Jannik Sinner Daniil Medvedev Australian Open final turnaround

Medvedev made changes in approach, but Sinner's comeback led to a historic Australian Open triumph, impressing Nadal and Djokovic.

In a historic Australian Open triumph, Sinner managed to defeat Medvedev, causing both Nadal and Djokovic to go ga-ga. Medvedev made noticeable changes in his approach, likely having learned from his past three losses to Sinner in late 2023. One significant change was his return position, standing closer to the baseline and hugging the line to return Sinner's serves with more intent. He also targeted Sinner's forehand corner more often, deviating from his usual tactic of going to the backhand.

Medvedev took an aggressive approach, winning 15 out of 29 points in the first set in rallies of 0-4 shots, firing nearly triple the amount of winners compared to Sinner. However, Sinner showed glimpses of a comeback, finding more accuracy in his returns and hitting with greater depth, pushing Medvedev back to his usual deep position. Sinner dominated from the baseline more in the final two sets, with a rally length increase leading to a contest of who missed first.

The average rally length increased, making it a contest of who missed first. 21 per cent of the points played in the first three sets were of rallies comprising nine or more shots. It increased to 30 per cent of the last two sets. Sinner won 66 per cent of those points. Sinner's comeback was also fueled by Medvedev beginning to wear down, having spent over 24 hours on the court throughout the tournament stretch.

Overall, Sinner's victory was a result of his ability to adapt and dominate from the baseline, while Medvedev's aggressive approach ultimately led to his downfall. This historic triumph against Medvedev has caused both Nadal and Djokovic to go ga-ga, marking a significant moment in the Australian Open.