MELBOURNE: Jannik Sinner has stormed back from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in a five-set Australian Open final, winning his first Grand Slam. He was blown off course in the initial two sets but recovered to win 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in 3 hours and 44 minutes.
A 27 shot rally in the depths of a Grand Slam final 😱
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The match result is a bitter blow for the Russian player, who has now lost a 2nd Australian Open final after being two sets up, after his defeat by Rafael Nadal in 2022.
Medvedev came into the game boasting a 6-3 winning record against the 22-year-old, but had lost the past 3 games.
Jannik is crowned the champion of the @AustralianOpen. Congratulations @janniksin on winning your first Grand Slam® title. #Rolex #AusOpen #Perpetual pic.twitter.com/KIcQj6I8m3
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The Russian had also played three gruelling five-setters at Melbourne Park and spent around six hours longer on the court than Sinner before the final match.
Jannik Sinner, playing in his first Grand Slam final, was broken just twice in the tournament in the run-up to Sunday’s title decider but the Russian doubled that score in the first set.
Sinner was again in deep worry at the start of the second set, fending off numerous break points against Medvedev and pleading for backing from the crowd on Rod Laver Arena.
With the tension rising, both players stayed hard on serve until the 6th game, when Medvedev dumped a backhand into the net to give Sinner 3 break points.
A forehand crosscourt winner gave the Italian the vital break and he went on to take his first championship point.
