Sinner takes it all: Jannik comes from two sets down to claim men’s crown

The Australian Open’s ironman finally relented.

Playing a record-breaking 31st set for the tournament, including a fourth five-setter and third in a row, and having watched his two-set lead vanish, Daniil Medvedev had no more to give.

Italy’s Jannik Sinner – the pre-final favourite and hottest player on tour since last year’s US Open – instead celebrated a memorable 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 triumph that could usher in a new era for the sport.

Medvedev’s unravelling, and Sinner’s belated rise, appeared to happen in slow motion, but the evidence began as early as late in the second set before the Russian handed over the decisive break in the fifth game of the final set that sealed his fate.

The 22-year-old’s 51st winner clinched him his maiden grand slam title as he fell to the court in relief as much as ecstasy.

“It takes a little while to process everything. I’m extremely happy how I handled things today,” Sinner said.

Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev show their respect for each other after their five-set final.Credit: Eddie Jim

“The situation on court was very, very tough. I think the most important part was the support I had throughout these two weeks. I felt that many, many people were watching also from home on the TV, so I just tried my best. I was a little bit in trouble today with two-sets-to-love down and in a little bit over one hour.

“So, I just tried to stay positive, trying to stick to the game plan, which I had to adjust a little bit. Daniil is an incredible player, and he showed this also today again – [he is] an incredible fighter.

“He spent so many hours on court, so I’m obviously sorry for him today, but, for sure, he will lift some more grand slam trophies.”

Sinner had only once before recovered from a two-set deficit, and it was in the third round in Melbourne last year when he rallied back to outlast Marton Fucsovics. He is just the third Italian man to win a grand slam singles title and first since Adriano Panatta won the 1976 Roland Garros championship.

The heartbreaking defeat was Medvedev’s third in as many Australian Open finals – still two behind Andy Murray’s five – and follows him losing from two sets up two years ago against Rafael Nadal.

Jannik Sinner wins his first grand slam title.Credit: Eddie Jim

It was a cruel end for the world No.3, who twice came back from a two-set deficit this fortnight, in the second round and semi-finals, after which he revealed he did not get to bed until 5am.

“I felt really bad after [the loss to] Rafa. I don’t know how I’m going to feel in one week or in one month [after this one] because sometimes the deception comes after, and, after Rafa’s loss, was it the reason or not, I had my worst season,” Medvedev said.

“I don’t know what’s happening next, but I’m really going to try to keep the mentality that I go for next grand slam, and I go to try to win there and in the middle, there is going to be some other tournaments. If I play them, I play them to win. Otherwise, I would stay at home with my family.”

Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley often speaks of his grand slam launching the careers of young stars, with the likes of Aryna Sabalenka (2023), Novak Djokovic (2008), Martina Hingis (1997) and Stefan Edberg (1985) winning their first major in Melbourne. Sinner is the latest.

He finished last season on a 20-2 tear, including three victories over Medvedev and two over Djokovic, who he beat again, and handsomely, in Friday’s semi-finals.

Sinner needed a major title to cement his status as a tour force, but he still has one more to catch up to Carlos Alcaraz, who promises to be the other face of this new generation.

But nothing came easy for him in the early going on Sunday night.

Medvedev showed no signs of his gruelling journey to the tournament’s final night, and instead it was the usually smooth-moving Sinner who looked a step slow and lethargic at the start.

The 2021 US Open winner patrols the baseline like few others can, and again performed his best impression of a brick wall before repeatedly forcing his way back to neutral then going on attack.

Several of his 14 winners in the opening set followed him recovering from defensive positions as Sinner struggled for a way through. The 198-centimetre giant was helped by the fact he missed only three of 22 first serves in zooming to a one-set lead, while twice breaking Sinner’s serve.

The second set was equally lopsided to 5-1, with Medvedev crushing another forehand winner to break Sinner to 15. He was racing to the finish line at that stage, but that is when everything started to change.

Daniil Medvedev won the first two sets, but lost another Australian Open final; his third time as runner-up.Credit: Eddie Jim

Sinner thumped a cross-court forehand winner, then, just as significantly, came out on top in a grinding rally to recoup one of the breaks before recording an easy hold.

Another break point followed in the next game – and a conversion would have put the set back on serve – but Medvedev crucially hung on to snatch a two-set edge. It seemed important at the time, but Sinner had at least gained a foothold in the contest.

As the third set progressed, only the scoreboard was in Medvedev’s favour.

Sinner was suddenly the one cruising through his service games, then heaping pressure on the Russian on return. Medvedev’s first-serve percentage kept slipping, and Sinner’s opportunity eventually came in the 10th game.

Jannik Sinner’s support crew.Credit: AP Photo

He needed just one, somehow keeping a big serve in play and working his way into the point, only for an increasingly leaky Medvedev to misfire again.

Sinner had a set in his pocket and a pulse in the final, even if it was still a long way back, and he had little margin for error. The momentum continued into the fourth set, but the fourth seed failed to capitalise on break points in both Medvedev’s opening two service games.

But then it was Sinner’s turn to feel the heat after double-faulting for 0-30 at three-all. He hit an ace to reach 30-all, then another to save a break point before a third to escape the game.

Sinner’s serve was one of the first areas his co-coach Simone Vagnozzi targeted to improve when he took over in February 2022, and it paid dividends when he needed it most.

Around the same time in the match, his Australian coach Darren Cahill, who was vocal all night, bellowed that Medvedev was “tired”. It was evident in the extended rallies that Medvedev was no longer the sprightly version of himself from the opening sets.

The 10th game proved Medvedev’s undoing once more. At deuce, he sprayed a backhand to face set point, on which he could not hold out against Sinner’s assault.

“[When I had] control, it’s tough to say, but [probably] when I got the break on the fourth set,” Sinner said.

“I started to feel like, ‘OK, I’m there, I can do it’ because the one break in the third set on 5-4, I broke him, went 6-4, it was obviously, maybe, the most important break I’ve done today because it made me to have one set and then trying to see how he reacts. But if I have to choose, [it] was the break in the fourth set.”

The chair umpire issued Medvedev with a delay of game warning after he went off court to change ahead of the deciding set and things only got worse from there.

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