Australian Open exclusive: Jannik Sinner reflects on maiden Grand Slam triumph - ‘Unbelievable feelings’

Published 28/01/2024 at 14:08 GMT

Newly crowned Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner said he was “so proud” of his response to going two sets down against Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s final, before clawing his way back into the match and eventually coming out on top. Sinner became the first-ever Italian to win an Australian Open title. “I’m really happy with how I reacted,” he told Eurosport.

'So many emotions' - Sinner gives Eurosport his reaction after stunning Australian Open triumph

Jannik Sinner admitted that he was “so proud” of himself after overcoming Daniil Medvedev in five sets to win his first-ever Grand Slam at the Australian Open.

The 22-year-old fought back from two sets down in a blockbuster Melbourne final to beat Medvedev 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-3 and become the first-ever Italian to win the Australian Open.

Speaking exclusively to Eurosport’s Barbara Schett, Sinner said he was “really happy with how he reacted” as the idea of becoming a Grand Slam champion continued to sink in.

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“I’m so proud, I don’t know what’s going on really,” Sinner began. “It was a very tough match.

“He [Medvedev] started really well, moving me around the court. I couldn’t make my game plan work, but then in the third set I was looking for those small chances, which I used and then the match changed.

“I’m really happy with how I reacted, and now the emotions are [there]. There are so many emotions that I still have to process. Unbelievable feelings.”

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After breaking the Russian's serve to go up 4-2 in the fifth set, Sinner manoeuvred himself from there into a position to serve for the match.

Although he admitted to feeling “physically tired” in the decider, the Italian said the occasion spurred him on.

“It was tough. I was looking forward - the first point [of the last game] was crucial,” he said. “Then I went to the net, and the volley was not that clean, but I tried to keep it in the court.

“I told myself I wanted to push. I didn’t want to wait, and on match point, I went and hit it. I was physically tired; he was also. I tried to move him and it was the right choice.

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“In the final, you have extra motivation. The match was going so fast and in one hour 15, I was two sets down.

“I tried to keep it as long as possible; I knew that he’d played so many hours. As the match [grew] long[er], I [thought] that I might be the favourite. Today was very important.”