Jannik Sinner hit a forehand from the baseline and he collapsed on the court, giving himself a few moments to realize that he had just erased a two-set deficit to win his first major title.
The 22-year-old Sinner found a way to turn defense into attack in his first Grand Slam final, beating Daniil Medvedev 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 , Sunday, to sign the Australian Open title.
“I still have to think about it… Beating Novak [Djokovic] in the semi-final and then Daniil in the final, they are difficult players to defeat, Sinner said. It’s a great moment for me and my team. We also know that we have to improve if we want to have another opportunity to lift a big trophy. »
It was Sinner’s third victory in a row against a top-5 player, following his quarter-final triumph over Andrey Rublev (no 5) and the one in the semi-final against Novak Djokovic (no 1). Only Djokovic and Roger Federer had achieved the feat during a major tournament played on hard court.
Sinner became the first Italian to win the Australian Open and the youngest winner of a men’s final at Melbourne Park since Djokovic’s first Grand Slam title in 2008.
While Carlos Alcaraz won the Wimbledon tournament and Sinner has just won the first major tournament of the season, a change of guard is coming.
“It’s been quite a journey, even though I’m only 22,” Sinner said. It’s obviously a huge tournament for me. I want to thank everyone for making this Grand Slam tournament so special for me. »
For Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, this is his fifth defeat in six Grand Slam finals. Third seed in Australia, Medvedev set a record by playing a fourth five-set match in this tournament. His 24 hours and 17 minutes on court beat Alcaraz’s 23 hours and 40 minutes at Flushing Meadows in 2022 for the most playing time in a single major tournament in the modern era.
Medvedev also became the first player in the modern era to lose two Grand Slam finals in five sets after winning the first two.
Medvedev lost two finals in a row at the Australian Open, at the hands of Djokovic, in 2021, and against Rafael Nadal, the following year, after taking the lead by two sets.
Medvedev won five matches in five sets to reach the final of this year’s tournament.
Sinner had lost just one set in his six rounds at Melbourne Park, a third-set tiebreaker to Djokovic, before falling behind 0-2 to Medvedev.
It was only when he scored a break in the sixth game of the fifth set that the Italian had his first Grand Slam title within reach.
Medvedev started the match as if he wanted to end it quickly, after all his time on the field.
The Russian stood closer to the baseline to receive serves and came to the net more consistently than usual. He broke Sinner in the third game and won the first set in 36 minutes.
Medvedev got two more breaks in the second set before getting broken himself at 5-1. However, he had success in his next service game.
Both players won their serve in the third set, up to 10e part. Medvedev was only one point away from tying the score 5-5, but three unforced errors allowed Sinner to extend the suspense.
The Italian did it again at 10e game of the fourth inning, surprising Medvedev and the crowd at Rod Laver Arena.
“I want to congratulate Jannik because he showed that he deserved the victory,” Medvedev said. This probably won’t be our last Grand Slam duel, but I hope we can win the next one if we are in the final. »