Sinner reaches the top, Medvedev will make a comeback.

Six months ago, at Wimbledon 2023, Jannik Sinner simply wasn't ready. When the Italian reached his first Grand Slam semi-final and faced Novak Djokovic, Sinner failed to perform at his best under immense pressure. One of the most forgettable aspects of his three-set defeat on Centre Court was his repeated errors in the third-set tie-break.

Sinner shows off his 2024 Australian Open trophy (Photo: Getty).

Even for exceptional players who develop early and quickly rise to the top, success is still a long process. For Sinner, his development was clear and easy to follow: He restructured his team, hiring Simone Vagnozzi and renowned Australian coach Darren Cahill, which led to a change in his serve and a shift towards embracing his biggest moments instead of retreating as he had before.

Sinner has faced many tough defeats, but he has handled those difficulties with a positive attitude and maturity, which shows that he seems to always be on the path to becoming a Grand Slam champion.

Towards the end of last year, Sinner clearly demonstrated he was on his way to greater success. He finished the season impressively with two ATP 500 titles, reaching the ATP Finals final, and then leading Italy to victory in the Davis Cup. On his way to the Davis Cup, Sinner secured a stunning victory against Djokovic, making it difficult not to draw parallels with the Serbian player. Djokovic began his dominance of world tennis in 2011, and the Serbian player started with a historic Davis Cup victory at the end of 2010.

At the beginning of 2024, the only question remaining surrounding Sinner was whether he would be ready to perform at his best in five sets and overcome the challenges that come with this format.

Yesterday, Sinner delivered a perfect response with his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, defeating Daniil Medvedev 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. Sinner was overwhelmed in the first two sets by an experienced opponent, making defeat seem imminent, but the 22-year-old did not panic; he remained calm and waited for an opportunity to turn the match around.

Jannik Sinner's name is engraved on the Norman Brookes Challenge Trophy (Photo: Getty).

"I like dancing in the storm of pressure," Sinner said after the final. "Personally, I enjoy the pressure because that's where I usually show my best form. I'm quite comfortable at this tournament because I always try to enjoy every moment on the court. Honestly, I think pressure is a privilege."

Between devastating breakthroughs and a powerful spirit, Sinner has shown remarkable development in all conditions. Now at the highest level in tennis, Sinner possesses all the necessary qualities to continue winning major titles. Sinner has proven he is ready to compete on any front. At the age of 22, he has reached at least the quarterfinals of all four Grand Slam tournaments.

Shortly after Sinner hit the final forehand to seal the 2024 Australian Open final, Carlos Alcaraz was one of the first players to publicly congratulate the Italian. Seven years after the ATP's Next Gen project began – when the tennis world realized its reliance on the Big 3 would end and began searching for the next generation of superstars to follow in their footsteps – the results are finally becoming apparent.

Even as the ATP began searching for new talent, Djokovic and Nadal continued to crush the dreams of young players. However, the Big 3 gradually weakened, leaving only Djokovic at the top, while Alcaraz and Sinner have established themselves as leaders of the new generation. Both possess their own devastating weapons: fighting spirit and confidence, but also the understanding of the job and the humility needed to achieve success.

Alcaraz and Sinner both won their first Grand Slam titles playing with freedom and ease. It's becoming increasingly clear that, aside from injuries, they will be central to tennis in the coming years and will have many more opportunities to compete for the biggest titles.

Medvedev finished second for the third time at the Australian Open (Photo: Getty).

Losing a Grand Slam final is painful. For Medvedev, the pain is doubled as he became the first player to lose a Grand Slam final twice after leading by two sets. The Russian player has only one Grand Slam title out of six appearances in the final (1-5).

Nevertheless, Medvedev remains the only player of his generation to win a major title and establish himself at the top of the tennis world. He has built an incredible career in recent years, but his success reflects the immense hype that his contemporaries received.

Despite some painful setbacks Medvedev has experienced, his efforts and hard work during some of the most difficult periods of his career have always been impressive. It's certain that the Russian player will bounce back after his loss to Sinner to challenge both the Big 3 and the Next Gen.

"I don't know what will happen next," Medvedev said. "I will keep in mind that I will participate in the next major tournament and try to win, in addition to other tournaments. If I play, it will be battles to win; if not, I will stay home with my family."

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/sinner-vuon-den-dinh-cao-medvedev-se-tro-lai-20240129224713280.htm