Rafael Nadal Reveals Mindset That Led To Epic 2022 Australian Open Final Comeback
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Rafael Nadal's 2022 Australian Open triumph was among the most extraordinary in tennis history. The Spaniard recently reflected on his incredible fightback in the final against Daniil Medvedev.
Nadal missed the final four months of 2021 with an injury. His participation at the Australian Open was uncertain, and the tennis legend did not seem to have high expectations for the tournament.
Despite upsetting the odds several times throughout his career, many were still left stunned by Nadal winning his 21st Grand Slam in Melbourne from 2-6, 6-7, 2-3, 0-40 down against Medvedev, who had recently won the 2021 US Open and was performing at his very best.
Incredibly, Nadal refused to wilt and turned the match around, ultimately prevailing 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5. It was arguably the most impressive achievement of the 38-year-old's illustrious career.
With the score at 2-3, 0-40 in the third set, the win predictor used at the tournament gave the 14-time French Open champion just a 4% chance of winning. Speaking at the UAX Rafa Nadal University School, Nadal discussed his mindset of never giving up, no matter what, even though he expected to lose from that position.
"I thought I was going to lose. But it was very important not to let myself go. I've been a player with a good capacity for self-control. I haven't been a frustrated tennis player on the court, and accepting things allows you to find solutions. The 4% was worth fighting for. That's always been my point of view."
That elite mindset is what allowed Nadal to repeatedly show much resilience on and off the court. He won countless matches over the years from desperate situations because of his refusal to throw in the towel.
Nadal also dealt with many injuries. Toni Nadal, his uncle and former long-term coach, revealed a few months ago that Rafael has been managing pain since he was 19, something many others would have found challenging to cope with.
The 2022 Australian Open was one of many examples of Nadal bouncing back from physical setbacks to be successful. Being 35 at the time is what probably made his 21st Grand Slam triumph against the odds the most impressive.
Nadal's previous recoveries from injuries meant he tried for almost two years to return after suffering a severe hip injury at the 2023 Australian Open. He made some appearances, including at the 2024 French Open and 2024 Olympics.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion retired at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Nadal eventually admitted that a comprehensive loss to his great rival Novak Djokovic at the Olympics made him realize it was time to step away from the sport.
Although tennis remains in a healthy place since Nadal's retirement, he is much missed. Nadal and Roger Federer no longer playing caused a hole that other players need to fill to stop men's tennis from declining.
Djokovic's continued presence and the rise of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have helped with that. Many think Alcaraz and Sinner's rivalry will be the next great one over the next decade or more.
