Sports World Reacts to Rafael Nadal's Australian Open Comeback

Nadal rallied from down two sets to a dramatic victory in Melbourne, notching his 21st career Grand Slam win—the most in men's tennis history.

After 53 games and over five hours, Rafael Nadal has done it.

The Spaniard mounted a historic rally in Sunday's Australian Open final against Daniil Medvedev, coming back from two sets down to capture his 21st career Grand Slam title. Nadal's victory (2–6, 6–7, 6–4, 6–4, 7–5) marked the first time in 15 years he had won a best-of-five match after dropping the first two sets, and broke a three-way tie with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic for the most major singles titles in men's tennis history.

RAFAAAAAA

Rafael Nadal wins the #AusOpen for his 21st Grand Slam title, the most in the history of men's tennis 🏆
(via @ESPN)pic.twitter.com/2H36KXSECm

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 30, 2022

Nadal was up against the ropes early, with Medvedev appearing to hold firm control after the first two sets. But the 35-year-old Spaniard dug deep to grind out 6–4 wins in the third and fourth sets, then broke Medvedev's serve in the fifth game of the fifth set. Nadal then served for the win up 5–4 before squandering an opportunity and dropping the game. He recovered to break Medvedev's serve in the 11th game, then held serve for the win in the 12th.

The historic win unsurprisingly drew plenty of reaction from across the sports world, as it was Nadal's first Australian Open title since 2009 and set him apart from Federer and Djokovic in the Grand Slam race. Check out some of the best reactions from social media below:

21. Grand. Slams. History. Made.🙌@RafaelNadal makes history breaking the record for most Grand Slams men’s singles titles. Congratulations, Rafa!🇪🇸 #AusOpen | #AO2022 | #Rafa21 pic.twitter.com/JL0vwzQ2AK

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 30, 2022

Rafael Nadal. That’s the tweet.

— Toni Kroos (@ToniKroos) January 30, 2022

A legendary moment.@RafaelNadal 🏆🇪🇸 #AO2022 https://t.co/9iJV3LcMQy

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) January 30, 2022

A lifetime of fight, effort and determination, all leading to this moment.@RafaelNadal wins his second @AustralianOpen to set a new men's Grand Slam record 🏆 pic.twitter.com/jrXqIgXOp5

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) January 30, 2022

Four. Months. Apart.

Rafael Nadal. The greatest fighter in sports history? pic.twitter.com/n0oWHyG5IT

— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) January 30, 2022

I just cried @RafaelNadal you are my idol 😭

— Alize Cornet (@alizecornet) January 30, 2022

👏 Congratulations! 2️⃣1️⃣
👊 VAMOS, @RafaelNadal! 👊 #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/fQ5LL0ItMn

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) January 30, 2022

That is absolutely magnificent. Stunning to say the least.

From 2 sets down to come back and win your 21st Grand Slam is incredible.

Congratulations @RafaelNadal!#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/VHjjlb4GFN

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 30, 2022

Rafael Nadal is 35.

He missed Wimbledon, the US Open and thought he might have to retire because of a chronic foot problem.

He was two sets to love down against the reigning US Open champion.

Seriously, how the hell is he doing this?

— David Law (@DavidLawTennis) January 30, 2022

Tremendous respect @RafaelNadal heroic effort.. @DaniilMedwed many more GS titles to come, great fight👏👏What a final👍👍

— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) January 30, 2022

16 years 7 months 25 days between first and most recent #Nadal's Grand Slam title wins.

Roland Garros 2005 - #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/4V88Mup0GD

— Lorenzo Ercoli (@Ladal17) January 30, 2022

I love tennis 🎾❤️@RafaelNadal @DaniilMedwed @AustralianOpen

— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) January 30, 2022