Jannik Sinner wins Australian Open, claims first major title

MELBOURNE, Australia — Jannik Sinner pulled off a remarkable comeback from two sets down to defeat Daniil Medvedev 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in the Australian Open men’s final Sunday.

The fourth-seeded Sinner, who had lost only one set coming into the deciding match, appeared destined to lose in straight sets as the third-seeded Medvedev blasted his way to a quick two-set advantage. But the Italian found his feet midway through the final and prevailed in a battle of will and endurance over 3 hours, 44 minutes.

It marks the first career major title for Sinner and an unwanted record for Medvedev, who became the first person in Grand Slam history to lose multiple finals after winning the first two sets. Medvedev also squandered a two-set advantage to Rafael Nadal in Melbourne in 2022.

“I was in a little bit of trouble today at two sets to one down in a little over an hour,” Sinner said. “So I just tried to stay positive, trying to stick to the game plan, which I had to adjust a little bit. Daniil is an incredible player and showed also again he is an incredible fighter.”

Playing in his first Slam final, the 22-year-old Sinner started nervously. Medvedev broke in the third game of the match, no mean feat given Sinner had held serve for 86 of 88 service games coming into Sunday.

The Russian played with pace and aggression early — dictating terms to Sinner and hitting 14 winners to the Italian’s five in an opening set that flew by in 36 minutes.

The nerves didn’t seem to dissipate for Sinner, who struggled to hold his opening service game of the second set, saving four break point chances to level at 1-1. Medvedev held to love before putting Sinner again on the back foot, breaking for a 3-1 lead on the way to taking the second set after the pair exchanged a break each later in the stanza.

Sinner was wayward, sending balls long or missing wide, which was in total contrast to the six matches prior to the final in which he gave up just the one set — in the semifinal to Novak Djokovic.

But all Sinner had to do was extend the match. Entering Sunday, Medvedev had spent 20 hours, 33 minutes on court, the…