[서울=뉴스핌] Reporter Kim Yong-seok = 35-year-old Rafael Nadal achieved 21 major victories with a double play.
Nadal (5th place, Spain) competed with Dani Medvedev (2nd place, Russia) in the men’s singles final at the Australian Open (total prize of 75 million Australian dollars, regarding 64.4 billion won) held in Melbourne, Australia on the 30th (Korea time) following a full set match. 2 vs 2 (2-6 6-7<5-7> 6-4 6-4 7-5) and set a new record for the most 21 singles wins in a major event.
| Nadal set a new record for the most wins in majors, 21, with a win at the Australian Open. [사진= 로이터 뉴스핌] |
[동영상= 호주오픈]
Nadal, who had won 20 majors alongside Novak Djokovic (World No. 1, Serbia) and Roger Federer (No. 17, Switzerland), set a new record by winning the Australian Open for the first time in 13 years. Federer did not compete in the tournament due to a chronic knee injury, and Djokovic was deported for ‘refusing a coronavirus vaccine’.
In an official interview following winning the men’s match, Nadal, who played the longest match in men’s time of 5 hours and 24 minutes, said, “It’s surprising to me as well. To be honest, I didn’t know if I would be able to play tennis once more while on tour a month and a half ago. But I stood in front of you once more with this trophy.” said Nadal, the ‘old man’, gave away two sets as soon as he started, but showed the dignity of winning three sets.
Nadal won the Australian Open for the first time in 13 years since 2009. The prize money for the championship is AUD 2.875,000 (regarding 2.43 billion won).
Medvedev, who won her first major at the US Open last year, finished second in a row following the runner-up at the Australian Open last year. The prize money for the runner-up is 1575,000 Australian dollars (1.33 billion won).
Australia’s Ashley Barty (World No. 1) won the women’s division.
Barty beat Daniel Collins (30th, USA) 2-0 (6-3 7-6)<7-2>) to become the first Australian in 44 years to become the Australian Open women’s singles champion.
After winning the French Open in 2019 and Wimbledon last year, Barty won the third major singles championship, and received the prize money of AUD 2.875,000 (regarding 2.43 billion won).
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| Australian Open women’s singles winner Ashley Barty. [사진= 로이터 뉴스핌] |
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