Rafael Nadal's 21st

Rafael Nadal's 21st Grand Slam triumph watched by 5 million users

Rafael Nadal made history at the 2022 Australian Open, defeating Daniil Medvedev in a thriller in the final to become the first man in tennis history to win 21 Grand Slams. Meanwhile, Ashleigh Barty became the first Australian to win the women's singles title in over four decades.

The tournament continued to make history off the court too, as record numbers thronged to watch their favorite players in action.

According to the latest numbers released by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), the men's singles final was watched by almost five million people on Sony Sports Network, the competition's official broadcaster in India. This makes it the most-watched men's Grand Slam final to date on the network.

Overall, almost 22 million people watched the tournament in India, making it the most-watched Grand Slam in recent years. The biggest market share of viewers came from the state of Tamil Nadu, followed by Pondicherry and Maharashtra. Goa was in fourth place, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Following their successful runs Down Under, Rafael Nadal and Ashleigh Barty will turn their attention to the Indian Wells Open. Both players are yet to play a match since their title runs at Melbourne Park.

Barty headlines the WTA 1000 event, held from March 9-20, as the No. 1 seed, followed by World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka and World No. 3 Barbora Krejcikova. Also participating are defending champion Paula Badosa as well as former winners Naomi Osaka and Victoria Azarenka.

On the men's side, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is on the entry list but his participation remains in doubt in the midst of vaccination mandates. The Serb is followed by World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev and World No. 3 Alexander Zverev as the next highest seeds.

Nadal is likely to be the fifth seed at the event, held between March 10-20. Defending champion Cameron Norrie and former winner Dominic Thiem also feature in the line-up at the ATP 1000 event.

Nadal is on a 10-match winning streak in 2022 and has yet to lose a match since the turn of the year. Barty is on an 11-match winning streak and is unbeaten in 2022 just like the Spaniard.

30 January 2022. Rafa Nadal beat Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 to win the Australian Open Men’s Final to become the first male player to win 21 Grand Slam Singles Titles and only the second male player to win all four slams at least twice in the post-1968 Open era.

You May Also Like: Nadal Earns Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award: 'I Can't Be Happier

Rafael Nadal invited another expansion to his Mallorca foundation this week. After his companions had chosen him for the 2021 Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award in December, the recently delegated Australian Open hero has now gotten the equipment in Spain.

The 2021 prize has been given pride of spot in the foundation's Rafa Nadal Museum, close by his four past sportsmanship grants. First getting the award in 2010, the 21-time Grand Slam champion has now been chosen for the distinction in four continuous years.

"I can't be more joyful to get once again the Sportsmanship Award from my associates on the Tour," Nadal said when the 2021 ATP Awards were reported. "It implies a great deal to me, so much obliged to each player that imagines that I am the right one to get this honor."

The Melbourne ATP 250 title Nadal won in January has likewise gone in plain view in the exhibition hall.