Rafael Nadal wins record-setting Australian Open title in dramatic fashionRafael Nadal rallied from two sets down against Daniil Medvedev to take the 2022 Australian Open title on Sunday in Melbourne. The victory is the Spaniard's 21st Grand Slam title, a men's singles record.

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Down 2 sets, Spaniard rallies to win record 21st major men's title

John Pye · The Associated Press(Martin Keep/AFP/Getty Images)comments

Rafael Nadal got to 21 first, breaking the men's record for most Grand Slam singles titles and doing it the hard way by coming back from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in an almost 5 1/2-hour Australian Open final that didn't finish until the early hours of Monday morning in Melbourne.

Nadal was broken when serving for the championship at 5-4 in the fifth set but made no mistake two games later by served an ace to earn three championship points and converted it on the first attempt.

The 35-year-old Spaniard now has one more major title than Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, his long-time rivals in the so-called Big Three.

The 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 win that started Sunday night was delayed in the 84-minute second set when a protester jumped onto the court, and then finished early Monday morning, Nadal also became just the fourth man in history to win all four of the sport's major titles at least twice.

"Good evening. No, good morning!" Nadal, looking at his watch, told the crowd at Rod Laver Arena when he finally got up for his acceptance speech at 1:30 a.m.

WATCH | Nadal wins 21st Grand Slam title: 

Rafael Nadal wins Australian Open, breaks men's singles Grand Slam title record

20 hours agoDuration 3:01Rafael Nadal stormed back to defeat Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling five-set contest to capture the Australian Open. His 21st men's singles Grand Slam victory moves Nadal past Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic for the most in history.More tennis coverage

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