FORZA JANNIK: 22 Year Old Italian Jannik Sinner Comes Back From Two Sets Down Against Daniil Medvedev To Win The Aussie Open And His First Grand Slam Title

PAUL CROCK. Getty Images.

Disclaimer: I've been up since 3am so none of this probably makes any sense. 

That was awesome. Jannik Sinner finally got over the hump to win his first ever grand slam title and he did it in amazing comeback fashion. The first Italian man to do that in over 45 years. To do so he had to beat Novak Djokovic in the semis and come back from two sets to love down against Daniil Medvedev. This shit was earned. Sinner entered this title match having only lost one set. He had played eight hours less than his opponent and in the end used that extra gas in the tank to get over the finish line. It was far from easy with the way Medvedev went about his tactics, but in the end the kid found a way. Let's talk about it. 

This match started out completely drunk. The underdog Medvedev came out with a completely different playing style than expected and it honestly shocked Sinner, as well as everyone watching at home. The Russian opted for aggressive, attacking, all-court tennis instead of his usual put the ball back in play and wear you down tactics. Imagine that for a second. You're 22 years old and playing in your first ever slam final. By far the biggest match of your life, coming off the dream win against Novak Djokovic. And then you get out there and face a version of a player no one has really ever seen. It'd be like if Steph Curry decided to strictly play out of the low post or if Gerrit Cole decided to totally ditch his fastball for a World Series start. 

Sinner was rattled and the result was a boat-racing for practically all of two sets. Medvedev dominated on serve, rushed the net, and shortened points. On return you could actually see him near the baseline instead of his usual home near the back wall. The young Italian showed no signs of life for the better part of two sets. There was a little something happening at the end of the second, but he had dug himself too big of a whole to escape by then. Just like that he went from a -300 favorite to having his back completely up against the wall, on the brink of being ousted in straight sets. 

Then the third set rolled around and Medvedev finally began to drop his insane, red-lining level. Sinner's momentum at the end of the second carried into the third which saw him serve a whole lot better, and take advantage of a coming back to Earth Medvedev. The unforced errors began to pile up, the winners were few and far between, while Sinner grew stronger. 

Medvedev's time on court to get to this point began to take a toll while the fresh Sinner began to blast the ball. 

The 4th set went similar as the 3rd and saw Sinner level the match. Momentum completely on his side with Medvedev seemingly gassed and out of tricks. 

As we entered the fifth and final set of the tournament, Medvedev broke an Open Era record of most sets played at a grand slam. He crossed over a ridiculous 24 hours on court. While his endurance can stand up with just about anybody in remarkable ways, this was the end of the line. He had virtually nothing left and it was on Sinner to either win or lose the match himself. He won it. 

While I'm absolutely stoked for Sinner to win his first grand slam, I'm fucking gutted for Daniil. He's now the first player ever to lose multiple slam finals after leading two sets to love, the first time being to Nadal at the Aussie a few years ago. Unfortunately having to go to five sets against the likes of Ruusuvuori, Hurkacz, and Zverev caught up to him. It's possible the reason he went so aggressive early was because he knew he couldn't physically out-last Sinner. Unfortunately that level was not sustainable and the elusive second slam of his career remains out of his reach. 

Real quick, I totally get the crowd wanting Sinner to win his first, but it sucks to see Medvedev give such insane effort out there and never have the crowd behind him. He does nothing to deserve that. He's got a great personality, with amazing talent, and a fun, unique way of playing. Dude deserves more love that's all I'm saying. 

As for Sinner? Well this is only the beginning. 

You're going to see Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz go at it for a long time. The fact that they both have slam titles under their belt already in their young careers is very cool. 

For a while the future of tennis looked bleak with Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic fading away. Well, Novak isn't going anywhere as of now, but it's great to see the new guys come on like this. The sport is in a really good place. 

P.S. I am so tired. This slam breaks my physically. I guess I try to go back to bed now? Is this what having a kid is like?