Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner defeats Daniil Medvedev in fifth set to win epic men’s final
Sinner defeated Medvedev 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-3 in an epic Australian Open final
Jannik Sinner produced a stunning comeback from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev and win the Australian Open in a thrilling final. The 22-year-old Italian claimed the first grand slam title of his career in epic fashion as Medvedev suffered another heartbreaking Australian Open final defeat - the second time he has lost the final from two sets up following Rafael Nadal’s comeback two years ago.
Sinner, who defeated Novak Djokovic to reach his first grand slam final, was completely outplayed by Medvedev in the first two sets but found momentum as his powerful forehand started to dictate the match. Medvedev had survived three gruelling five-set matches to reach the final, including from two sets down against Emil Ruusuvuori in the second round and Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals, and was physically drained by the decider.
Sinner claimed the crucial break midway through the fifth set and kept his composure to serve for the title. An exhausted Medvedev, who broke the record for the most sets ever played at a grand slam, had nothing left and the former US Open champion becomes the first player to lose two grand slam finals from two sets up.
On Saturday, Aryna Sabalenka claimed back-to-back Australian Open titles with a straight-sets victory over Qinwen Zheng in Melbourne. The World No 2 sealed a dominant tournament defence with a 6-3 6-2 victory against the 12th seed Zheng, who was playing in a grand slam final for the first time.
Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
*Sinner 3-6 3-6 Medvedev
It’s a long, long way back for Sinner but there were some signs of life at the end of the second set.
Medvedev has been here before: he was two sets up against Rafael Nadal in the 2022 Australian Open final but lost in five...
Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
*Sinner 3-6 3-6 Medvedev - Medvedev wins the second set!
Woooow - Sinner comes into the net to put away a forehand volley with authority and then produces a wonderful backhand pass down the line to get to 0-30!
Ooooh - a second-serve from Medvedev catches out Sinner as his forehand wins the net, and then Medvedev finds an important first!
Set point - but a double fault from Medvedev! This could go any way now... Sinner finds the angle to stretch the Medvedev backhand - into the net!
Break point: but Medvedev summons a strong forehand out wide and Sinner nets! Back to deuce.
And that was so important! Medvedev’s forehand takes control in the net two points and he finds another excellent crosscourt angle that Sinner can’t keep in play on the stretch!
Medvedev is a set away from the Australian Open title!
Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
Sinner 3-6 3-5 Medvedev*
Medvedev goes a bit wild on the returns as Sinner gets a comfortable hold - his first of this set in all honesty - and the Russian will now serve for a two-set lead.
Has Sinner found some momentum though in the past five minutes?
Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
*Sinner 3-6 2-5 Medvedev - Sinner breaks!
Well, that was better from Sinner at least. He finally finds some joy in the backhand duels and adds pace to his strike to get his first break of the match. Medvedev is still a break up in this set but that’s a start.
Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
Sinner 3-6 1-5 Medvedev* - Medvedev breaks!
The pressure on Sinner is telling: the 22-year-old is broken for the second time behind an awful, error-strewn game, his forehand at the net drifting wide.
Sinner needs a hard reset, and fast.
Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
*Sinner 3-6 1-4 Medvedev
It’s 12 points in a row on serve from Medvedev! Another love-hold as he puts away another volley at the net. Sinner is being suffocated.
Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
Sinner 3-6 1-3 Medvedev* - Medvedev breaks!
An hour gone and Sinner is still searching for a way to overturn Medvedev’s excellent start. A double fault shows the pressure Medvedev is applying on the returns, as Sinner then puts a forehand into the net to get dragged into deuce for the second game in a row.
And there’s the break! Already 10 break point chances in this match, and Medvedev gets his third of the final already. Sinner is forced into another error on the baseline and Medvedev then comes into the net to put away the volley.
Medvedev appears in total control.
Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
*Sinner 3-6 1-2 Medvedev
Medvedev responds with a love-hold, important from him to keep the pressure on Sinner and the momentum going in his direction.
Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
Sinner 3-6 1-1 Medvedev*
Crucial moments in this match here in the early stages of the second set!
Medvedev closes the net and puts away an excellent volley to bring up a third break point: he has a golden chance on the overhead but the smash drops long!
Back to deuce: wonderful backhand winner from Medvedev! Fourth break point...
... and another chance! Medvedev could have put Sinner away but the Italian read his forehand and was able to find the pass to save!
Deuce again: Sinner is faced with another break point as his volley finds the net, but he holds on...
.,.. and what a save this could be! Sinner closes the net to put away a volley on deuce and then control the drive volley to deny Medvedev. Huge.
Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
Sinner 3-6 0-1 Medvedev*
Medvedev races through his opening game of the second set - up to seven aces now.
Pressure back onto Sinner - and the Italian makes two forehand errors in a row to suddenly give Medvedev a look at 30-30.
Backhand into the net from Sinner as Medvedev comes in to close the angle! The Italian is looking stressed and nervous now.
Break point: this time Sinner forces Medvedev deep and has space and time to put Medvedev away with the drive volley!
Deuce.
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