Spanish tennis star, Rafael Nadal has defeated Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final to win a historic 21st Grand Slam title.

Nadal secured a comeback victory against the tournament’s favourite, Medvedev by 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5, in an epic encounter that lasted five hours and 24 minutes.

Nadal has now defeated Medvedev four out of the five times they’ve played each other since their first match in 2019.

The victory sees Nadal become the first of the three top guns including Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer to win 21 career majors.

AFP recalls that Djokovic missed his chance to improve on his nine Australian Open wins when he was deported over vaccination issues on the eve of the tournament, while Federer is injured.

It was one of the 35-year-old Spanish warrior’s greatest title victories in his 29th Grand Slam final as he won his second Australian Open, 13 years after his first in 2009.

“I just wanted to keep believing until the end to give me a chance and that’s what I did,” Nadal said.

“I kept fighting to try and find a solution, there a lot of moments that can decide a final like this.

“It means a lot to me and I know it’s a special number 21 and I know what it means, its significance.

“Today is an unforgettable day, but for the last six months I really fought a lot to get back on court and I feel honoured, I feel lucky to have one more very special thing in my career.

“I don’t care much about history, I enjoy nights like this that means everything to me, it’s important to get my second Australian Open more than anything else.”

Nadal has won the French Open 13 times (a record for any Grand Slam tournament),

The Spaniard has also won four U.S. Open four times while clinching a double at the Wimbledon and the Australian Open resoectively.