Jannik Sinner becomes second U23 player after Bjorn Borg to win Grand Slam final from two sets down in Open Era

Published at :January 30, 2024 at 7:35 PM

Modified at :January 30, 2024 at 7:35 PM

(Courtesy : Vogue)

The 22-year-old is also the first Italian to win the Australian Open.

The win at Melbourne Park by Jannik Sinner is significant in many aspects. Not only did the 22-year-old deny Novak Djokovic a record 25th Grand Slam and an 11th Australian Open title, but he also handed Daniil Medvedev his third straight defeat at the Australian Open final in as many appearances. Sinner is also only the second player after the legendary Swede Bjorn Borg to win a Grand Slam final from two sets down before turning 23.

Bjorn Borg was 18 when he won at Roland Garros in 1974, fighting back from two sets down to win against Spanish player Manuel Orantes. The 1974 French Open trophy was the first of six that Bjorg would go on to win in Paris.

22,165 – At 22 years and 165 days, Jannik Sinner is only the second U23 player in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam final from two sets down, after Bjorn Borg (Roland-Garros 1974). Epic. #AusOpen | @AustralianOpen @janniksin @atptour pic.twitter.com/2jflhxxPfw
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) January 28, 2024

Jannik Sinner landed the much-promised Grand Slam title with an extraordinary fightback to beat Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open 2024 final. The 22-year-old came back from two sets down in a riveting final to beat Medvedev 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 and become the first-ever Italian to win the Australian Open. Sinner had not dropped a single set until he ran into Djokovic in the semifinals.

In the final, Medvedev was quick off the starting blocks, taking the first in just 36 minutes, and opened up a 5-1 lead in the second with a double break. Once Sinner broke Medvedev in the seventh game of the second set, the momentum shifted to the Italian. Though Medvedev managed to pocket the second set, the red-hot pace he set early in the match began to wane, and Sinner, taking advantage, began to extend the rallies.

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The young Italian won a break of serve in the sixth game of the final set to go ahead 4-2. After 3 hours 44 minutes, Sinner served for the match and brought the curtains down with a forehand winner to leave Medvedev with a feeling of deja vu from his 2022 final against Nadal.

Medvedev had to outlast his opponents twice in five-set matches from two sets down, including the semi-final against sixth-seed Alexander Zverev. The result was an echo of the 2022 final, where Medvedev lost in the summit clash to Rafael Nadal despite winning the first two sets. By outlasting Medvedev on Sunday in the title clash, the Italian became the first Italian since 1976 to win a Grand Slam.

Adriano Panatta was the last Italian to triumph at a major when he won the 1976 French Open. It was a fitting finale for a tournament that saw 20 five-setters played in just the first round.

By winning a maiden Grand Slam final on debut, he is now in illustrious company, sharing stage with the likes of Lleyton Hewitt, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Congratulations poured in for Sinner after his historic win from his peers and two bonafide legends, Billie Jean King and Rod Laver.

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