Rafael
Nadal is on the verge of becoming the men’s player with the most Grand Slam singles titles. The Spaniard needs to win Sunday’s Australian Open men’s singles Grand
Slam title against Daniil Medvedev at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park to clinch
his 21st Grand Slam title. Medvedev, who won the US Open Grand Slam
last year, will be aiming for his second title. Medvedev also stands a chance to become the first man in the Open Era to earn consecutive Grand Slam titles.

Also Read: Aus Open: Barbora Krejcikova, Katerina Siniakova win women’s doubles title

This
is, meanwhile, his second attempt at Melbourne Park in two years to win the
elusive Australian Open crown. Last year, Medvedev lost to Novak Djokovic in
the final.

Nevertheless,
this is going to be one heck of a match in a sweltering Melbourne condition.

Also Read: Australian Open 2022: Ash Barty and Djokovic keep No.1 ranking; Danielle Collins into top 10

Nadal,
who last won the Australian Open in 2009, wants to bring an end to his title
draught at the year’s first Grand Slam this time around.

Sunday’s
meeting between Nadala and Medvedev will be their fifth, and Nadal has a
decisive edge over the Russian with a 3-1 head-to-head record.

Also Read: Australian Open 2022 men’s singles final: Records Nadal could make with this win

But
most of the previous encounters between the European stars have been closely
fought.  In the 2019 Rogers Cup final,
Nadal defeated Medvedev to defend his title in Canada.

Their
next meeting was at the US Open final in 2019. The summit clash was a thrilling
contest that lasted around five hours. At the Flushing Meadows, Nadal took the
first two sets but the Russian fought back strongly to get back into the match.
Medvedev won the next two sets to take the final into a fifth set.

Also Read: Aus Open: Barbora Krejcikova, Katerina Siniakova win women’s doubles title

However,
the Spaniard managed to take the decider 6-4 and win his 19th Grand Slam title.

Nadal
and Medvedev met for the third time at the ATP Finals in 2019 in London. Both
of them had lost their respective opening match and were in a must-win
situation. The match turned out to be a thrilling contest.

Also Read: In Pics | Ash Barty ends 44-year drought with maiden Australian Open title

Medvedev
won the first set in a tiebreaker. Nadal started the second set strongly by breaking
the Russian in the opening game. He broke him once again to take the set 6-3
and level the match.

The
Russian raced to a 4-0 lead in the final set but the Spaniard fought back,
saved a match point at 5-1 and took the set to a tiebreak. He won the tiebreak
7-4 to win the match.

Also Read: Tennis greats hail ‘complete player’ Ash Barty for Australian Open triumph

The
fourth meeting between Nadal and Medvedev came at the 2020 ATP Finals. The
Spaniard lost to Dominic Thiem in the round-robin stage but defeated Stefanos
Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev to reach the semifinals.

Medvedev
won all of his round-robin matches, including one against Djokovic, to qualify
for the last four of the ATP Finals for the first time in his career.

Also Read: Australian Open 2022 men’s singles final: Records Nadal could make with this win

Nadal
made a crucial break in the eighth game of the first set and then held his
serve to take it 6-3. The Spaniard had served for the match in the second set.
However, Medvedev bounced back, broke the Spaniard’s serve, and took the second
set in a tie-break.

The
third set saw both players hold their serve before the Russian broke his
opponent to take a 4-3 lead. Medvedev broke again to win the set 6-3 and reach
the final.