Australian Open Men’s Final: Jannik Sinner v Daniil Medvedev
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For the first time in 19 years there are no Big 3 players in the men’s final of the Australian Open. That simply because Jannik Sinner put a stop to it, stunning Novak Djokovic in convincing fashion in four sets on Friday in the semifinals.
Sinner, who has lost just one set entering the finals, will now set his sights on Daniil Medvedev.
The Russian has returned to the Australian Open final for a third time, and he did it the hard way. The extremely hard way winning three 5-set matches and two of them from two sets down including a 4-hour, 18-minute win over Alexander Zverev in his semifinal.
So has this hardened Medvedev?
“Mentally 100%, I’m stronger than I was before this tournament, because now I know that I’m capable of some things maybe I thought I’m not,” Medvedev said. “Probably honestly, it’s better to be in the final winning three-set, four-set matches.
“That’s the better way physically. But it is what it is, and I’m proud and looking forward to the final to give my 100% again.”
In all, Medvedev has spent about six hours more on court than the 22-year-old Sinner.
Medvedev, though, has the experience of playing in his sixth Grand Slam final, and this is his first final where he doesn’t have to face Djokovic or Rafael Nadal.
But that’s not as great of note as it would have been a year ago.
Sinner storms into this final having won 19 of his last 20 matches and nine of his last 10 against Top 5. Medvedev beat the Italian in their first six meetings, but Sinner has won their last three.
“I think after last year, especially end of the year, gave me confidence that I could potentially do some good results in Grand Slams,” Sinner said of his recent success. “But in the other way, you still have to show it, no? There are people who talk a lot, but you have to show it, no, because at the end of the day you’re going on the court, and you have to play.”
Medvedev will have to dive deep in his bag of tricks. Unlike Zverev or Hubert Hurkacz, Sinner is a front-court attacking player with punishing corner-to-corner groundstrokes.
If Sinner wins, he becomes the first Italian man or woman to win the Australian Open singles title.
“Obviously, it means so much to me to beat Novak here in Melbourne, but in another way, I know that the tournament is not over,” Sinner said. “Sunday is a final. It’s different emotions because the final is always different.
“It doesn’t really matter how big the tournament is. In my mind today I knew it was the semifinal. It’s not that you win the tournament like this. I’m looking forward for Sunday, and let’s see what’s coming.
“If it’s not this year, it’s next year, and then if it’s not next year, it’s the next year again. I’m really relaxed, to be honest. I just try to work as hard as possible and, in my mind, I feel like the hard work always pays off in one way. We are working really hard for our dreams.”
If Medvedev wins, he takes his second Grand Slam and shakes off those demons from that crushing loss to Nadal in this final in 2022.
Regardless, a new Australian Open men’s champion will be crowned for the first time in 10 years when Stan Wawrinka won it over Rafael Nadal.
“It will be a very tough match,” Medvedev’s coach Gilles Cervara said.
“[It’s an] opportunity to use this chance to not play Novak or Nadal. But at the same time, it’s an amazing player in front of him, so it’s also a very, very big change.”
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