Brilliant Sinner edges past Medvedev in classic final to win Vienna title
The Italian has now won 10 titles, four of them coming in 2023
Jannik Sinner – Vienna 2023 © Gepa / Panoramic
Italian Jannik Sinner produced a performance full of power, aggression and reslience as he edged past defending champion Daniil Medvedev, the top seed, 7-6 (7), 4-6, 6-3 to win the Vienna title.
The world No 4 came from a break down to win the first set and then, after Medvedev fought back in the second, held off the Russian’s late charge in the third to clinch his 10th career title and fourth of the year. Medvedev, who played brilliantly himself, has still not defended any of his 20 career titles.
“It took a lot of mental and physical stuff,” Sinner said. “I found a way in the first set. Second set I felt like he was getting into the rally a little more. In the third set I tried to step it up a little more. It was a really mental thing but I’m very happy how I managed today and obviously very happy for another title.”
“It’s in the top three, top five matches I’ve played. I lost to Daniil so many times. I had to adapt. I’m very happy how I handled it.”
Brutal contest as both men go toe to toe
Though Sinner had won their most recent battle, in Beijing earlier this month, Medvedev had won their other six contests and the Russian began strongly, breaking in the second game on his way to a 3-0 lead.
But Sinner had already shown signs that he was going to be ultra-aggressive and he broke back in the fourth game with some huge hitting and soon levelled at 3-3.
The Italian was mixing things up brilliantly, firing groundstrokes down the line and then, when Medvedev was deep in the court, throwing in the drop shot.
Neither man was threatened on serve to 6-5 in Medvedev’s favour but with the pressure on him, Sinner found himself at 30-40, staring set point in the face. Again, he stood firm, saving it with a service winner and holding on to force a tiebreak.
Again it was Medvedev who started well, forging ahead 4-3, but the Russian then missed a drop shot. At 6-5, Sinner had his first set point, shut out by Medvedev. The Russian then had a second set point of his own but Sinner fired down an ace, then hit a drive volley winner and won the set when Medvedev netted an attempted forehand pass under pressure.
Medvedev hits back in typical fashion
The Italian seemed to take his foot off the gas a little at the start of the second set but with coach Darren Cahill urging him on, he dug himself out of trouble at 1-1, saving three break points to stay ahead.
Both men were playing incredible tennis, depth, power, spin causing the other problems, but Medvedev did not let his head drop and when he got his chance, he took it, breaking for 3-2 and again for 5-2 as a few more errors crept into the Sinner game. Sinner got one of the breaks back but Medvedev closed it out second time round.
20-minute fourth game proves crucial
The momentum was with Medvedev but both men had to fight to hold on to their serves early on. The fourth game was an epic, brutal, 20-minute encounter in which Medvedev saved eight break points before finally yielding.
But Sinner then gave the break straight back, only to immediately break Medvedev again, restoring his lead to 4-2.
This time, he made no mistake, holding easily to extend his lead. In the next game, he had match point but missed a backhand. Suddenly, Medvedev raised his game again, moving to 15-40 and should have broken when Sinner’s drop shot sat up but he missed it.
A big serve got Sinner back to deuce and a forehand winner sealed a second match point. This time, he made no mistake as Medvedev’s backhand finally landed wide.
Medvedev, ranked No 3, beat Frenchman Arthur Fils (6-4, 6-2), Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (3-6, 6-2, 6-4), No 8 seed Karen Khachanov (6-3, 3-6, 6-3) and Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, the No 4 seed (6-4, 7-6 (6)) earlier in the tournament.
“Big congrats to Jannik,” Medvedev said. “It was a tough match, at one moment I thought I maybe could get you,” the Russian told Sinner at the trophy presentation. “I didn’t manage to do it. As I said already three times this year, hopefully we can play more finals, maybe even this year. Big congrats to you, you’re playing great, finishing the year strong.”
People in this post
More tennis news
Bolivia Open: Todoni wins the tournament
Belgrade Open: Medjedovic makes second round
Mérida Open: Li moves into final
Mérida Open: Sonmez books spot in final
Paris champion Zverev on how to reach world No 1: “You have to win Grand Slams”
