"What a match, what a fight" - Iga Swiatek, Matteo Berrettini & tennis world congratulate Jannik Sinner after Italian's Australian Open triumph
Jannik Sinner's monumental victory over Daniil Medvedev at the 2024 Australian Open final earned plaudits from a host of tennis stars past and present, including Rod Laver, Iga Swiatek, and Matteo Berrettini.
The 22-year-old Italian lifted his first-ever Grand Slam title on Sunday, overcoming a two-set deficit to trump Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. With the win, he became the first Italian man since 1976 to lift a Grand Slam singles trophy.
It was a fitting finale to an incredible Australian Open that saw a record 35 five-setters throughout the tournament. Medvedev, who'd been in two Melbourne finals earlier, raced to an early lead, winning the first two sets rather comfortably.
The Italian fought back in the third, outlasting Medvedev in the longer rallies. A break in Medvedev's final service game sealed the third set for the Italian.
Sinner then captured Sets 4 and 5 too, to become the youngest male player since Novak Djokovic in 2008 to lift the Australian Open title.
Reacting to his incredible feat, a galaxy of stars from the tennis community poured in with congratulatory messages on social media. World No. 1 women's singles player Iga Swiatek took to X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate the Italian for the incredible fight behind his milestone win.
"What a match, what a fight. Congrats @janniksin," Swiatek wrote.
Sinner's compatriot Matteo Berrettini joined Swiatek with words of praise for the victor.
Rod Laver, whom the stadium where Sinner won his first Slam is named after, also lavished praise on the youngster.
"Italian tennis is in good hands. Jannik Sinner has beaten the best to achieve his first major. With his all-round game and youth, he is bound for many more. Bad luck to Daniil, a heart-breaking loss after so much hard work this past fortnight. Thank you for the great tennis," Laver wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka also chimed in, writing:
"Congratulations to @janniksin and your team! What an incredible player he was, the evolution over the last year to now become a grand slam champion is very impressive!"
Here are a few more reactions to Sinner's victory at the 2024 Australian Open:
Jannik Sinner dropped only 3 sets en route his first Grand Slam title
Jannik Sinner began his campaign in Melbourne on a high, winning all his matches en route the semi-finals in straight sets.
He beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 in Round 1. In Round 2, he brushed aside Jesper De Jong 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. In Round 3, Sinner lost only four games against Sebastian Baez, winning it 6-0, 6-1, 6-3. Up against No. 15 seed and defending semi-finalist Karen Khachnov in Round 4, Sinner won 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.
In the quarterfinals against No. 5 seed Andrey Rublev, the Italian upped his game to win 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Against World No. 1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic in the semi-final, Sinner put on a spectacular display of hitting to oust the favorite 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-3.
Despite going down two sets in the final against Daniil Medvedev, the Italian clawed back to win 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.