These five-setters in tennis, they drain players to the last ounce. At the Rod Laver Arena on Sunday night, Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev were involved in heavy artillery firing for well over three hours. In the end, Sinner, the Italian who had bounced out Novak Djokovic in the semis, showed he was younger, fresher and ready to take his chances, as he came from two sets down won to win his maiden Australian Open crown. The scoreline of 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 was a reflection of the effort Sinner put in against an opponent who is no weakling.
One does feel bad for Medvedev, from Moscow in Russia. He has won just one Grand Slam title till now but has lost two finals from positions of control. If the 2022 Australian Open final resulted in a loss to Rafael Nadal, because of a partisan crowd at its worst, tonight Medvedev would have to blame himself.
Up by two sets against Sinner, Medvedev needed to keep his game going. That revolves around strong groundstrokes, where he uses the sharp forehand and a double-grip backhand like a laser-guided missile. Yet, where Medvedev came short was in longer rallies, as the match slipped into long-play mode.
Anyone who has watched videos of Sinner training in the gym will go bananas looking at the effort he puts in – strength, core plus flexibility. That is why when the 6 feet, 2 inchetall 22-year-old moves on court, he looks so smooth, so sure. There is fluidity and grace in his steps and the willingness to last rallies comes across as so refreshing.
To be sure, the longer the rallies got from the third set onwards, Sinner was a picture of monk-like concentration. There were oohs and aahs from the fans packed inside the Rod Laver Arena. The ability to shift gears and secure the crucial break in the sixth game of the fifth set was so important.
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Sinner was near emotionless in the match, his cold stare perhaps making even the seasoned Medvedev a bit shaky. Italians, by nature, grow up on clay courts, and are ready to play patient tennis. Yet, the more one watched Sinner in the last two sets, it was clear he has done his homework well for the five-set challenge on slow hard courts, where the Dunlop ball is so heavy.
Trust Sinner to generate pace and show character in coming out smoking in the long rallies. Fans sitting on the side of the court may have landed up with a stiff neck watching the rallies, sometimes 30 shots being traded. But then, for Sinner, who possesses such a wonderful body which is ready to take a beating, he was ready to push hard and churn strokes which left you in awe.
Groomed by coaches Darren Cahill and Simone Vangnozzi, Sinner has been sublime this long fortnight in Melbourne. One must not forget that he was a hero in Italy’s Davis Cup win last December. Perhaps, it is that great trait, playing for the country, where he has been able to pick so much more and work on his game.
Said Cahill recently on Sinner in jest: “It’s a crappy job coaching Sinner, he doesn’t pay enough. And in card games, the guy (Sinner) gives us a hard time.” Such a statement shows how tough Sinner is mentally. He has worked to get this far, inch by inch. Sinner’s support team comprises two more people, physio Giaciomo Naldi and fitness trainer Umberto Ferrara. The work put in tandem has helped produce a brand new Grand Slam champion Down Under.
In the end, one did feel for Medvedev, whose remarkable stamina finally met its match. He spent more than 24 hours on court this year in Melbourne, but it will ache that he so narrowly missed out on becoming the first to win a Grand Slam after enduring four five-setters.
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