Italian tennis player, Jannik Sinner, came back from two sets down to defeat Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final on Sunday, clinching his maiden Grand Slam title.
The Italian fourth seed overcame a rough start to secure a 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory in an intense battle lasting three hours and 44 minutes.
Celebrating his win on Rod Laver Arena, Sinner collapsed to the floor in joy before embracing his coaches, Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill. With 14 aces, 50 winners, and breaking Medvedev’s serve four times, Sinner made history as the first Italian champion at the Australian Open.
At 22, Sinner is the youngest man to win the tournament since Novak Djokovic in 2008 and the first Italian male Grand Slam champion since Adriano Panatta in 1976. His triumph was assured after defeating 10-time champion Djokovic in the semi-finals, ensuring a new champion would emerge.
For Medvedev, ranked third in the world, the loss marks another missed opportunity, reminiscent of his two-set lead slip against Rafael Nadal in the 2022 final. “I’m feeling great, I just have to process it all,” Sinner expressed post-match. “It’s a great moment for me. It’s been a hell of a journey till now.”
Sinner acknowledged his struggle in the initial sets, admitting he had to search for solutions as Medvedev dominated. Eventually, he found his chance in the third set, turning the tide of the match.
Medvedev, a former US Open champion, praised Sinner’s performance. “You fought to the end and you managed to raise your level,” he said. “You and your team are doing an amazing job. I hope I can try to get the next one if we play in a final.”
The final began with Medvedev swiftly unsettling Sinner, who struggled to find his rhythm. Despite his earlier success in the tournament, Sinner faced an uphill battle as Medvedev broke his serve twice in the first set alone. The Italian fought back but found himself two sets down.
The match’s momentum shifted in the third set, with Sinner breaking in the 10th game. He continued his resurgence in the fourth set, forcing a decider. The fifth set saw both players hold serve until Sinner broke Medvedev to seize control, eventually serving out the match for the biggest win of his career.
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