Daniil Medvedev vs Jannik Sinner wasn’t the final we expected, but the one we deserved. After 10 years, we have a new Australian Open champion who isn’t Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, or Roger Federer.
Coming back from 2-0 down, Jannik Sinner claimed three consecutive sets to lift his maiden Australian Open title and become the first Italian since Adriano Panatta to win a Grand Slam.
Daniil Medvedev’s domination
An absolutely flawless set of tennis from Daniil Medvedev. The former world no. 1 showed no sign of fatigue despite having spent over 20 hours on court already. The master tactician he is, to make life difficult for Jannik Sinner, he started to stand close to the baseline. He also increased his speed on both the backhand and the forehand wing.
Medvedev served a whopping 82% of the first serve in, hitting six aces. He hit 14 winners, compared to Sinner’s 5, and broke the Italian twice to take the set 6-3.
The Russian continued to play an absurd level of tennis, hitting more winners and fewer unforced errors than Sinner. The most shocking thing was Medvedev’s net play. Known for being a liability at the net, Medvedev was outmaneuvering Sinner in every department.
He broke the Italian twice and was serving for the second set at 5-1, only to be broken back. Jannik Sinner upped his level, but Medvedev stayed strong and served it out to take a set, 6-3, and a two sets to one lead.
Jannik Sinner’s incredible comeback
The third set was much closer, with no breaks of serve until the tenth game of the set. Sinner got back into the groove, while Medvedev became human once again. Putting the serve on Medvedev at 5-4, the Italian played the kind of tennis everyone expected from him, attacking.
Similar to the fourth set, both players continued to dominate on serve, but once again, with Medvedev serving at 5-4, the Italian upped his game while the Russian showed signs of fatigue and nerves. Firing thunderous forehand, Sinner forced enough unforced errors of the racket of Medvedev to take it to the fifth set.
With clear signs of fatigue, Medvedev couldn’t do much against a fresh and in-form Sinner. Despite saving a break in the first game, he buckled under pressure and gave the Italian a lead in the fifth. Jannik Sinner showed no sign of nerves as he finished the match by hitting a monster forehand down the line.
Editors pick
