The essential
- Rafael Nadal (6th in the world) and Daniil Medvedev (2nd) face off this Sunday, January 30 in the final of the Australian Open, after respectively eliminating Matteo Berrettini and Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals.
- Nadal, currently tied with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the number of Grand Slam victories (20) can take the lead alone this Sunday if he wins his 21st major trophy. He only won the Australian Open once… 13 years ago, in 2009, for four defeats in the final in Melbourne.
- For his part, Daniil Medvedev (25) can, in the event of victory, very seriously approach the place of world number 1, currently occupied by a Novak Djokovic in the midst of a storm.
Follow the final live:
11h03. The immediate break for Medvedev, who returns to 4-3 in the second set! (2-6; 4-3)
11h02. What an exchange again, and what efficiency from Medvedev, who uses Nadal until the fault to afford two break points. (2-6; 4-2; 15-40)
11h01. Good reaction from Nadal on his second ball. (2-6; 4-2; 15-30)
11h00. Medvedev’s long-line backhand. We know. We never tire. (2-6; 4-2; 0-30)
10:58. Quick game for Medvedev who reacts well, with two aces, his 7th and 8th of the game. (2-6; 4-2)
10:55 a.m. White game, Nadal! (2-6, 4-1)
10h55. First ace of the match for Nadal, who offers himself three balls from 4-1! (2-6; 3-1, 40-0)
10h53. Little weak time for Medvedev, a little less biting on his shots and who has been making mistakes for ten minutes. (2-6; 3-1, 30-0)
10h51. Medvedev dismisses a first break point thanks to his sixth ace of the match, but cannot defend the second. Break Nadal! (2-6; 3-1)
10:50 a.m. WHAT A POINT, AND NADAL WHO OFFERS A BREAK POINT! FORTY shots in this crazy exchange, and concluded by Nadal with a superb sliced backhand. (2-6; 2-1, 15-40)
10:49. And the small second for the road. Nadal finds himself at 0-30 for the first time on the Russian’s serve. (2-6; 2-1, 0-30)
10h48. A fault for Medvedev to enter his service game. (2-6; 2-1, 0-15)
10:45 a.m. Nadal game! (2-6, 2-1)
10h43. 20th unforced error for the Spaniard. 7 for the Russian. The difference is also there. (2-6; 1-1, 30-15)
10h42. Good reaction from Nadal, very offensive on his serve and pushing Medvedev into the ropes. (2-6; 1-1, 30-0)
10:40 a.m. Andtttt the gap was short-lived. Two quick points for Medvedev, who recovers to 1-1. (2-6 ; 1-1)
10h39. Nadal closes the gap thanks to an overlong shot from Medvedev. (2-6; 1-0, 15-30)
10h39. Medvedev still as ruthless on his serve, and who pushes Nadal to the fault after a long exchange. (2-6; 1-0, 0-30)
10:36. More fear than harm for the Spaniard, who wins this first game! (2-6 ; 1-0)
10h36. Rafael “double fault” Nadal is back. Third for the Spaniard in this match, which still has a game point. (2-6; 40-30)
10h32. First point for Nadal in this second round. (2-6; 15-0)
10h31. 16 unforced errors for Nadal in this first set, two double faults, 54% of first serves… the Spaniard must return to his final.
10:29. AND IT’S DONE! FIRST SET MEDVEDEV. The Russian was clinical in the face of a Nadal not well awake, whereas normally he is not as early in Australia as with us. (2-6)
10:29. Ohhhhh Nadal who misses his rise on the fly and offers the set point to Medvedev!
10:25 a.m. And it’s done! Double break for Medvedev, who will serve for the set (2-5)
10h24. Nadal is not in it, and he offers the points to Medvedev on a platter. And three double break points for the Russian. (2-4, 0-40)
10h23. To stay in the theme, a double fault on his service, the first in this match. (2-4, 0-30)
10h23. A fault – another one – from Nadal to start his service game. (2-4, 0-15)
10h22. Medvedev’s services are far too effective for this poor Nadal at the start of the match. And that’s two games ahead for the Russian. (2-4)
10:20 a.m. Third ace of the match for Medvedev. Regular. (2-3, 40-15)
10:16 a.m. MEDVEDEV GAME! Break and white game for the Russian, who takes the lead for the first time in the match. (2-3)
10:15 a.m. Three break points for Medvedev! (2-2, 0-40)
10h13. Superb setback along the line of Medvedev, on the offensive after a drop shot from Nadal to win the first point of this game. Then the second, just after, by trapping Nadal who had gone up on the fly. (2-2, 0-30)
10:11 a.m. Medvedev game, much more expeditious than Nadal on his service! The Russian still concludes this round with an ace, at 40-30. (2-2)
10:07 a.m. Nadal game! Medvedev was close to the break, but Nadal held on and managed to turn things around. (2-1)
10h05. Big serve from Nadal, who pushes Medvedev to the fault when he had a new break point, then who offers himself the advantage of a nice slice (1-1, 40-A, Nadal advantage)
10h03. Another nice climb on the fly for Nadal, who snatched another tie. (1-1, 40-A)
10:01 a.m. Oh this double rescue of Nadal which returns to equality! Medvedev has two great opportunities to afford a break point but plays each time on the Spaniard, both very lucky and skilful to save himself. (1-1, 30-30)
09h59. What an exchange! A 26-hit fight that ends with a superb long-line backhand from Medvedev. (1-1, 0-30)
09h58. Sixth unforced error already for Nadal at the start of the match. It’s a lot, and he concedes the first point on his second service game. (1-1, 0-15)
09:56. With many faults on Nadal’s side and a first ace for Medvedev, the Russian won his face-off in stride (1-1)
09:54. First game won by Rafael Nadal! (1-0)
09:53. Second game point for Nadal. Medvedev hits the net. (40-A, Nadal advantage)
09:52. And it’s once again in the net for Nadal! Medvedev equalises. (40-A)
09h50. Nadal misses his first game point. (40-30)
09h49. A foul from Nadal gives Medvedev his first point. The Russian returns the favor on the next point (30-15)
09:48. HERE WE GO ! Nadal serves first and wins the first point (15-0)
09h46. The two players finish their warm-up, the match can begin.
09h37. A small mix of applause and boos to welcome Daniil Medvedev. The Melbourne public has obviously chosen its side!
09:37. Come on, the two champions enter the court!
09h24. On the Medvedev side, the prize list is much less dizzying, but impressive for his young age: fourth Grand Slam final for the Russian, the second in Australia after 2021 (defeat against Djokovic). The young world number 2 can however go down in history by becoming the first player of the Open Era to win his first two Grand Slams in two consecutive tournaments, after his coronation at the US Open at the end of 2021.
09h20. This is Rafael Nadal’s 29th Grand Slam final, his sixth in Melbourne. He lost the last four: In 2012 against Djokovic, in 2014 against Wawrinka, in 2017 against Federer and in 2019, again against Djokovic. His first (and only) title in Australia dates back to… 2009.
09h17. Yesterday, it was the Australian world number 1 Ashleigh Barty who won the women’s tournament, beating Danielle Collins in two sets (6-3, 7-6).
09h12. But he will face a tough opponent. Daniil Medvedev is coming off a prolific 2021, with four titles including the US Open, his first Grand Slam.
09h08. The event of this final is of course this 21st Grand Slam title that Rafael Nadal can go for. However, few expected the Spaniard at this level in this tournament: a few weeks ago, he was nursing a bad foot injury.
09h00. Hello early risers! Welcome to Le Parisien’s website to follow the Australian Open final between Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev with us. Rather team Rafa or team Daniil? You have 30 minutes before the start of this match to have a coffee and make up your mind on the matter.
