Hello and welcome to LIVE updates of the 2022 Australian Open final between Daniil Medvedev and Rafael Nadal. The legendary Spaniard has his eyes on a record 21st Grand Slam title after surprising everyone with a brilliant run in Melbourne on the back of an uncertain spell on the side-lines through injury. Standing in his way, is world number two, Medvedev who is aiming to snare his second major after lifting the 2021 US Open title. It could well be a thriller with both players are due on court from 08.30 GMT.
R. Nadal vs D. Medvedev | Australian Open
Men's Singles | Final | 30.01.2022 | Rod Laver Arena
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/match/tennis-header-bg-mobile.jpg)
Completed
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/geo/country/flag/large/2203.png)
R. Nadal (6)
2
65
6
6
7
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/geo/country/flag/large/2204.png)
D. Medvedev (2)
6
77
4
4
5
Live
Live Updates
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 30/01/2022 at 14:46 GMT
NADAL 2-6 6-7 4-4 MEDVEDEV. Nadal responds with one of his most convincing holds of the match.
NADAL 2-6 6-7 3-4 MEDVEDEV. That’s magnificent and just too good. Medvedev follows up an inexplicable miss at the net for 30-30 with two clinical winners. The score board pressure sits firmly with Nadal now as we enter the business end of the set.
NADAL 2-6 6-7 3-3 MEDVEDEV. What. A. Hold! Nadal turns to the crowd and soaks up their applause. Rightly so too as he plays some clutch tennis to battle his way back from 0-40 and somehow outlast the Russian in some bruising baseline exchanges.
NADAL 2-6 6-7 2-3 MEDVEDEV. The Russian somehow finds a winner on the stretch after reading Nadal’s crosscourt forehand in an opening point the Spaniard should have definitely won. It’s a microcosm of the match and from there Medvedev doesn’t look back. He sweeps to a tidy love hold to nudge the board once more.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2022/01/30/3300189-67484048-2560-1440.jpg)
Image credit: Getty Images
NADAL 2-6 6-7 2-2 MEDVEDEV. ‘Vamos!’ is the shout from Nadal as he closes out a hold to 30 with a rasping forehand. He then asks for a racket to be taken to the stringer, suggesting he feels he has plenty more to say in this final. Daniil will have other ideas, of course…
NADAL 2-6 6-7 1-2 MEDVEDEV. Some huge serving does most of the heavy lifting for Medvedev while Nadal continues to see the near misses go against him. It all contributes to a simple love hold for the world No.2.
NADAL 2-6 6-7 1-1 MEDVEDEV. That’s trademark spirit from Nadal. He surges back from 0-30 and then resets at deuce after blazing a simple forehand long. A huge serve down the T sees him on to the board.
NADAL 2-6 6-7 0-1 MEDVEDEV. Another mini battle goes Daniil’s way. Nadal threatens at 15-30 but the Russian conjures up a crosscourt winner to deny the 20-time Grand champion. Rafa digs in and applies some pressure at deuce and finally earns a BP. However, another surprising miss from Nadal lets a flat-looking Medvedev off the hook. The Russian leans on his serve to get over the line, conjuring up a well-timed pair of aces.
SET! – NADAL 2-6 6-7 MEDVEDEV. It just isn’t Nadal’s day it seems. He’s been ahead most of the set and was 5-3 up in the breaker. Near misses and close calls go the way of Medvedev and the Russian steps it up at the crucial moment to take the breaker 7-5 courtesy of a sublime pass up the line.
TIE BREAK LATEST
It’s 3-3 at the change of ends. Nadal earned an early mini break when Daniil missed a volley at the net but the Spaniard handed it back with a missed forehand.
NADAL 2-6 6-6 MEDVEDEV. A lovely drop-shot forehand pass combo suggests Rafa has a look-in at 30-30 but Medvedev slaps down a ninth ace and another huge delivery to take us into the breaker.
Don't forget - you can watch every moment of Beijing 2022 live and on demand on discovery+
NADAL 2-6 6-5 MEDVEDEV. That’s a big hold for Nadal. He pretty much puts himself through the grinder with some strange misses off his trusty forehand but manages to back up a sizzling backhand up the line with a much-needed first serve. He will at least play a tie break in a set he will feel he should have nicked by now.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2022/01/30/3300193-67484133-2560-1440.jpg)
'Please!' - Nadal pleads for break wearing ice collar as final takes toll against Medvedev
NADAL 2-6 5-5 MEDVEDEV. Daniil shows brilliant touch at the net as he closes out a rapid hold to 15 to move all square. He’ll fancy his chances of taking this set now.