The Australian Open of 2024 has just come to a close, with a new player bearing the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup. Ever since Stanislas Wawrinka beat Rafael Nadal in 2014 to win the tournament, there has not been a new player, meaning one that has not previously won the Grand Slam event before, that has successfully overcome all the others at Melbourne Park…
Until now.
Jannik Sinner, currently the 3rd seeded tennis player and the highest ranked Italian ever, has just lifted the trophy after beating 10 time Australian Open winner and 24 Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and surviving a 5 set thriller against Daniil Medvedev en route to the win the trophy. Sinner came off a solid start in Melbourne, after previously ending the year as the runner up to the ATP Finals in Turin, and leading Italy to their victory at the Davis Cup for the first time in 47 years. He started the tournament ranked 4th and went through to the semifinals without losing a set.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the draw, the return of German Alexander (Sascha) Zverev caused some big upsets for some of the top seeded players, including the second seed Carlos Alcaraz. He then lost to Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals after gaining a two set lead against the two time finalist, yet despite his best efforts, lost in five sets.
Now Djokovic was looking for a 25th Grand Slam and an 11th Australian Open win, but he faced one of his biggest encounters, not within the last three rounds of the event. It was his first round clash with Roland Garros Junior champion Dino Prizmic. Just like how Djokovic started, with his debut at Melbourne against Marin Safin and eventual AO champion, Prizmic was the underdog for the match. But even though he lost to the tennis great, it took 4 hours for Djokovic to finally overcome the 18 year old. In his on court interview, he said that it seemed like he was playing himself in the mirror. Yet again, he was playing someone half his age.
Djokovic’s 33 match win streak ended with a semifinal clash against Jannik Sinner, after losing in 4 sets against the ever surprising Italian. This caused a controversy of whether Djokovic would still be able to win another Grand Slam against the ‘young players’ and had age finally caught up to him.
The final day of the Australian Open ended with an extravagant five setter, with a stunning comeback from Sinner. This also meant that Medvedev was the only player to lose a final after being two sets up, twice. In 2022 he lost to Rafael Nadal as well in a gruelling 5 hour and 24 minute match.
This final will definitely be one to remember, from the qualifiers who have managed a sudden breakthrough in this event, to the greatest of all time, to the new champion. And 2024 has barely started.
What awaits?
Peace! ✌️