Italy’s Jannik Sinner won his first Grand Slam title at the 2024 Australian Open with a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Daniil Medvedev, reminiscent of Rafael Nadal’s triumph in Melbourne in 2022. The 22-year-old came back from two sets down to win 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in front of a crowded Rod Laver Arena in three hours and 44 minutes, his fourth consecutive tour-level victory against his opponent. With the victory, the 22-year-old became the youngest player to win the Australian Open men’s singles title since 20-year-old Novak Djokovic won his first Grand Slam in Melbourne in 2008. Sinner became the first Italian guy to win a major since Adriano Panatta in 1976, and the third Italian man in history, and first at Melbourne Park.
Medvedev’s approach was evident from the outset of the match, having suffered three consecutive losses to Sinner last year, as he stormed out of the blocks, breaking the Italian early. He positioned closer to the baseline than his customary deep-return stance, as he described to Jim Courier during one of his post-match on-court interactions, taking time away from Sinner, who was also struggling with Medvedev’s poor ball-striking.
Sinner was broken only twice on his way to the final, including a set against Novak Djokovic that included no break points. But he was broken three times in the first two sets, as Medvedev won more than 80 percent of the points with his initial delivery, hammering 23 winners in total.