Australian Open concludes with two amazing finals

The 2022 Australian Open is in the history books now with Rafa Nadal and Ashley Barty claiming victories. Both players showed the grit and determination it takes to win major titles and savored their victories down under as history was made in both finals.

On the women’s side No.1 seed Ashleigh Barty ended her country’s 44-year wait for a home Grand Slam champion, coming from 5-1 down in the second set to defeat No.27, Danielle Collins, 6-3, 7-6(2) in the final. Collins was not an easy opponent, having beaten Barty in a recent tune-up tournament down under. Collins is the second former college player to reach the Australian Open final in as many years after Jennifer Brady was runner-up to Naomi Osaka in 2021. The 28-year-old will make her Top 10 debut next week and rise to the #1 player in the U.S.

On the men’s side, it was an epic 5 set battle that saw rising star Daniil Medvedev from Russia taking on a resurgent Rafa Nadal. Nadal was coming back from a foot injury and was skeptical as to whether or not he would even be able to answer the bell for the 2022 Australian Open. However, answer the bell he did as he soared through the draw and once again, found himself in the final where he would be competing for a record-breaking 21st Grand Salm title. Early on it did not look good for the Spaniard as he went down 2 sets to love but in true Nadal fashion, he rose like a phoenix from the ashes and clawed his way back into the match. Serving at 5-4 for the championship, Nadal was broken and Medvedev had new life at 5-5 in the fifth. As tensions rose so did Nadal and he managed to immediately break back to go up 6-5 and then he served it out for a 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 victory. Nadal now stands alone at the top of the grand slam title race at 21, with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic both at 20.

Next up on the Grand Slam race is the French Open which is scheduled to begin on May 22nd and end on June 5th.

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