Sinner completed an extraordinary comeback from a two-set deficit to defeat Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in an exciting five-set final, securing his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open on Sunday. With a score of 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3, Sinner became the first Italian man to win a grand slam since 1976.
The final match was the climax of an exceptional tournament for the 22-year-old, who had already defeated the world’s number one player, Novak Djokovic, in the semifinals. The Australian Open saw an astonishing 35 five-set thrillers, matching the Open Era record for any grand slam. Medvedev’s initial dominance put immense pressure on the young Italian, but Sinner displayed remarkable resilience. He adjusted his tactics and outlasted his opponent in longer rallies. He clinched the third set, causing the momentum to shift in his favor, and continued to dominate in the fourth and fifth sets, overturning the deficit.
For Medvedev, this defeat was a painful reminder of the 2022 Australian Open final where he also squandered a two-set lead against Rafael Nadal. Unfortunately, history repeated itself, and he became the first player in the Open Era to suffer multiple grand slam final defeats in such a manner. Sinner’s victory solidified his place among tennis’ elite and made him the youngest male player to triumph at the Australian Open since 2008. He also joined an elite group as only the third Italian man to ever secure a grand slam victory.