“I lived the whole trip in Australia with a lot of calmness” – Sinner

The Italian beat Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev in back-to-back matches to win his first Grand Slam title

Jannik Sinner at the 2024 Australian Open

April 4, 2024

World No 2 Jannik Sinner reflected on his Grand Slam breakthrough earlier this year, saying he was extremely clam during the whole Australian summer.

Sinner defeated world No 1 Novak Djokovic in four sets in the semi-finals and then came from two-sets-to-love down to defeat Daniil Medvedev in five sets in the final to claim his first Grand Slam singles title.

In a recent interview with Vogue magazine, Sinner recalled his Australian summer and his win over Djokovic, who had won the tournament on 10 occasions and on each occasion that he had reached the semi-finals in the past.

“I lived this whole trip in Australia with a lot of calmness,” Sinner said. “It’s a different match (the semi-final against Djokovic) than most of the matches. Because you play against one who never lost a semi-final there. You’re playing against one who won 24 Grand Slams. So in your mind, you have to do the right thing. Tactically, you have to be perfect. Mentally also, because he’s never going to drop down. I was just trying to play point after point with the right mentality. That’s the only thing I can control.”

At some point my goal was to keep him on court as long as possible.
Jannik Sinner on playing Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final

After his win over Djokovic, Sinner took on Medvedev in the final and revealed part of his game plan was to ensure the match went the distance with the Russian having been extended to brutal five-set matches in the two previous rounds.

“At some point my goal was to keep him on court as long as possible,” Sinner said. “Hopefully he’s going to drop a little bit. And that’s the moment where I have to push, no? I was waiting for my opportunities. And I was waiting and waiting. It never arrived and then it was getting closer.”

When he got a chance in the third, the 22-year-old jumped and did not let go. “I said, ‘OK, now I feel confident again. And the crowd was getting a little bit to my side. Grand Slam final, fifth set, tough situation to be in. But also that’s what I practiced for in my mind. Physically I’m ready. I just have to be focused, no? And I started to hit the ball really well.”