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Jannik Sinner beats Daniil Medvedev in five-set thriller to claim maiden Grand Slam at Australian Open 2024
Jannik Sinner made an emphatic comeback from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in Australian Open final.
Italy's Jannik Sinner scripted a sensational come-from-behind win, reminiscent of Rafael Nadal's 2022 feat in Melbourne, against Daniil Medvedev to claim his maiden Grand Slam trophy at the 2024 Australian Open on Sunday. The 22-year-old rallied from two-sets-to-love down to register a 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 win in front of a packed Rod Laver Arena to claim a three-hour, 44-minute triumph, his fourth consecutive tour-level win against his rival.
With the win, the 22-year-old became the youngest player to win the Australian Open men's singles title since a 20-year-old Novak Djokovic claimed his maiden Slam in Melbourne in 2008. Sinner also became the first Italian man to win a major since Adriano Panatta in 1976, the third Italian man in history, and first at Melbourne Park.
"Thanks [to] my team," Sinner said during the trophy ceremony. "Everyone who is in the box and watching from home, who works with me. We are trying to get better everyday and even during the tournament, trying to get stronger and understand the situation a little bit better. It is not easy as I am still a little bit young but I want to thank everyone."It was sheer agony for Medvedev, who came back from two sets down twice over the last fortnight to reach his third Australian Open final, but failed to prevent an inspired comeback from Sinner. The world No. 3 has now gone 1-5 in major finals as he lost the chance to become the sixth active player on the tour to win multiple Slams and go past reigning Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz (No. 2) in the ATP rankings.
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Medvedev's strategy was clear right from the start of the match, having incurred three straight losses against Sinner last year, as he flew out of the blocks, breaking the Italian early. He stood closer to the baseline than his usual deep-return position, which he had explained to Jim Courier in one of his post-match on-court interactions, taking the time away from Sinner, who also struggled against the falt ball-striking from Medvedev.
Sinner was broken just twice en route to the final, which included a match against Novak Djokovic, where he did not face a single break point. But he was broken thrice in the opening two sets as Medvedev won over 80 per cent points behind his first delivery while blasting 23 winners in all.
Despite Medvedev standing on the brink of a win, Sinner resumed with more authority, pushing the Russian deeper with the weight behind his forehand, while finding more first-serves in. Sinner missed an easy forehand pass at the net following a 31-shot rally in the 10th game of the third set but bounced back quickly to break Medvedev and win the set, beginning his comeback in the clash. The Italian saved a breakpoint at 3-3 in a tense fourth set with a big ace and pounced on Medvedev's serve again late on to level the match at two sets apiece, before a vital break for a 4-2 lead in the decider put him on course for victory.
