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 6-4 6-4 Medvedev - Sinner wins the fourth set!
WE’RE GOING THE DISTANCE!!!!
Sinner is surging! Has Medvedev missed his chance???
Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
Sinner 3-6 3-6 6-4 5-4 Medvedev*
Ooooh. That was a chance for Sinner! After a nervy forehand from Medvedev that went long, Sinner plants a backhand return onto the line and had the chance to put the volley away.
But Medvedev goes long again, 30-30! Sinner crushes the forehand and Medvedev loops the return to the baseline! It sits up for Sinner, but he blinks! Sinner thrashes it wide.
Some response though: Sinner eats up the forehand again, punished down the line. He puts away the drive volley!
Deuce: the depth from Sinner! Medvedev gets tight and the backhand goes wide!
SET POINT Sinner for a fith!
THE SINNER FOREHAND ERUPTS! Medvedev can’t keep the strike in play!
Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
Sinner 3-6 3-6 6-4 5-4 Medvedev*
Medvedev throws a forehand long on the Sinner second-serve... and wow that is a stunning forehand winner from Sinner! With no angle to work with, he flashes the ball onto the line from midcourt and moves a game away.
We’ve just hit the three-hour mark.
Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
*Sinner 3-6 3-6 6-4 4-4 Medvedev
Medvedev this time is faced with 30-30. There was a half-chance for Sinner as Medvedev came into the net, but the forehand goes long.
Sinner crushes the backhand down the line! Back to deuce.
But that’s awesome from Medvedev. He finds the wide serve and puts away the winner. Sinner then nets on the forehand.
Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
Sinner 3-6 3-6 6-4 4-3 Medvedev*
Wow - a double fault from Sinner and suddenly it’s 0-30 to Medvedev.
This is huge: and jeez, Medvedev would want this back - his backhand drifts wide.
ACE from Sinner! Massive. 30-30.
Medvedev again opens up the angle on the forehand! Break point for Medvedev!
ANOTHER ACE from Sinner! That’s even bigger! Huge roar from the Italian.
Deuce.
HUGE hold from Sinner. He adds the forehand winner and another ACE seals it.
Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
*Sinner 3-6 3-6 6-4 3-3 Medvedev
Just what Medvedev needed: a love-hold from the Russian.
He’s had to dig deep so many times this tournament and he needs to do so again now.
Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
Sinner 3-6 3-6 6-4 3-2 Medvedev*
Sinner’s forehand is opening up and Medvedev is finding he is being pushed deeper behind the baseline. Medvedev nets on the backhand return and Sinner ticks off the hold.
Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
*Sinner 3-6 3-6 6-4 2-2 Medvedev
Sinner is finding so much more success in the longer rallies now, his forehand and backhand being struck with their usual pop! He wins a 24-shot exhange to get to break point!
But that’s brilliant from Medvedev, he attacks Sinner and takes on the backhand down the line! Stunning save after good defence from Sinner.
This is by far the best spell of the match, with both players finding a good level. Medvedev finds a first serve out wide and then Sinner goes long on the backhand lob!
Great hold.
Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
Sinner 3-6 3-6 6-4 2-1 Medvedev*
Oof. Sinner goes for the drop shot but doesn’t clear the net and is forced to look at 15-30, and then gets a huge let off as Medvedev misses on the second-serve return. Sinner puts away the one-two punch behind first serve, slamming the forehand winner.
Slapped forehand from winner on the stretch! Medvedev goes long!
... and now Medvedev is getting his blisters seen to.
Australian Open LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
*Sinner 3-6 3-6 6-4 1-1 Medvedev
Jeez... Medvedev with two forehand errors in a row and suddenly Sinner has a look at 0-30.
Strong response from Medvedev. He thumps an ace up the middle to get back to 30-30.
But Sinner pushes! He steps it up on the 16-shot rally and forces Medvedev long!
Break point: Medvedev survives! Brave backhand hitting from Medvedev, creating the angle.
Deuce.
Medvedev steps it up in the rally and slams an ace to hold. Important.
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