MATCH REPORT | 2024 Australian Open: Jannik Sinner wins maiden Grand Slam title in scintillating comeback win over Daniil Medvedev

It is sheer joy and elation for Jannik Sinner, but heartbreak for Daniil Medvedev as the Italian ace has sealed a maiden Grand Slam claiming the 2024 Australian Open in stunning style winning it 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.

Anointed as the king of tennis after beating Djokovic at the ATP Finals by Italian media, they will be beside themselves this time around as Sinner who many quipped about his potential to win Grand Slams over the fellow Next Gen in Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune continues his epic run as of late to win a maiden crown.

But for Medvedev, it is shades of the 2019 US Open final as he went two sets up in this case against Sinner, but the all or nothing mentality seemed to be the decisive nail in the coffin as he looked more and more exhausted and Sinner on the other hand revived himself to terrific effect to take each of the next three sets on decisive breaks when it mattered most. Forza Jannik, an Italian King is Born!

In the first set of the match, Sinner was under the cosh early doors. Novak Djokovic didn’t create a single break point against Sinner, but Medvedev got a break in his first return game. He consolidated that opening break by going into a 40-0 lead on his own serve with a second ace clinching a comfortable hold at 3-1.

Medvedev again raced away on his serve and was continuing to shell shock the Italian at 4-2 up. Sinner failed to get his serve back in play twice as Medvedev escaped down the road at 5-3 up. He brought up two set points and after Sinner saved both, he earned a third and wasn’t to be denied again as Sinner sent a backhand wide.

Darren Cahill, Sinner’s coach was left shouting in desperation as Medvedev kept cool and calm and despite spurning multiple break chances at the start of the set, he got his reward. He didn’t let another pass him by as he went into a 3-1 lead. He held serve from there to continue his lead and it didn’t seem like he was going to break or was he?

He broke again at 5-1 to go to the brink of a two set lead, but Sinner grew into the match and prolonged the set as it looked suddenly like it could’ve gone back on serve but vitally, Medvedev saved break points and took his set point finally to go two up. Albeit with Sinner having some impetus. Neither could penetrate each others serve in the third as Medvedev looked for a sneaky opportunity to head towards claiming the title that wasn’t forthcoming as despite chipping away at the Sinner serve in the back end of the set, he went 5-4 up and the impossible was on if he could break the Russian’s serve to seal the set.

He did so as despite saying he was dead five minutes prior, he was able to snatch the set from Medvedev who amid the new balls was starting to look towards his best again. But he was forced to play a fourth with Sinner having the serve to send it towards a decider at 2-1.

To begin the fourth, Medvedev started brightly but Sinner held serve at 2-1 and Medvedev had the trainer come out to look at his right foot. He started to look super tired and Medvedev had to turn around a break point deficit to make it 2-2 and keep it on serve. After levelling up on Sinner’s serve, the Italian continued to have now difficulty but given Medvedev’s struggles on his own serve, a pivotal impass was likely incoming at 3-2 up to decide the fate of the match.

But he faced no such issues as he made it 3-3. Medvedev had a break point on Sinner’s serve after a forehand drew a mistake. However he was unable to take it as Sinner delivered a timely ace. He punched in a forehand winner to make it 4-3. Medvedev was dragged to deuce by Sinner on his serve but he edged to 4-4.

Like last set though, Sinner found a way to not give Medvedev a sniff on his serve going into 5-4 and last set Medvedev crumbled instead of heading it towards a break or tiebreak situation. But again Sinner had the answers as Medvedev moved 40-30 on his serve and looked to be heading towards 5-5, but the Italian fired in a drive-volley for teh winner to send it to deuce and then brought up set point as Rod Laver Arena erupted with a tantalising conclusion set.

Sinner continued to apply the pressure in the final set as he went 2-1 up but it was the case like the previous two sets very much of which player would crack first as this continued onto 3-2 up for the Italian. The vital moment was soon than expected as Sinner earned three break points on the Medvedev serve. Up 40-0, he missed the first of them with a forehand long before firing past an exhausted Medvedev to confirm a 4-2 lead and he held serve from there at 5-2 to go one away. After going 30-0 up, some nerves kicked in but on his first match point, the title was sealed.