ATP
Sinner snatches victory from jaws of defeat to win Aussie Open
Jannik Sinner completed a comeback from two-sets to love down for the second time in his career as he claimed his first Grand Slam title on Sunday 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 over Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open.
The 22-year-old Italian ranked fourth, handed 2021 US Open winner Medvedev a second huge disappointment in a Melbourne final.
Two years ago, the 28-year-old was unable to hold onto a two-set lead as Rafael Nadal stormed back to take victory in that title match.
Medvedev has now lost three finals here in four editions; his latest defeat lasted almost four hours.
Sinner was playing in his first Grand Slam final while Medvedev owns one title from six appearances in trophy matches at the majors.
The winner is the third Italian man to win a Grand Slam singles title, after Nicola Pietrangeli and Adrian Pannatta, and the first at the Australian Open.
“I am very proud,” Sinner said after the match “It was a very tough match. He started off really well, he moved me around the court. I could not make my game plan work but somehow in the third set I was looking for the small chances, which I used. The match changed and I am really happy with how I corrected it. There are so many emotions right now. I have to sit down and process it but an unbelievable feeling.”
He is the youngest to win the trophy here since 2008, when Novak Djokovic won the first of his 10 titles aged 20.
Sinner is the fifth man to win his first Grand Slam singles title after trailing two sets to none in the championship match. The other players who have done so are Bjorn Borg (1974 Roand Garros), Ivan Lendl 1984 Roland Garros, Gaston Gaudio 2004 Roland Garros and Dominic Thiem 2020 US Open
Italy’s Sinner, who stunned Djokovic in the semi-finals 48 hours earlier, was caught flat-footed early on in the biggest match of his career as he ran up against the veteran who still leads their career series 6-4.
The 22-year-old Sinner had won their previous three meetings, all played last autumn. He made a valiant run to level at two sets apiece as more than 20 hours on court in Melbourne began to tell on Medvedev.
The youngster with seven hour less play in his legs, was able to turn the tide in the final, breaking for 4-2 in the deciding set before closing out victory three games later with a winner to the corner. .
Four of Medvedev’s seven matches stretched to the full five-set distance here.
Sinner has now defeated two of the world’s top 3 players after defeating Djokovic in a semi-final stunner 48 hours earlier.
The 22-year-old Sinner had won their last three meetings, all played last autumn. He made a valiant run to level at two sets apiece as more than 20 hours on court here began to tell on Medvedev.
Medvedev got away to the first break of the match as he earned a 2-1 lead in the opening set, and backed it up, 3-1.
The third seed claimed a second break of the crowd favourite Italian and secured the set after 36 minutes as he scooped a winner down the line at the net on a third set point.
The 28-year-old began the second set with authority, holding to love but was unable to convert on four break points in the second game as Sinner battled through to hold for 1-all.
But the third seed bore down as he applied the pressure, earning a double break for 5-1 before Sinner clawed one back for 2-5.
Medvedev battled to serve out a two-sets-to-love lead, requiring two set points and saving a break point as well in the process.
The third set stayed on serve, with Sinner taking a 5-4 lead with Sinner winning it on a set point as his opponent returned long to finally get on the scoreboard after a set where he muttered “I’m dead” at a low point but profitted from a dip in his opponent’s level.
Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning 2024 Australian Open by ATPTour.com
After claiming the fourth to square the contest, Sinner held tight in the deciding set, with his single break deciding the winning outcome.Medvedev marches past Sinner to win Australian Open
Holger Rune battled past injured Carlos Alcaraz to spoil the Spanish Easter party at the Barcelona Open, with the Dane lifting the trophy 7-6 (6), 6-2.
The pair of 21-year-olds were familiar foes, having played 20 times in juniors before hitting the Tour; Rune won the first 500 series title of his career and his fifth overall.
Alcaraz was treated three times in the second set after an apparent injury to his upper right thigh/groin after duelling hard in the opening set at the Real Club.
The loss will send Alcaraz back to third in the rankings, with Alexander Zverev moving back to second behind Jannik Sinner as a result of winning the Munich title on Sunday.
Rune, a first-round victim last week in Monte Carlo, reversed his clay momentum in Spain, handing Alcaraz a first loss of a set for the week.
The Spanish top seed’s two final shots both clipped the top of the net and fell back as Rune raised his hands in celebration after 97 minutes on court in the Catalan capital.
“This means the world,” the winner said. “I started the match stressed, he was playing big-time tennis.
“I was able to find my rhythm after he broke me (3-2 in the opening set) and I got more into the match.
“The first set was a big battle with a lot of important points. It was super-important to win the set and gain momentum.
“I’m so proud of myself.”
Rune ended with 18 winners while the ailing Alcaraz produced 33 unforced errors. The Dane claimed his 50th match win on clay and levelled his Tour record in the series to 2-2.
Rune said he channeled Novak Djokovic’s Paris Olympic gold medal win from last summer over Alcaraz as he struggled to turn his game around in Barcelona.
“I asked myself what Novak did to win that final. I (realised) that I didn’t need to hit every ball on the line. I need to make him play and hit a lot of balls.”
Rune, who won the elite Paris Bercy Masters 1000 title in 2022, finally began reversing a 13-match loss streak against top five opponents.with his title victory.
Alcaraz may be racing for fitness with the Madrid Masters starting on Wednesday as the ATP ploughs ahead with an unpopular two-week format for Masters tournaments despite growing protest from exhausted players.
Main photo:- Holger Rune celebrates Barcelona win – by ATPTour.com
Alexander Zverev turned 28 on Sunday and awarded himself a third title on his home Munich clay as he beat Ben Shelton 6-2,6-4 to win the ATP event.
The 2017 and 2018 champion here is now threatening Carlos Alcaraz as the pair duel for the world No. 2 position which the Spaniard took over last week after winning Monte Carlo.
Zverev schooled lefthander Shelton in 70 minutes for a second win in their series. The winner becomes the second to hold three Munich titles after countryman Philipp Kohlschreiber (2007, 2012, 2016).
“I’m enjoying my birthday so far,” Zverev said. “It’s extremely special to win in Germany, the most special thing I can do.
January’s Australian Open finalist added: “It’s definitely a great birthday present, I knew I had to play my best today, conditions were very hot and very fast.They were perfect for me.”
The winner broke three times while never facing a challenge to his serve from Shelton as he claimed a sixth career title at the 500-Tour level.
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev with his “birthday” trophy – by BMW Open/Bitpanda
Alexander Zverev gave fans in Munich what they were after as the top seed rolled into the final of the clay ATP in Bavaria with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 defeat of Fabian Marozsan.
World No. 3 Zverev, who won the titles in 2017 and 2018 needed 91 minutes to advance into a title match with Ben Shelton.
The American earned his spot with a .2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 defeat of Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.
Zverev advanced with nine aces and broke twice in the tidy win over his Hungarian opposition.
“It’s awesome. The entire week has been great. Everybody is really enjoying the weather as well as the new Center Court,” the winner said. .
“I’m enjoying myself and hopefully I will have another great day tomorrow.”
Shelton reached his fourth career final, becoming the first American man to reach a clay final above ATP 250 level since Andre Agassi won the Rome Masters 23 years ago.
“It’s a big win for me. To get a win on clay against a guy like him gives me a lot of confidence,” Shelton.
“I’m really happy and excited to be in a 500-level final in Europe, my second clay-court tournament this season.
“I’ve been playing well this week and I’m not too stressed right now.”
Main photo:-Alexander Zverev winning in front of his home crowd – by ATPTour.com
Sabalenka hoping to turn her luck in Stuttgart
Rune rises to the occasion with defeat of Alcaraz
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