Jannik Sinner secured his inaugural Major title at the Australian Open, etching his name among tennis elites at 22. Displaying remarkable prowess, the rising star triumphed over three top-10 opponents on his path to claiming a Major trophy, dethroning the formidable Novak Djokovic and orchestrating a spectacular comeback against Daniil Medvedev in the final. Toni Nadal, acknowledging Sinner’s outstanding journey to the Melbourne Park title, celebrated him as a formidable force to reckon with in the coming months. The respected coach also singled out Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz as the rivals for tennis supremacy in the years to come.
Expressing concern, Toni speculated that Sinner’s recent triumph might mark a paradigm shift in the sport, potentially establishing him as the preeminent figure on the Tour. Jannik showed his full potential in the second part of 2023, reaching the Wimbledon semi-final before conquering the Canada Masters. The Italian lifted trophies in Beijing and Vienna, entering the top-4 and gathering a boost ahead of the ATP Finals. The Italian defeated Djokovic in the round-robin stage before falling to him in the title clash. However, Jannik beat Novak in the Davis Cup Finals semi-final after saving three match points, leading his country toward the title and preparing for more at the beginning of 2024.
Sinner© Daniel Pockett / Stringer Getty Images Sport
Sinner’s rivals stood no chance in the opening five rounds of the Australian Open, with the young gun moving into the last four without losing a set. With confidence by his side, Sinner liked his chances against a ten-time champion Novak Djokovic. Jannik ousted Novak 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 in three hours and 22 minutes, celebrating his career-best victory and moving into his first Major final. Djokovic lost his first Australian Open match after the quarter-final stage, standing powerless in three sets and experiencing his first Melbourne Park loss after 33 straight wins. Jannik lost 27 points behind the initial shot, never facing a break point and mounting the pressure on the other side.
Toni Nadal praised Jannik Sinner’s Australian Open performance.
Novak did not have the tools to follow that pace, spraying over 50 unforced errors and suffering five breaks from 11 chances offered to his opponent. Sinner tamed his strokes nicely and overpowered Djokovic by a mile in the shortest range up to four strokes. Jannik was off to a great start, which is always essential in notable matches. The Italian earned an early break in the second game of the encounter with a forehand drive-volley winner and created another break chance in game four. Novak saved it before playing another loose service game at 1-4, spraying a backhand error and propelling his rival further in front. Sinner held in game seven after a forced error, wrapping up the opener 6-1 after 35 minutes.
Carried by this boost, Jannik dropped four points behind the initial shot in the second set, maintaining the pressure on the defending champion. Djokovic could not endure it, losing serve in the third game and experiencing another blow to fall 5-2 behind. Jannik clinched the eighth game with a forced error, forging a massive advantage after 73 minutes. Novak saved a break point early in the third set and raised his level after that, following the rival’s pace and reaching a tie break. The Serb saved a match point at 5-6 and stole the breaker 8-6 to keep his chances alive. Sinner forgot the match point instantly, serving well in the fourth set and challenging Djokovic to repeat that.
Jannik Sinner, Australian Open 2024© Julian Finney / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Novak lost serve in the fourth game from 40-0, propelling his rival 3-1 in front and sealing his fate in this match. The Serb held at love in game eight to extend the battle before the Italian landed three winners at 15-30 in the next one, sealing the deal in style with a forehand winner and moving into his first Major final. Two days later, Sinner faced another stern test in a two-time beaten finalist Daniil Medvedev. The Russian forged two sets to love advantage before the Italian engineered an incredible comeback in a 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 triumph after three hours and 44 minutes, earning his first Major title. Both players scored four breaks, and Jannik clinched his in the pivotal moments, serving well from set number three. Daniil had his chances, reaching deuce on the return at 4-4 in the third set and spraying a backhand error at 30-0 in the seventh game of the fourth set.
Jannik endured all the obstacles and emerged victorious, becoming Italy’s first male singles Major champion since 1976! Medvedev took charge in the opening two sets, controlling the pace on serve and return. Sinner made a fresh start in the third set, delivering a late break in the tenth game to launch his comeback. Jannik saved a break point at 3-3 in the fourth set with an ace and grabbed another break in game ten to lock the overall score and become the favorite ahead of the decider. Sinner fired a forehand winner in the sixth game for a break, moving 4-2 up and cementing the lead with a service winner in the next one. Medvedev prolonged the duel with a volley winner in game eight before Sinner sealed the deal with a forehand down the line winner at 5-3, celebrating his first Major title at 22.
Jannik Sinner, Australian Open 2024© Daniel Pockett / Stringer – Getty Images Sport
“I fear Jannik’s Australian Open title could change the tennis landscape. The Italian needed notable victories, and he delivered them in Melbourne. Also, many doubts over his composure in high-tension matches vanished. Jannik has made impressive improvements in the previous 12 months, beating names like Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. The Australian Open title provided him with a boost of confidence, and we should expect more from Jannik in the upcoming months, especially after his record top-10 record. Jannik and Carlos should fight for supremacy in the upcoming years,” Toni Nadal said.
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