Jannik Sinner of Italy clinched the 2024 Australian Open men’s singles title on Sunday in a five-set upset over Daniil Medvedev of Russia, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 to close out a rollicking two weeks of tennis that saw some 1.1 million fans fill the stands in Melbourne. Today’s result made Sinner the first Italian man to win one of the four majors since Adriano Panatta at the 1976 French Open. (Medvedev, on the other hand, was seeking his second major, after dominating Novak Djokovic at the 2021 US Open in straight sets.)
Third-seeded Medvedev, 28—who faced down grueling five-set matches in both the quarterfinals (opposite Hubert Hurkacz) and semifinals (opposite Alexander Zverev) on his way to today’s final—was all but unstoppable in the first two sets, covering the Rod Laver Arena’s hardcourt with speed and aggression. Yet 22-year-old Sinner—the tournament’s fourth seed, who forced a shocking exit from Djokovic during the semis on Thursday in a decisive four sets—came roaring onto the board in the third, moving in as Medvedev’s game became more passive and fending off even a single break point.
After a fourth set filled with lengthy rallies—and a few thrilling aces from Sinner—a break from the Italian sent the match to a fifth. Now well over three hours in, Medvedev was clearly fighting to keep up, fatigued from his heroic battles all week. (Sinner, meanwhile, had dropped only one set in Melbourne before today’s match.) When Sinner finally hit the championship point, he collapsed on the court in ecstatic relief.
At the trophy ceremony, Medvedev was gracious in his celebration of Sinner before thanking his team, along with his family back home in Russia. He then addressed the fans. “I just wanna thank everyone. It’s been honestly an amazing two weeks. It always hurts to lose in a final, but probably being in the final is better than losing before,” Medvedev noted with a chuckle. “But I’m proud of myself and I’m going to try harder next time.”
“Hello, everyone,” Sinner murmured somewhat sheepishly upon taking the podium, the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup in his hands. He acknowledged the many finals that he’d played with Medvedev before today, adding that their match-ups had made Sinner “a much better player.”
He then thanked his colorful fans in Australia and beyond—a group that includes, mostly visibly, the Carota Boys—for keeping him going over the last two weeks. “You guys make me feel like I’m home.”
Sinner concluded his remarks with a tribute to his family in Northern Italy, who gave him the leeway to pursue whatever he liked growing up. (It’s worth noting that had he not gone pro in tennis, Sinner might have become a top skier.) “I wish that this freedom is possible for as many young kids as possible, so thank you so much [to] my parents,” Sinner said. “That’s it—I don’t know anymore what to say. See you next year.”
