Since Wimbledon ended last July, there’s been so much discussion in tennis about the first man to win 21 Grand Slam titles.

The focus has been almost entirely on Novak Djokovic’s bid; almost none of it on Rafael Nadal.

With the first Grand Slam title of 2022 to be determined Sunday, it’s Nadal who is just one win away.

He’ll play the Australian Open final against U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev, who is aiming for back-to-back major titles and his own, albeit smaller, piece of history.

So long in the making, so many months off the tour for Nadal, and so much drama around Djokovic’s deportation the night before his Australian Open title defense was due to begin, makes the race for 21 so much more compelling.

Nadal, only last month, wasn’t even sure if he’d get to Australia after long hours of frustrating and intensive rehabilitation on his foot injury that can never be fully fixed, and a bout of COVID-19.

“For me, it’s all about the Australian Open more than anything else,” Nadal said. “Being very honest, for me its much more important to have the chance to play tennis than win the 21, no?”