MELBOURNE, Australia — Jannik Sinner achieved a remarkable comeback in his first Grand Slam final, overcoming a two-set deficit to clinch his maiden major title at the Australian Open. The 22-year-old Italian defeated Daniil Medvedev 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday, marking his third consecutive victory over a top 5 player, including a quarterfinal win against Andrey Rublev and a semifinal upset against No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic.

Known for his calm demeanor under pressure, Sinner expressed his fondness for facing challenges, stating, ‘I like to dance in the pressure storm. I like it because that’s where most of the time I bring out my best tennis.’

Sinner’s triumph at the Australian Open makes him the first Italian to win the tournament and the youngest male winner in Melbourne since Novak Djokovic in 2008. Alongside Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon victory last year, Sinner’s win signifies a generational shift in men’s tennis.

Reflecting on his monumental achievement, Sinner said, ‘I still have to process it because beating Novak in the semis and then today Daniil in the final, they are tough players to beat. It’s a great moment for me and my team. But in the other way, we also know that we have to improve if we want to have another chance to hold a big trophy again.’

Sinner’s success has ignited a tennis frenzy in Italy, where his performances in the ATP Finals and Davis Cup title win garnered national attention. Winning the Australian Open adds to his growing list of accomplishments.

On the other hand, Medvedev faced disappointment, marking his fifth loss in six major finals. The third-seeded Russian endured a grueling tournament, setting a record for the most time on court in a major in the Open era, surpassing Carlos Alcaraz’s previous record. Medvedev also became the first player in the Open era to lose two Grand Slam finals in five sets after leading 2-0.

Sinner, who dropped only one set in the tournament before the final, displayed resilience against Medvedev, securing the victory with a break in the sixth game of the fifth set. Despite Medvedev’s incredible endurance, he fell short once again in a major final.

Acknowledging Sinner’s achievement, Medvedev congratulated his opponent and hinted at more success in the future, saying, ‘I want to congratulate Jannik. You showed it again why you deserve it. Probably that’s not your last Grand Slam, but I hope I can try to get the next one if you play in the final.’

Despite the loss, Medvedev expressed gratitude for reaching the final and promised to strive for success in the future, stating, ‘It always hurts to lose in the final, but probably being in the final is better than losing before.'”