In an epic final, the 22-year-old rallies from two sets down to beat Medvedev for his first Grand Slam, becoming Italy’s first men’s singles winner since 1976
Right before the start of the sixth game of the second set when he was a set and a break down, Jannik Sinner engaged in a long and animated chat with coach Darren Cahill. Bulldozed tactically and skilfully by Daniil Medvedev, the young Italian sought answers from his box. The encouraging words, it appeared, would be to ride the storm and see what comes out the other end.
What did, was Sinner becoming a Grand Slam champion for the first time as his signature forehand winner ended a three-hour, 44-minute Australian Open final in which Medvedev set the pace but Sinner sprinted home 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
What did, was the 22-year-old, in his first Slam final against an opponent in his sixth, showing composure and ability to problem-solve from a two-set deficit. What did, was the first Italian singles Slam champion since 1976 becoming just the second player in the Open Era to win an Australian Open final from two sets to love down.
What did, was the latest Next Gen-turned-Slam champion etching his name as a new Australian Open men’s singles champion in a decade (since Stan Wawrinka in 2014), and the youngest since Novak Djokovic in 2008.
Beating 10-time winner Djokovic in the semi-final, Sinner did not celebrate wildly, because for him the tournament wasn’t over. He did not even after it was, merely falling onto court and, hand on heart, acknowledging the crowd after getting back up. That’s your icy-cool former skier and current tennis sensation who concluded his on-court speech by saying, “I don’t know anymore what to say.”
The same could be said for Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion who has now lost five of his six Slam finals. Twice from being two sets to love up (the first also at the Australian Open in 2022 against Rafael Nadal). “Probably being in the final is better than losing before,” Medvedev, looking forlorn before finally affording a smile, said on court.(HT)