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Jannik Sinner was crowned Australian Open 2024 men's singles champion after he defeated Daniil Medvedev of Russia in the final 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. After an exciting match in the women’s singles category that saw Aryna Sabalenka reclaim her Australian Open throne, fans witnessed a new champion in the men’s singles category. The summit clash saw two established players Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev locking horns at the Rod Laver Arena. The top five players gave a tough fight to each other for the prestigious Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.
The 22-year-old Italian took down the 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic in the semifinal stage and dropped just one set in the entire tournament. Sinner played his first final at a major tournament. Sinner’s Russian rival Daniil Medvedev, on the other hand, registered a come-from-behind win over Alexander Zverev in the semifinals. Currently ranked third in world rankings, Medvedev was certainly the more experienced one in the competition, given he has been a part of five more Grand Slam finals earlier.
The 27-year-old went on to gain dominance in the first set itself and put his counterpart on a troubling start. The Russian won the first set 6-3, with his 14 unforced errors and Sinner’s 8. Sinner showed negative body language at the beginning of the second set when Medvedev got a break point early. The young tennis star seemingly got under pressure and lost the second set as well 6-3.
The US Open 2021 winner continued his prowess in the third set but was stopped by Sinner, who made a stunning comeback in a nail-biting thriller and took the set 6-4. This was just the beginning for the promising star, who later clinched the fifth set 6-4 to force a decider. Sinner continued his dominance in the final set from the beginning and won the sixth set 6-3 to emerge as AO 2024 men's singles champion.
Needless to say, Medvedev put in his best effort today; however, his effort fell short as a young Sinner gave his all to clinch his maiden Grand Slam. Not only this but with this, he became the first Italian after Adriano Panatta, to win a Grand Slam. Panatta won the title at Roland Garros in 1976.
