Rafael Nadal has become the first man to win 21 Grand Slam titles after defeating Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 2-6 6-7(5) 6-4 6-4 7-5 in five hours and 24 minutes at the Australian Open.

If history has taught us anything it’s never to count out Nadal on a tennis court and the 35-year-old defied all odds by coming back from two sets to love down to clinch a famous win on Rod Laver Arena.

The Spaniard’s achievement was all the more remarkable with the manner in which he overcame an opponent 10 years younger than him, and who was the highest-ranked man in the draw.

Nadal, who has made the latest in a long line of comebacks from injury ahead of this year’s Australian Open, paid tribute to his opponent and thanked his team for their support during his “low moments” in the last 18 months.

“For me it’s just amazing,” said Nadal in his on-court interview. “One month and half ago I didn’t know if I would be back on the tour playing tennis and now I am in front of all of you. I can’t thank enough all the support I have received. Thank you so much for the love and support. One of the most emotional ones in my career.”

Medvedev started the brighter of the two, pushing Nadal in both of the Spaniard’s opening two service games, while barely breaking sweat on his own. Nadal’s first two service games totalled more than 14 minutes; Medvedev’s first two were just over four.

Nadal saved a break point in his second service game but the pressure told in the fifth game of the opening set when the Russian broke to love. Another break to love in the seventh game and it looked as though whenever the rallies went long it was more likely that the Russian would win the point.

A ruthless Medvedev won five games in a row to take the first set 6-2 in 42 minutes.

The second set was a completely different contest. In the fourth game, Nadal won a 40-shot rally after creating an absurd angle to fire a backhand crosscourt winner and set up two break points. Medvedev shut down the first one with an ace but fired long to hand the Spaniard a first break of serve in the second set.

Back came Medvedev, though, winning eight of the next nine points to earn a break of his own and to bring the score from 1-4 down to 3-4 down in the second set.

And the momentum continued to shift from one side of the net to the other as Nadal sealed a second break of serve in the eighth game after Medvedev’s first serve went missing before the Russian prevented the Spaniard from serving out the set with another break.

Nadal battled through a tight 11th game to nudge 6-5 ahead in the second set once again, but Medvedev forced the tiebreak after clinching his service game with an ace.

It was the Spaniard who raced ahead 5-3 in the breaker, but Medvedev produced three points in a row, mixing up his play with a particularly impressive drop shot and drive volley into the corner combo to bring up set point, which he duly converted with a backhand passing shot down the line.

Nadal took time to compose himself between sets and despite forcing Medvedev to six deuces on his opening service game it was the Russian who held.

The third set was tight. It looked like it would be the Russian to make the first breakthrough when he brought up three break points on Nadal’s serve in the sixth game, but the Spaniard held firm before seizing the advantage himself three games later to move 5-4 up.

A hold to love for Nadal saw him take the third set 6-4 much to the delight of the partisan Melbourne crowd in attendance on Rod Laver Arena.

It was Medvedev who pushed his opponent on his opening service game of the fourth set, forcing Nadal to save two break points, but it was the Spaniard who was starting to look the stronger. In the very next game, Nadal conjured two break points of his own and Medvedev double faulted at 30-40 to gift his opponent a break.

Medvedev refused to lie down and dug deep on Nadal’s next service game, breaking back for 2-2. Nadal let six break points slip by in the fifth game before finally moving ahead 3-2 at the seventh attempt with a fantastic crosscourt passing shot.

And the Spaniard had a chance to force a fifth set on Medvedev’s serve in the ninth game but couldn’t convert. Regardless, he held with ease as he served it out 6-4 to send the match to a decider.

Both players looked to be conserving energy at the start of the fifth set as the incredible level on both sides of the net seemed to be taking its toll physically. In the fifth game, after almost four hours and 40 minutes of play, Nadal edged in front for the first time in the match, breaking the Russian with a pinpoint topspin forehand winner that clipped the line to move 3-2 up.

Nadal was made to save three break points in the very next game as the momentum looked to be shifting back to the Russian, who threw everything he had left in the tank at his opponent, but still the Spaniard managed an important hold to consolidate the break at 4-2.

Medvedev held to love for 4-3 and with the clock ticking over into the five-hour mark, Nadal was forced to find some of his best tennis to keep his nose in front, which he duly did before stepping up to attempt to serve out the match at 5-4.

And much to the disbelief of everyone watching, Medvedev fought back from 30-0 down on his opponent’s serve to reel off four points in a row and defy the Spaniard with a break at the most opportune of moments.

But Nadal showed why he is one of the best players to play the game as he showed the mental resolve to break again to move 6-5 up and have a second chance to serve out the match.

When Nadal fired down a third ace of the match, he brought up three championship points but needed only one of them as 13 years after winning his first Australian Open title, he won for a second time in Melbourne.

And more importantly for Nadal, it means that he moves ahead of Djokovic and Federer, taking sole ownership of the record for the man with the most major titles in the history of the sport.