Rafael Nadal's love-hate relationship with Australian Open and his career Down Under

Rafael Nadal has won the Australian Open just twice and has lost more finals than at any other grand slam.

Around a glorious 2009 final victory over Roger Federer and a stunning 2022 comeback win over Daniil Medvedev, there have been four defeats in deciders and a string of other near-misses.

His career at Melbourne Park now looks like being over, after the champion Spaniard withdrew injured from the 2024 Open.

Here, we look back at Nadal's entire Australian Open career, the highs and lows.

Rafael Nadal hits a forehand against Michael Tabara in his first-ever Australian Open match in 2004. Nadal beat Tabara and Thierry Ascione before falling to Australia's Lleyton Hewitt in the third round. Hewitt was already a dual grand slam winner, while Nadal was only 17.

Rafael Nadal congratulates Lleyton Hewitt after their 2004 Australian Open third round match. Hewitt beat Nadal in straight sets, though the Spanish youngster took the first two to tiebreakers.

Rafael Nadal congratulates Lleyton Hewitt on winning their 2005 Australian Open match. Hewitt was 3-0 against Nadal at that point, though the Spaniard edged the Aussie 7-4 by the time Hewitt retired. Nadal went on the win his maiden Grand Slam title at the next major of that year, the French Open, but then missed the 2006 Australian Open with a foot injury.

Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-2 in the 2009 Australian Open men's final, winning his first title at the grand slam. The great rivals shared a touching moment post-match, with Nadal consoling a weeping Federer.

Rafael Nadal poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after winning the final of the 2009 Australian Open against Roger Federer, in a five-set classic. It gave Nadal a 5-2 advantage over Federer in grand slam finals at that point; a ledger that now reads 6-3. The final lasted four hours and 23 minutes and was a Herculean effort by Nadal especially, given that he'd played and won a five-hour, 14-minute semi-final against Fernando Verdasco; which was then the longest match in Australian Open history.

Rafael Nadal serves in his quarter-final against David Ferrer at the 2011 Australian Open. Nadal suffered a hamstring injury early in the match, which he entered boasting an 11-3 record against his fellow Spaniard, and lost to Ferrer in straight sets. It cost him the chance to win four consecutive grand slam titles, having won the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open in 2010.

Rafael Nadal plays a backhand against Novak Djokovic in the 2012 Australian Open final. Nadal lost to Djokovic in one of the greatest matches of all time, a 5-7 6–4 6–2 6–7 (5-7) 7–5 epic that lasted five hours and 53 minutes, making it the longest grand slam final in history and a heartbreaker for the Spanish great.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal after the 2012 Australian Open final. Djokovic inflicted Nadal's first loss in a Melbourne Park decider - but it would not be his last. Nadal went on to miss the 2013 Australian Open due to a stomach virus, an absence that dropped him out of the top four in the ATP Tour rankings for the first time in eight years.

Rafael Nadal puts his hand to his face in his final against Stan Wawrinka at the 2014 Australian Open. Nadal lost to Wawrinka 6–3 6–2 3–6 6–3, after injuring his back during the warm-up. He had entered the match with a 12-0 record against Wawrinka.

Pete Sampras (centre) poses with Stan Wawrinka and Rafael Nadal after the 2014 Australian Open final. Wawrinka won his first grand slam title and inflicted Nadal's second defeat in a Melbourne Park decider. Nadal showed immense class by playing out the match despite his back injury, not wanting Wawrinka to suffer the unjust fate of winning his maiden major via a retirement. A legendary sportsman, in more ways than one.

Rafael Nadal serves during the 2015 Australian Open, where he met Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals. A 17-match winning streak against Berdych was shattered when Nadal lost in straight sets.

Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 in the 2017 Australian Open men's final, winning his fifth title at the grand slam and inflicting Nadal's third defeat in a Melbourne Park decider.