‘That guy is super human’

You raised your level after two sets for the 21st Grand Slam. I thought you were going to get tired, and maybe you did a little, but you still won the match. You are an amazing champion.

— Daniil Medvedev about Rafael Nadal

If it went to five sets, Rafael Nadal was no chance -- or at least that is what they said.

But everyone should have known better, after all Nadal was not supposed to be here in the first place, not back in a final in his first Grand Slam since a six-month injury layoff.

Add an additional bout with Covid-19 and even Nadal himself admitted he was stunned to be in this position -- he was just grateful to still be on the court.

"This has been one of the most emotional matches of my tennis career," Nadal said.

"It's just amazing. I didn't know a few months back if I would even be playing again on the tour and I am back on this court before you all today. You don't know how much I fought to be here.

"The huge support I have received in the three weeks here is going to stay in my heart for the rest of my life."

You simply cannot question greatness and in a five-set war of attrition, it was Nadal who outlasted Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.

Nadal came out on top to move ahead of era rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer on the all-time list of men's major winners.

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.

Medvedev was seemingly on the brink after being broken in the fifth set but the Russian, down 30-0 at 4-5 down, roared back to break Nadal and put himself back in the frame.

But there was another twist to come as Nadal broke right back with a second chance to serve for the match -- and he did just that to complete his remarkable six-month comeback.

"It is 21 for Rafa and he stands alone at the summit," Todd Woodbridge said in commentary for Channel Nine.

"A remarkable match, a remarkable comeback and a remarkable champion."

"How do you frame it?" Jim Courier added.

"That guy is super human."

Nadal also became only the fourth man to win each of the four Grand Slams twice and the third oldest man in the Open Era (since 1970) to win a Grand Slam title, behind Ken Rosewall and Federer.

It is the fourth time in his storied career that Nadal had clawed back to win from two sets down, but the first time in a Slam final.

It was the second time Nadal had denied Medvedev in a Grand Slam final, winning a five-set epic at the 2019 US Open. Nadal holds a 4-1 lead over Medvedev in their five matches to date.

It crowned an extraordinary effort from Nadal at the year's opening major, having to modify his game to compensate for a degenerative bone disease in his left foot that ended his 2021 season last August.

Medvedev had wrecked Djokovic's calendar Grand Slam push and bid for a 21st title in New York four months ago and was aiming to do the same to Nadal in Melbourne.

Medvedev lost his second consecutive Australian Open final after falling in straight sets to Djokovic in last year's final.

"It's tough to talk after five hours 30 and losing but I want to congratulate Rafa because what you did today, I was amazed," Medvedev said.