Sinner snatches victory from jaws of defeat to win Aussie Open

Jannik Sinner completed a comeback from two-sets to love down for the second time in his career as he claimed his first Grand Slam title on Sunday 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 over Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open.

The 22-year-old Italian ranked fourth, handed 2021 US Open winner Medvedev a second huge disappointment in a Melbourne final.

Two years ago, the 28-year-old was unable to hold onto a two-set lead as Rafael Nadal stormed back to take victory in that title match.

Medvedev has now lost three finals here in four editions; his latest defeat lasted almost four hours.

Sinner was playing in his first Grand Slam final while Medvedev owns one title  from six appearances in trophy matches at the majors.

The winner is the third Italian man to win a Grand Slam singles title, after Nicola Pietrangeli and Adrian Pannatta, and the first at the Australian Open.

“I am very proud,” Sinner said after the match “It was a very tough match. He started off really well, he moved me around the court. I could not make my game plan work but somehow in the third set I was looking for the small chances, which I used. The match changed and I am really happy with how I corrected it. There are so many emotions right now. I have to sit down and process it but an unbelievable feeling.”

He is the youngest to win the trophy here since 2008, when Novak Djokovic won the first of his 10 titles aged 20.

Sinner is the fifth man to win his first Grand Slam singles title after trailing two sets to none in the championship match. The other players who have done so are  Bjorn Borg (1974 Roand Garros), Ivan Lendl 1984 Roland Garros, Gaston Gaudio  2004 Roland Garros  and Dominic Thiem  2020 US Open

Italy’s Sinner, who stunned Djokovic in the semi-finals 48 hours earlier, was caught flat-footed early on in the biggest match of his career as he ran up against the veteran who still leads their career series  6-4. 

The 22-year-old Sinner had won their previous three meetings, all played last autumn. He made a valiant run to level at two sets apiece as more than 20 hours on court in Melbourne began to tell on Medvedev.

The youngster with seven hour less play in his legs, was able to turn the tide in the final, breaking for 4-2 in the deciding set before closing out victory three games later with a winner to the corner. .

Four of Medvedev’s seven matches stretched to the full five-set distance here.  

Sinner has now defeated two of the world’s top 3 players after defeating Djokovic in a semi-final stunner 48 hours earlier.

The 22-year-old Sinner had won their last three meetings, all played last autumn. He made a valiant run to level at two sets apiece as more than 20 hours on court here began to tell on Medvedev.

Medvedev got away to the first break of the match as he earned a 2-1 lead in the opening set, and backed it up, 3-1. 

The third seed claimed a second break of the crowd favourite Italian and secured the set after 36 minutes as he scooped a winner down the line at the net on a third set point.

The 28-year-old began the second set with authority, holding to love but was unable to convert on four break points in the second game as Sinner battled through to hold for 1-all.

But the third seed bore down as he applied the pressure, earning a double break for 5-1 before Sinner clawed one back for 2-5.

Medvedev battled to serve out a two-sets-to-love lead, requiring two set points and saving a break point as well in the process.

The third set stayed on serve, with Sinner taking a 5-4 lead with Sinner winning it on a set point as his opponent returned long to finally get on the scoreboard after a set where he muttered “I’m dead” at a low point but profitted from a dip in his opponent’s level.

Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning 2024 Australian Open by ATPTour.com

After claiming the fourth to square the contest, Sinner held tight in the deciding set, with his single break deciding the winning outcome.Medvedev marches past Sinner to win Australian Open