Rafael Nadal surpassed Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic by winning his 21st Grand Slam at the 2022 AO from two sets down to Daniil Medvedev 26 57 64 64 75.
The history making triumph featured a match point of Nadal serving, then booming a forehand, then a net approach and a backhand volley which the Russian awkwardly backhanded harmlessly into the net. Nadal, at the net for the first time I believe for any of his 21 major title wins, dropped his Babolat and smiled in shock and joy.
After the customary handshakes, Nadal fist pumped and fingered the no. 1 gesture before walking over to his ecstatic team box. Meanwhile back in Belgrade and Basel, we can only wonder what the reactions of Novak and Roger are at this moment.
Siniakova and Krejcikova also won the women’s doubles title in three sets.
AO · AO22 · Rafael Nadal
Scoop Malinowski · January 30, 2022 at 10:45 am
Anybody remember when Djokovic expressed cynicism about the origins of the virus and that it may have been used for something diabolical? This quote is from 2016 Rogers Cup…
Q. Did you or your team investigate that Zika question that seems to be troubling a lot of athletes? What were the conclusions that you came to?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes. I did get more information on it. My decision is to go to Olympic Games, because from the informations and facts that I got, it’s not as it’s presented, it’s not as dangerous. Of course there is always a possibility that you can get that virus, but I think, you know, maybe the fuss and the buzz about that virus has been created with some kind of other intent. But I’m not going to get into that. But, you know, for me it’s safe enough and I’m going to go.
Scoop Malinowski · January 30, 2022 at 11:42 am
Very impressive performance by Rafa, he is a tennis marvel and to come back from two set down in the final with the help of the crowd was superhuman. Nadal is so smart, physical, driven, inspiring, tenacious, mentally strong. However this tournament will forever be stained by the political and media attacks which resulted in a successful conspiracy to send home the greatest player of all time and cheat him out of the chance to win his tenth AO title and his 21st Grand Slam. Novak and all human being should always have the freedom of choice to reject injecting mysterious drugs into our bodies. For Novak to defy the establishment and fight for what he believes is IMO more impressive and honorable than Nadal’s athletic triumph today.
Scoop Malinowski · January 30, 2022 at 11:56 am
Novak Djokovic
@DjokerNole
1hCongratulations to @RafaelNadal for 21st GS. Amazing achievement. Always impressive fighting spirit that prevailed another time. Enhorabuena Clapping hands signTrophyThumbs up @Medwed33 gave it his all out there and played with the passion and determination we have come to expect from him.
George · January 30, 2022 at 1:46 pm
Congrats to Rafa, well done.
Novak’s absense is a dark cloud hanging over this AO, so this title may have a bit of an asterisk to it. But OTOH it was a great win by him, and it’s not his fault that AUS politics and media are a toxic smelly dump. Personally, I do blame him for not standing up for his fellow player in the interviews, at least, this was not a great look or sportsmanship. He even said that he would prefer if Novak didn’t play.
It was Novak’s choice though and as his supporter I wish he stops giving ammunition to his haters. He’s a sportsman and a champion and he can control what he can control. I don’t want him to be the champion of anti-vaccine movement and get perpetually banned from tournaments. For me and many others his tennis is more important than the fight for principles, which he can’t win. Focus on tennis. Life as tennis is a game of percentages.
Incidentally, this is what Nadal does so well. His focus and single-mindedness are superb and make him the champion he is. He often says there is life beyond tennis, but he sure doesn’t act like it (as you, Scoop, noted in the other post). Maybe he means fishing and golf 🙂
So, do I want Novak to be more like Rafa? – No. He’s Novak Djokovic and he has views and interests that are outside of Rafa’s tunnel vision. But please, Novak, do not sacrifice your tennis on the altar of social justice. Speak out, but have a plan “B” for participating in tournaments where your views put you in jeopardy.
Scoop Malinowski · January 30, 2022 at 5:53 pm
George, Djokovic is not anti vax, he’s for freedom of choice. He had the medical exemption to play AO, he had the first judge who said “What more can he do” to prove he’s fit to play? but the establishment conspired to kick him out. There is no doubt the establishment and their media weapons conspired to demonize Djokovic and send him home as an example for all free thinkers and freedom of choicers, who don’t want the drug shot injected in their bodies. The media is going to hate Djokovic no matter what he does, same deal as Trump and Jesus Christ.
Scoop Malinowski · January 30, 2022 at 8:07 pm
Fascinating isn’t it how no player, fan, media, official or anyone tested positive or got any media virus during the tournament isnt it? It’s as if the whole charade operation was turned off for two weeks.
Scoop Malinowski · January 30, 2022 at 8:16 pm
The entire sport has degenerated, declined and discredited itself in the last month. Today’s final, exhibited both the best and worst of the sport and changes need to be made asap. It was disgusting to see how the crowd treated a fine man and player like Medvdev and how he was so negatively effected by the crowd abuse and disrespect as he expressed so eloquently at his press conference.
Sam · January 30, 2022 at 8:49 pm
I just learned the “results” of this joke of a tournament. As you wrote a few days ago, Scoop, the “winner” here was merely playing for second place, and the runner-up for third place. That’s it. Someone said on another board that, had he been there, Djokovic probably would’ve breezed to the title without even dropping a set! 😙
Djokovi is not anti vax, he’s for freedom of choice.
Well, I don’t know exactly how Djokovic’s views should be classified, but come on, Scoop—do you really know anyone who opposes vaccines who’s against freedom of choice? 😏 I don’t. It’s the pro-vaxxers who want people to believe the myth that people who oppose vaccines want to outlaw them. Couldn’t be further from the truth. People who are against vaccines are generally very respectful of the rights of others. 🤵
Anyway, Djokovic may not have picked up a “title” conferred by Communist Australia, but he didn’t lose anything worth keeping.
Scoop Malinowski · January 31, 2022 at 7:31 am
Sam, everyone knows Novak would have won the tournament, it’s a crying shame the sport conspired to cheat him out of going for the Grand Slam for the second year in a row. Also a big shame Nadal said he would rather Djokovic didn’t play the AO. I never thought the sport of tennis could degrade itself as it has for the last month, it’s not the same sport we knew and loved and they better be careful this is a pivotal moment in history. The more they push this drug shot on the public for a common flu head cold, the more I distrust it. When big pharma accepts liability for the side effects of this drug shot I might begin to trust it.
FrankPassmore · January 31, 2022 at 8:13 am
Scoop, commented on your site over a year ago(?). I know you are a Novak fan, so searched for you again to get your take on this year’s AO.
Was so disgusted by AO banning Djocovic that I didn’t watch any of it but 10 minutes of the first set of the men’s final. All I could take. So annoying to see Vax Scold going for a record he had would have had very little chance of winning… Playing in front of all these jabbed Sheeple, all the mask kabuki etc…. If Novak is banned from any future tournaments, I just won’t watch them.
Someone should have asked Nadal how Basilashvili is doing.
Sam · January 31, 2022 at 1:23 pm
Sam, everyone knows Novak would have won the tournament
Everyone with half a brain, at least. 😉
Also a big shame Nadal said he would rather Djokovic didn’t play the AO.
Absolutely pathetic, isn’t it? Apparently there are no depths to which “Humbalito,” who claims not to care about winning Slams at this point, won’t stoop in order to lift a trophy. Maybe he’ll even consider hiring Jeff Gillooly next time around if Djokovic is still allowed to compete in Paris. 🦹♂️
There should be at least three asterisks next to his latest “title”: 1) the fact that the best player wasn’t even there; 2) the fact that he was as pleased as Punch about it; and 3) the fact that he broke the rules by using stalling tactics against his opponent(s). 😬
I never thought the sport of tennis could degrade itself as it has for the last month, it’s not the same sport we knew and loved and they better be careful this is a pivotal moment in history.
It seems “pro” tennis has about as much credibility now as pro wrestling at this point. Oh, wait . . . maybe less. 😊
When big pharma accepts liability for the side effects of this drug shot
When giraffes can fly! 🦒
Scoop Malinowski · January 31, 2022 at 4:04 pm
Frank, I’m with you, it’s astonishing how low tennis has fallen, on top of all the communism control run amok, tennis has a freak pervert named Rothenburger creeping around press conferences and asking Grand Slam champions like Kokkinakis questions about putting their hands on each other’s butts on and off court. Rothenburger was not sanctioned or banned for this disgusting behavior. I never thought it would be possible that pro tennis could self destruct but they are on the path to that right now. Thanks for checking in FrankP.
FrankPassmore · January 31, 2022 at 4:34 pm
Scoop, sounds like Rothenburger is in a protected ‘group’.
I hadn’t heard anything of Kokkinakis since Nick K. told Stan W. that Vekic had slept with him. Except I think he said she likes the Kokk. Funny I guess but crude.
Any word on Stan, French Open Vax plans/Novak’s chances of being banned. He may only get to play Wimbledon this year….
Scoop Malinowski · January 31, 2022 at 6:11 pm
Frank, Kokkinakis just won an ATP singles title the week before Australian Open, then he and Nick just won the AO doubles title as wildcard team. At their press conf after winning the title Rothenburger asked Kokkinakis if they like to touch each other’s butts off the court as much as they do on the court? Most unprofessional disgusting question I ever heard in 30 years in pro sports. He should be suspended from the sport for that. It looks like as of now French Open and Wimbledon will let Djokovic play – but they have plenty of time to conspire again to ban Djokovic, let’s hope these dark forces don’t do it again.
Bill McGill · January 31, 2022 at 6:18 pm
Not sure why you are blaming “tennis.” Tennis did what it could to let Djokovic play. It seems unfortunate for Novak, the AO and tennis generally that national politics interceded. Other, lower profile, tennis players were admitted to Australia on the same exemption and did not have their visas revoked.
Scoop Malinowski · January 31, 2022 at 6:34 pm
Bill…Tiley did not speak any support that Djokovic should be allowed to play. He should have supported his nine-time champion who did everything possible to play, “What more could this man have done,” said the first judge. Nobody in tennis supported Djokovic outside of Sandgren, Isner, Lopez, Cornet and John McEnroe after the fact. Federer never said anything, Rafa said he would rather Novak didn’t play.
So Djokovic was kicked out on a law made for terrorists because one man considered him a “public threat.”
Voracova was deported and strip searched whilst being in the country on a valid visa.
Medvedev racially abused on court. The crowd yelled “Go back to Russia!” But the tournament or the media made no issue of this. Now if some fan yelled at Serena, “Go back to Africa!” It would have become a global historical event story. Medvedev had to play against that kind of racial opposition and Tiley and the media ignored it. All we hear about is Nadal and Barty winning.
Sam · January 31, 2022 at 6:56 pm
Oh, I was just thinking—what happened to all of Nadal’s “injuries” from last fall? 😏
So . . . deportation of his opponent is the magic bullet? 😹
Scoop Malinowski · January 31, 2022 at 8:15 pm
Sam, do you remember Agassi saying after he lost to Nadal in Canada when Rafa was still a teenager, Agassi said Nadal’s knees and career would be finished before he was 30. Rafa sure proved Agassi to be profoundly wrong. The curious thing is Rafa’s knees seem stronger now than early in his career. He doesn’t even bother taping them anymore, hasn’t taped them for years.
Scoop Malinowski · February 1, 2022 at 10:22 am
It all has a feel to a stolen election. The establishment clearly did not want to see Djokovic break the record in AO. They got very lucky in New York with the super tough draw taking the toll on Novak in the final and Medvedev played the match of his life. It seems right now politics media and business manipulate the sport rather than letting it evolve organically naturally. Very important moment in tennis history. The establishment has bothered and lost a lot of valued long time fans and customers by this betrayal of Djokovic. Corruption turned boxing into a fringe sport from once being the most glamorous popular sport. Will corruption ruin tennis too?
Sam · February 1, 2022 at 3:47 pm
It all has a feel to a stolen election.
Exactly what I’ve been thinking! 👍 So, Nadal’s “victory” is about as legit as Resident [sic] Biden’s. 🤪
The establishment clearly did not want to see Djokovic break the record in AO.
Right.
The establishment has bothered and lost a lot of valued long time fans and customers by this betrayal of Djokovic.
Yep—count me among those! 😤
Will corruption ruin tennis too?
It may well. Frankly, if pro tennis doesn’t sanction totalitarian regimes like Australia’s and permanently strip their rights to host a “Slam,” then it deserves to die a painful death. 😝
Scoop Malinowski · February 1, 2022 at 6:08 pm
Sam, I’m not sure I can devote my energies or any of my energies to a communist sport that hates and fears the greatest champion in tennis history. Hoping there is a massive backlash and the powers that be in charge of tennis rethink and abort their schemes to destroy what is left of Djokovic’s prime and career. If they ban him from Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open, that would be the end game. The hypocrisy and corruption – as Shapovalov revealed – must be stopped asap.
Sam · February 1, 2022 at 7:12 pm
If they ban him from Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open, that would be the end game.
Well, Scoop, apparently there’s talk (supposedly coming from Serbia) that Djokovic may submit to getting jabbed. Hope that’s not true, though. 🤢
The hypocrisy and corruption – as Shapovalov revealed – must be stopped asap.
Was he talking about Nadal’s stalling?
Scoop Malinowski · February 1, 2022 at 7:36 pm
No, Shapovalov was griping about how the tennis establishment gives certain big stars preferential treatment and privileges. But this has been a reality about pro tennis forever. Money maker stars do get privileges. Shapo had his chance to confront Rafa on the court, a la Connors vs McEnroe. Shapo could have confronted Rafa face to face and said something like, “Rafa why are you always stalling and doing fake injuries. Everybody respects you as a great champ but when you fake injuries nobody appreciates it. Just play the game fair and straight no BS. Thank you.”
Scoop Malinowski · February 1, 2022 at 8:44 pm
Nikola Pilic: “Nadal would never have won the Aus Open if Djokovic had played. Novak was treated as a criminal, he was humiliated. Now they will do everything to stop him from playing at Wimbledon and US Open.”