Sinner beats Medvedev: 2024 Australian Open men’s final – as it happened
All the updates as Jannik Sinner wins the 2024 Australian Open men’s singles final against Daniil Medvedev.
This page is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Jannik Sinner produced a brilliant comeback to win his first Grand Slam title by beating Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller on Sunday, January 28:
This page is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Jannik Sinner produced a brilliant comeback to win his first Grand Slam title by beating Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller on Sunday, January 28:
- Italy’s Jannik Sinner beat Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-3 in the 2024 Australian Open men’s singles final.
- Sinner produced a stunning comeback to win the match that lasted three hours and 44 minutes.
- Fourth-seeded Sinner won his maiden Grand Slam title.
- Third-seeded Medvedev spent more than 24 hours on court during the tournament in search of his second Grand Slam title.
Goodbye for now
That’s all from me, Adam Hancock, after an utterly absorbing Australian Open final.
Jannik Sinner defied the odds to fight back from two sets down to win his first Grand Slam.
A word for Daniil Medvedev, who suffered more heartbreak in Melbourne after a truly heroic effort throughout the tournament.
We have more sport for you here with Rohan Sharma covering the closing stages of Australia vs Indonesia in the last of football’s AFC Asian Cup. And later on, we’ll bring you Egypt vs DR Congo at AFCON 2023.
Goodbye for now!
A 100 percent record in Grand Slam finals
Winning a Grand Slam is no easy feat, but winning one in your very first final is something very special.
Take a look at this list of players who have completed that feat since 2000:
They won a Grand Slam final on their first attempt since 2000:
Safin
🇦🇺 Hewitt
🇸🇪 Johansson
🇪🇸 Costa
🇨🇭 Federer
🇺🇸 Roddick
🇦🇷 Gaudio
🇪🇸 Nadal
🇦🇷 del Potro
🇨🇭 Wawrinka
🇭🇷 Cilic
🇪🇸 Alcaraz
🇮🇹 Sinner 🆕#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/3gR3M5e0lm— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) January 28, 2024
A new name etched in AO history 🏆 ✍️ @janniksin pic.twitter.com/xcNxLtH3mf
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2024
The champion speaks
We’ve just heard from 2024 Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner.
He starts by congratulating his opponent: “Daniil, I want to congratulate you and your team for an amazing tournament again. We have played so many finals together already, but every match I find something where I can improve and you make me a much, much better player.
“I hope you can also lift this trophy here, I am sure that you can do that.”
Sinner also thanked his family for the support that they have shown him.
“My parents always let me choose whatever I wanted to, even when I was younger.
“They never put pressure on me and I wish this freedom is as possible for as many young kids as it can be.”
The Italian also reminded the Australian fans of why he loves visiting Melbourne at this time of year.
“In Europe there is snow and where my parents are it is minus 20 degrees Celsius, so it is better running in the sun here!”
‘He fought to the end’
After a number of speeches, we can finally hear from the players. First up it’s runner-up Daniil Medvedev.
He congratulates Sinner on his epic win: “I want to congratulate Jannik. He showed why he deserves this. He fought to the end and managed to raise his level.
“Probably that’s not your last Grand Slam, but I hope I can get the next one if we play in the final. Big congratulations – you deserve it.”
Reflecting on the final, Medvedev says: “It always hurts to lose in the final, but probably being in the final is better than losing before it.
“I always want to win, but I guess I have to try harder next time”.
The Italian job
Plenty of records for Sinner with victory tonight.
He’s the first Italian player to win the singles title at the Australian Open and he’s only the third Italian man to win a Grand Slam, following in the footsteps of Nicola Pietrangeli and Adriano Panatta.
At just 22 years of age, you imagine this won’t be his first.
FORZA 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/vrWCf7HHGt
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2024
Sinner won this match.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/keUdQmoIpe
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) January 28, 2024
Another epic defeat for Medvedev
It’s 2022 all over again for Medvedev.
Two sets up in an Australian Open final and he’s lost in a five-set epic.
It was an incredible effort from the Russian, who has broken records for length of time spent on court at a Grand Slam.
He will no doubt be hurting, but he can certainly be proud of his efforts in this slam.
📁 Sunday 28 January 2024
L 📁 @AustralianOpen final
L 📁 @janniksin THE COMEBACK #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/O6Z8GciP49— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 28, 2024
Emotional scenes on Rod Laver Arena
Sinner climbs into his box to celebrate with his team, embracing them after an epic encounter in Melbourne.
The 22-year-old has just won his first Grand Slam title in incredible fashion.
He found another level to fight back from two sets down.
Sinner is the winner
SIN-PLY THE BEST 🏆#AO2024 pic.twitter.com/R1MFxck59L
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2024
Jannik Sinner wins the Australian Open!
An aggressive approach from Sinner succeeds, with the Italian pushing Medvedev back with a huge forehand.
It’s championship point to Sinner!
He smashes a forehand winner to seal the deal! An extraordinary comeback victory for the Italian! He collapses to the ground. Incredible!
Medvedev 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 3-6 Sinner
The tension rises
Medvedev keeps the score at 30-15, he will know exactly how his opponent is feeling.
Sinner plants a forehand long and it’s 30-all. Incredible tension.
Medvedev 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 3-5 Sinner
Sinner starts strongly
How are your nerves, Jannik Sinner? I imagine his heart is racing out there.
He’s not showing it though, racing to a 30-0 lead.
Medvedev 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 3-5 Sinner
Medvedev makes Sinner serve for the title
A simply incredible comeback from Sinner. He looked lost at two sets down, but has shown real character to keep this final alive.
Medvedev needs to win this service game and hope that Sinner buckles under pressure.
The Russian is hanging on but still finding success at the net, moving to a 30-15 lead.
A big first serve then takes him to 40-15, with Medvedev sealing the game from the net.
Can Sinner hold his nerve?
Medvedev 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 3-5 Sinner
Sinner one service game away from his first Grand Slam
One of the best rallies of the match concludes with Sinner smashing a cross-court forehand winner. Both men are leaving nothing on this court.
That 27-shot rally leaves Sinner at 40-15. He sends down a huge first serve and Medvedev’s return goes long.
He is a service game away from his first Grand Slam title!
Medvedev 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 2-4 Sinner
Sinner looks to move one game away from victory
Sinner starts with an ace as he looks to consolidate that break. The crowd loved that.
Dare I say it, but Medvedev is starting to look like a beaten man. But there will be plenty of pressure on Sinner as the winning line approaches.
Talking of pressure and Sinner sinks a serve into the net for a double fault. It’s 30-15.
Medvedev 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 2-4 Sinner
Sinner breaks Medvedev!
Three break points for Sinner after Medvedev hit the net with an attempted serve and volley.
The Russian saves the first one, as Sinner hits long. But he can’t survive another, as Sinner rips a forehand winner from the middle of the court.
Is that the crucial break for Sinner?
Medvedev 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 2-4 Sinner
Another Melbourne classic
Melbourne knows how to throw up a special final and we have yet another one tonight.
No Nadal? No Djokovic? No Federer? No problem.
It’s now three hours and 30 minutes out on court for Medvedev and Sinner.
After all that time, could this be the vital moment for Sinner? He whips a passing shot beyond Medvedev and he’s 0-30 up.
Medvedev 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 2-3 Sinner
Sinner keeps the decider on serve
There is still some incredible tennis being played in this final, with both players slugging it out from the baseline.
A 25-shot rally moves Sinner 40-15 ahead and the Italian whips a forehand winner on the run to keep the decider on serve.
Incredible stuff.
Medvedev 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 2-3 Sinner
More Medvedev stats
Some stats:
– Medvedev is playing his 31st set in this tournament: the most any player has played in the Open Era at a singles Grand Slam.
– Sinner and Medvedev is the 35th five-set match at the 2024 #AusOpen. Equals the Open Era record for most five-set matches at a Grand…
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 28, 2024
Marathon man Medvedev continues
Medvedev now has the record for the most time spent on court in a Grand Slam, surpassing Carlos Alcaraz at the 2022 US Open.
He certainly looks tired, but his game is still in good shape.
He holds to 15 in this game, wrapping it up with an ace. The tension continues.
Medvedev 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 2-2 Sinner
Sinner serves up a treat
Remember when Sinner was struggling to hold his serve?
That feels like a very long time ago now. He’s 40-0 up in this one and cruising.
He rounds things off with a big serve that bounces wide off the frame of Medvedev’s racquet.
Medvedev 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 1-2 Sinner
Going 👏 The 👏 Distance 👏#AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/Bnx1hDVxyF
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2024