Jannik Sinner was behind by two sets in his inaugural grand slam final, causing his aspirations of achieving his ultimate goal to diminish rapidly. He appeared completely disoriented and during breaks between points, he exchanged long, intense glances with his team. At one point, he even expressed feeling “defeated”. Sinner’s lack of experience was in stark contrast to the savvy of Daniil Medvedev, who seemed to possess a clear understanding of how to handle the situation.
However, Sinner delved much deeper than he had ever before and miraculously, he was able to slowly reverse his luck.
Despite facing almost certain defeat, the 22-year-old fourth seed staged an incredible comeback and triumphed over Medvedev with a final score of 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3, earning his first ever grand slam title.
“It took some time to process everything,” Sinner stated. “I’m incredibly pleased with how I handled things today. The circumstances on the court were very challenging. The support I received throughout these two weeks was crucial. I felt that many people were watching, even from home, so I gave it my all. I faced some difficulties today being two sets down and in just over an hour, but I remained positive.”
Sinner’s impressive victory has made him the third Italian man to claim a grand slam title, breaking a 45-year drought since Adriano Panatta’s win in 1976. At just 22 years and 165 days old, he is the youngest male player to win the Australian Open since Novak Djokovic in 2008. He joins Carlos Alcaraz as the only two men born in the 2000s to have won a grand slam title. However, this also highlights the overwhelming dominance of the Big Three and how they have prevented the younger generation’s dreams of grand slam success. In fact, there are only two men born in the 1990s who have managed to win a grand slam title.
Unfortunately, despite his determination and effort, Medvedev has been unable to achieve a second title in his tennis career. Despite a valiant display in a challenging tournament, he ultimately suffered a devastating loss. Despite his best efforts and overcoming multiple setbacks, he was unable to seal the victory.
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In the 2022 final, Medvedev was ahead of Rafael Nadal by two sets in the same stadium. However, he has now become the first player to lose two major finals after being two sets up. This brings his record in grand slam finals to 1-5. Despite the devastating loss, the Russian maintained his usual positive and reflective attitude.
“It can be incredibly difficult to face defeat in a final when you have a strong and competitive mindset. It may even hurt more than losing in earlier rounds. However, it’s important to focus on the positives, such as making it to the final rather than the semi-finals or quarter-finals. That’s the only way to move forward.”
Few finals have been preceded by such starkly contrasting paths. No player has played more sets (31) or spent more time on the court in the history of grand slam tennis than Medvedev, who finished with 24hr 17min on the clock with four five-setters, two recoveries from two sets down and multiple matches in searing heat. Sinner, meanwhile, had destroyed all challengers, dropping only a set before the final, and that against Djokovic, the defending champion.
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The intensity of a first grand slam final can’t be matched, as previous performance becomes irrelevant. Medvedev took advantage of his experience from the start, dominating with powerful shots from both sides and a strong serve while playing aggressively near the baseline. Sinner had trouble keeping up and Medvedev quickly took a 6-3, 5-1 lead.
Sinner was able to finally let go and relax when the match started moving quickly. With more freedom, he was able to make a comeback from 1-5 to 3-5 and had two opportunities to break Medvedev’s serve. Despite losing the set, it was a good start for Sinner. He found his rhythm with his first serve and easily won his service games in the beginning of the third set, staying slightly ahead. Sinner explained that he tried to stay on the court for as long as possible, knowing that Medvedev had already spent a lot of time playing.
In the third set with the score at 5-4, Sinner took advantage of his opponent’s pressure and stepped up his game. As Medvedev’s initial serves became inconsistent and mistakes were made, the Italian was able to unleash his shots with more confidence. He dominated the baseline and ultimately secured a fourth set.
The match took on a new dynamic when Sinner’s confidence grew and he started attacking from inside the baseline with powerful groundstrokes. Medvedev struggled in the fourth set and couldn’t handle the pressure, ultimately losing to Sinner’s strong returns and final forehand shot. Sinner’s victory forced a final set.
In the last round, Medvedev appeared fatigued after playing over 24 hours throughout the tournament. In contrast, Sinner seemed full of energy and ready to go. Sinner quickly secured a crucial break when he hit a powerful forehand winner, giving him a 4-2 lead. He then maintained his advantage until the end, solidifying his place in the history books.
Source: theguardian.com
