'Daniil Medvedev cracked under pressure against Novak Djokovic,' said Toni Nadal

Competing in his ninth Australian Open final, Novak Djokovic defeated Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 in an hour and 53 minutes to lift the 18th Major crown and remain perfect at Melbourne Park.

Medvedev came into the final with the 20-match winning streak, seeking the fourth straight title after the Paris Masters, the ATP Finals and the ATP Cup. The Russian played well in the opening six matches at Melbourne Park to reach the second Major final, staying competitive against Novak in the opening set before the Serb shifted into a higher gear to sail towards the title.

Speaking about the final, Toni Nadal said that Medvedev couldn't stand the pressure from the other side, losing the crucial points and falling apart after the opening set, as he badly wanted that first Major title.

"I'm sure Daniil came out to Rod Laver Arena with all the information about Novak well analyzed. Still, he couldn't retain his poise, overcome the frustration of not winning the first set, or keep up the fight in those difficult moments. It surprises me that athletes of this level sometimes have that little capacity to face the difficulty. A day before the final, he said that the pressure was higher for Djokovic, who can't miss the opportunity to win titles if he wants to match Roger and Rafael.

The outcome of the match showed that the pressure was on his shoulders. The difference between scoring a first Major or missing a new opportunity has an overwhelming weight, no matter how young you are," Toni Nadal said.