

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After the Novaxgate saga, we get down to action for the AO 2022 with no Djoko and a chance for someone else to win the men's title.

In Novax's absence, I would think that one of Medvedev, Zverev or Tsitsipas will be crowned champion.

The presence of Halep, Barty and Osaka will strengthen the women's tournament at the AO. I'm not expecting too much from Emma R who, in her first full year on the tour, could find it difficult.

Medvedev beat Djokovic at the US Open 2021 in straight sets. Will he beat Nadal in straight sets at the AO 2022 in straight sets (or four)?

Maybe in Medvedev we have someone who can bring the big four / big three era to a close. I think Zverev is not too far away either.

Medvedev two sets up. Wins a marathon second set on the tie break.
Idiots in the crowd booing him smh

Twice Rafa was a break up in that second set (4-1 and 5-3) and twice Med broke back before taking it on the tiebreak.

The Russian also, perhaps crucially, warded off a BP in the opening game of the third set. Awful long way back for Rafa. He's won GS title matches after losing the first set but I'm pretty sure he's never come back from two sets down in a Slam final.

Rafa takes the third

Is the comeback on? Rafa takes it into a 4th.

Nadal saves two BPs in second game of fourth set. He then breaks Medvedev next game.

Medvedev has forced numerous BPs but can't break Rafa. Used to be the story when Rog faced Rafa in the old days. The Russian now 4/15 on BPs. I think Rafa can still win this.

Medvedev now has cramp in his legs - he has brought the physio on to work on his legs to try to improve the circulation.   Not a medical time out.   Rafa has just gone a break up to go 2-1 up in the fourth. Only better conditioning can give Rafa the advantage now.

Medvedev breaks back immediately

Nadal breaks again. Medvedev saves 4 BPs but fifth time around Nadal gets the breakthrough

Nadal saves 2 BPs moves to 5-3

Medvedev saves set point 4-5

Nadal levels it up

Got to fancy Rafa now. The BP equation (5 from 18) will haunt Medvedev.

Shades of the 07 Rog-Rafa French final when Federer had 17 BPs and only took one, while Rafa was 6/10.

Medvedev saves BP in the opening game of the final set. 1/0. Might be a big moment for the Russian

Nadal breaks 3-2

Nadal breaks in the fifth. I can't see Meddy coming back from this - physically he can't handle it. He had a long match four days ago and his legs have cramped up.

I've missed most of this match as I was out playing tennis. Saw the first set though and he must have done very well to turn this around as he was terrible in that set. He is starting to hit his forehand amazingly well. As I speak, he just unleashed an unreal down-the-liner on break point! Still a long way to go now.

Nadal saves 2 more BPs and moved up 4-2

Maybe Meddy has refound his legs. Looks even at the moment with Rafa up a break in the fifth

Nadal moves to 5-3, the point of no return for Medvedev

Do people find these kind of matches enjoyable? It's the same point over and over again.

Medvedev breaks back 5-5. Nadal was 30/0 up yet the Russian takes four straight points.

Soul Requiem wrote:Do people find these kind of matches enjoyable? It's the same point over and over again.

I don't, to be honest - I pretty much gave up watching early on, apart from the last games of each set. Medvedev plays a particularly bland style of tennis. Rafa is a bit more entertaining, but neither play a style I enjoy watching for any length of time.

It's a game of endurance isn't it? Two back to back marathons.

Nadal breaks again

JuliusHMarx wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:Do people find these kind of matches enjoyable? It's the same point over and over again.

I don't, to be honest - I pretty much gave up watching early on, apart from the last games of each set. Medvedev plays a particularly bland style of tennis. Rafa is a bit more entertaining, but neither play a style I enjoy watching for any length of time.

That's my point of view too. I appreciate that the serve dominance of the 90's was equally bland but this is just dire.

Rafael Nadal fulfils his destiny and wins his 21st major. 2-6 6-7 6-4 6-4 7-5. A long overdue 2nd Australian Open title for the Spaniard. Forever Nadal was the Hunter now he’s reached the top of the mountain. And on this night, Nadal can call himself the greatest.

This will be a devastating loss for Daniil Medvedev, he’s lost a final that was his to win and potentially the #1 ranking.

JuliusHMarx wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:Do people find these kind of matches enjoyable? It's the same point over and over again.

I don't, to be honest - I pretty much gave up watching early on, apart from the last games of each set. Medvedev plays a particularly bland style of tennis. Rafa is a bit more entertaining, but neither play a style I enjoy watching for any length of time.

How can people watch a match like this and not be entertained? Medvedev is fairly mechanical but the tactics and range of shots Nadal had to employ to beat a player 10 years younger than him was breathtaking. One of the greatest matches of all time.

Take a bow Rafa Nadal.

Words cannot really do justice to describe his comeback. Not only from a long-term injury but even more so to win this match in five sets. Two sets down to the world No 1 who is ten years his junior. Unreal.

Rafa stands alone on 21 grand slam titles and with the French Open not far away he may not be on 21 for long.

Incredible.

Tremendous resilience from Rafa to capture what he may well regard as his best-ever Slam win.

Medvedev will rue all those missed BPs. I wonder if the brutal q-f with FAA caught up with him?

Doubt if Medvedev is Djoko's favourite person right now. The Russian stopped him winning the Grand Slam in New York and now he's let slip a two-set lead to enable Rafa to break the GS record.

I think that ended up as the second longest grand slam final in history.

Born Slippy wrote:

JuliusHMarx wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:Do people find these kind of matches enjoyable? It's the same point over and over again.

I don't, to be honest - I pretty much gave up watching early on, apart from the last games of each set. Medvedev plays a particularly bland style of tennis. Rafa is a bit more entertaining, but neither play a style I enjoy watching for any length of time.

How can people watch a match like this and not be entertained? Medvedev is fairly mechanical but the tactics and range of shots Nadal had to employ to beat a player 10 years younger than him was breathtaking. One of the greatest matches of all time.

The closeness of the match is what gave it its drama. The style of tennis on display I don't particularly enjoy watching. Remember that lots of people don't watch tennis at all, which is also perfectly understandable - different people like different things.

JuliusHMarx wrote:

Born Slippy wrote:

JuliusHMarx wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:Do people find these kind of matches enjoyable? It's the same point over and over again.

I don't, to be honest - I pretty much gave up watching early on, apart from the last games of each set. Medvedev plays a particularly bland style of tennis. Rafa is a bit more entertaining, but neither play a style I enjoy watching for any length of time.

How can people watch a match like this and not be entertained? Medvedev is fairly mechanical but the tactics and range of shots Nadal had to employ to beat a player 10 years younger than him was breathtaking. One of the greatest matches of all time.

The closeness of the match is what gave it its drama. The style of tennis on display I don't particularly enjoy watching. Remember that lots of people don't watch tennis at all, which is also perfectly understandable - different people like different things.

The incredible tennis, combined with the closeness, gave it the drama. I don’t particularly like Rafa’s game historically but the whole match was about how he used different tactics, combined with his normal game, to overcome a phenomenal baseline player. Of course, it’s up to you whether or not you enjoy it but if you don’t enjoy that match then the number of tennis matches you actually enjoy
must be tiny.

Watching some of the highlights I wonder if Medvedev is really a big enough hitter to beat the likes of Rafa.

The trouble is the bigger hitters are not as consistent as the Russian which suggests that as long as Rafa - and Djoko - are around, the old guard are still really hard to beat at Slams.

YES!!!

#21 brought me out of retirement to post.

VAMOS

Best wishes to all at 606v2.

Born Slippy wrote:

JuliusHMarx wrote:

Born Slippy wrote:

JuliusHMarx wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:Do people find these kind of matches enjoyable? It's the same point over and over again.

I don't, to be honest - I pretty much gave up watching early on, apart from the last games of each set. Medvedev plays a particularly bland style of tennis. Rafa is a bit more entertaining, but neither play a style I enjoy watching for any length of time.

How can people watch a match like this and not be entertained? Medvedev is fairly mechanical but the tactics and range of shots Nadal had to employ to beat a player 10 years younger than him was breathtaking. One of the greatest matches of all time.

The closeness of the match is what gave it its drama. The style of tennis on display I don't particularly enjoy watching. Remember that lots of people don't watch tennis at all, which is also perfectly understandable - different people like different things.

The incredible tennis, combined with the closeness, gave it the drama. I don’t particularly like Rafa’s game historically but the whole match was about how he used different tactics, combined with his normal game, to overcome a phenomenal baseline player. Of course, it’s up to you whether or not you enjoy it but if you don’t enjoy that match then the number of tennis matches you actually enjoy
must be tiny.

I've said before, 90% of my enjoyment of tennis come from playing it, not watching it. From what I saw, I didn't think it was particularly incredible tennis compared to many matches I've seen before. I've seen Rafa play a lot better than that. The story of the match was far greater than the actual level of tennis in the match, imo. If it had been a semi-final and GS 21 wasn't on the line, I don't think it would have been a match that many people would have remembered that long.
As it is, it will be remembered forever because of its record-breaking nature.

Rafa for sure has played better matches. I could list 20+of them….inc Rome06 final vs Fed. He’s been pro since 16 years old. Hes had time out for that foot again that nearly finished him as a 19 year old and yet here he is still toughing out the wins at almost 36…who’d have thought 10 years ago - when we all first joined here from the old 606 - that he’d be winning his 21st in Jan 2022. If he achieves nothing else he’s book-ended his career in the best possible way. Beating the “#1” in-form player on HC. It’s the story that stands out…almost 20 years as a professional….almost 16 years between his 1st and 21st slam. Similar to Fed with his 2003/2018 bookends. I’m sure if Rodge had to lose his slam crown to anyone he’d prefer it to be Rafa, not that OTHER chap.

lydian wrote:Rafa for sure has played better matches. I could list 20+of them….inc Rome06 final vs Fed. He’s been pro since 16 years old. Hes had time out for that foot again that nearly finished him as a 19 year old and yet here he is still toughing out the wins at almost 36…who’d have thought 10 years ago - when we all first joined here from the old 606 - that he’d be winning his 21st in Jan 2022. If he achieves nothing else he’s book-ended his career in the best possible way. Beating the “#1” in-form player on HC. It’s the story that stands out…almost 20 years as a professional….almost 16 years between his 1st and 21st slam. Similar to Fed with his 2003/2018 bookends. I’m sure if Rodge had to lose his slam crown to anyone he’d prefer it to be Rafa, not that OTHER chap.

Congratulations to your favourite player lydian and good to see you post again.

Something tells me Rafa will not be hanging around on 21 for too long either. It was an incredible comeback. Even the win predictor percentage gave Rafa no chance when two sets down. He stuck at it and found a way and tactics to prize chances which he took and Medvedev gradually wilted as Rafa got stronger despite Nadal being ten years older. Mind-blowing stuff.

I thought that Rafa would have great longevity despite some saying he would be finished by his mid to late twenties because of his physical style of play.  In Rafa's award ceremony speech he mentions something about a few months ago not knowing whether or not he would be fit enough to return to the tour indicating that the thought of retirement had crossed his mind.

Whether Rafael Nadal has played better I guess depends on what is meant by "better".  Certainly Nadal doesn't have the same physical attributes as in the past and presumably has added things to his game (court craft etc) in order to overcome the challenges of say a Medvedev, who should be at his physical peak.

lydian wrote:I’m sure if Rodge had to lose his slam crown to anyone he’d prefer it to be Rafa, not that OTHER chap.

Definitely. He's already sent his congratulations to Rafa.

Whilst I’m delighted for Nadal, I’m equally disappointed for Medvedev. He’s now lost Paris 1000, Tours Finals and AO back to back to back. And in Paris and Melbourne, he seemed to feel the pressure when in a dominant position.
I feel Medvedev will win many big trophies, but losing when you are on top has to hurt deep inside.

Additionally ‘the next gen top 3’, Medvedev/Zverev/Tsitsipas, have all now contrived to lost a slam final from 2 sets to love up. Not a good sign imo.

Medvedev suffered from poor shot selection on some of the big points and his excursions to the net were not always convincing.

Often, to me, it looked as if Med was in control of a point but his shots were not deep enough or angled enough to cause Rafa problems.

I expect Rafa may well have a good rest now to get into peak condition for the clay-court season. I always make him favourite for the French.

Federer's congrats to his great rival are on Instagram apparently. Some nice words from Rog.

Does anyone know what the situation is at the other majors regarding vaccinations? President Macron previously stated no unvaccinated visitors. Will Djokovic be out again?

Jeff Navarro wrote:Does anyone know what the situation is at the other majors regarding vaccinations? President Macron previously stated no unvaccinated visitors. Will Djokovic be out again?

It will depend on the legal requirements at the time. In France at the moment, if you have proof you tested positive within the previous six months you don't need a vaccine pass. Djokovic's 'proof' is a little dodgy though, so who knows?

Huge congrats to Nadal and his fans. I didn't see the match because I was playing a tennis match today. Very surprised to hear Medvedev blew a 2 set lead, I would have thought he was a near certainty to win with that lead. You have to hand it to Nadal, an amazing win after so much heartbreak in many oz open finals.

I didnt find it a great tournament overall but at least it sounds like the final delivered. Just proves again that the big 3 are freaks of nature and despite Medvedev and co being great players, the others are just remarkable players. Nadal will be favourite to hit 22 at the French and even more so if Djokovic is not playing.

Well done Rafa on 21 slams

A bit hard of Medvedev who won 189 points, while Nadal won 182.

It always seemed to me an accident of history that Nadal had 4 US Opens (perhaps more than he really deserved due to lucky draws or top opponents not playing their best against him), but only 1 Australian Open.

Two of every slam is a great achievement in my view. Nadal's career easily merits two Oz Opens, with four final losses in between his two wins.

He lost 7-5 in the 5th to Djokovic in 2012, and arguably one single missed shot down the line decided the match against a peak Djokovic at his best tournament. He would have beaten Stan W in 2014 if it wasn´t for injury I think, Rafa has a 19-3 head to head against Stan and I think peak Stan was actually 2015-2016, but most of his best performances were against Novak.

He also retired with injury against Murray in 2010 (don´t even remember that one, just noticed it while checking the dates on the other ones), and injured again against Ferrer in 2011 when at his absolute peak and was the world no 1 and looked like he could win it if he hadn´t been injured.