Four greatest tennis comeback wins in 21st century ft. Rafael Nadal & Iga Swiatek

Rafael Nadal’s Australian Open final win over Daniil Medvedev is regarded as one of the greatest comeback wins in tennis history.

Tennis is always seen as one of the most physically demanding sports. However, the importance of an elite mentality and composure cannot be overlooked. Players strive to give their best on the tennis court with powerful forehands, backhands, and groundstrokes. However, an invisible mental battle between the players continues throughout the match from both sides of the net.

One imprecise move, and the pressure increases. With every error, miss, or fault, the stress accrues and skyrockets. At that moment, only a few players can turn the tide and steal the win from their opponents. Comeback victories are a rare sight to behold in the racquet sport, but whenever such a result unfolds, it becomes legendary.

Heroic folklore is often mentioned when people talk about tennis, and the star attains acclaim for their heroic display. A favorable start can help a tennis player win the match with indisputable momentum.

Also read: ‘His values are very important for young kids’: – Casper Ruud lauds Rafael Nadal

However, sometimes players find their motivation mid-match, which helps them craft a stellar comeback. With that said, let’s take a look at the four greatest comeback wins in tennis in the 21st century:

#4. Jennifer Capriati and Martina Hingis, Australian Open 2002

Two fierce rivals, Jennifer Capriati and Martina Hingis, faced each other in the final of the 2002 Australian Open. They were replaying the previous year’s final, which Capriati won easily in straight sets. However, this time, Hingis came up with a different strategy. The Swiss tennis star won the first set 6-4, increasing the pressure on the defending champion.

In the second set, Hingis continued to dominate, with Capriati struggling to return her backhands. Consequently, the American soon fell behind by 0-4. However, the match was far from over. Jennifer Capriati saved five championship points, forcing the set into a tiebreak, which she won 9-7. Capriati later won the match 4-6, 7-6(9-7), 6-2.

#3. Iga Swiatek vs Naomi Osaka, French Open 2024

The most recent fixture in the list, Iga Swiatek vs. Naomi Osaka, was a joy to watch for tennis fans. A returning Naomi Osaka shook WTA World No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the second round of the 2024 French Open. The first set was a tug-of-war between the two WTA stars, but it was won by Swiatek in the tiebreak.

However, the second set was massively dominated by the Japanese tennis star. She broke Swiatek’s serve three times to equalize the match in 26 minutes. Even in the third set, Swiatek struggled to counter Osaka’s forehands.

The 26-year-old grasped a 3-0 lead in the decider. In the eighth game, Naomi Osaka had a match point at 2-5 (30/40). However, that was enough to pump up the three-time Roland Garros champion. While Osaka was making errors at the net, Swiatek broke Osaka’s serve twice to win the match 7-6, 1-6, 7-5.

#2. Novak Djokovic vs Roger Federer, Wimbledon 2019

The final of the 2019 Wimbledon Championship was special in several ways. The match lasted four hours and 55 minutes on Centre Court and was a spectacle for all tennis lovers. In the first set, Novak Djokovic came from behind to take the lead. However, Djokovic’s intensity dropped in the second set, allowing Roger Federer to seal it with class.

Djokovic edged closer to victory by winning the third set in a tiebreak, scoring nine winners. Ultimately, the Serbian tennis star failed to end the match in the fourth set as Federer won 6-4. Nevertheless, the last set was a contest of nip and tuck between the two tennis maestros. With the scoreboard reading 7-8, Federer had a lead of 15/40 with two championship points. Federer was close to sealing the victory, but Djokovic stole the match from the Swiss tennis star.

#1. Rafael Nadal vs Daniil Medvedev, Australian Open 2022

In 2021, Rafael Nadal suffered a foot injury, which sidelined him for several months. Due to this injury, he had to withdraw from Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Tokyo Olympics. However, when people thought Nadal’s illustrious career could end, the King of Clay won the 2022 Australian Open final.

In the 2022 Australian Open final, Rafael Nadal faced Daniil Medvedev. The Russian was coming off a win at the 2021 US Open and was the favorite to win the other hardcourt major too. Against Nadal, Medvedev easily won the initial two sets and was on the verge of sealing the match. Trailing 2-3, 0-40 in the third set, Nadal still managed to complete a poetic comeback, which will always be remembered by tennis enthusiasts.

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