Australian Open exclusive: Jannik Sinner reflects on maiden Grand Slam triumph – ‘Unbelievable feelings’

Jannik Sinner admitted that he was “so proud” of himself after overcoming Daniil Medvedev in five sets to win his first-ever Grand Slam at the Australian Open.

Speaking exclusively to Eurosport’s Barbara Schett, Sinner said he was “really happy with how he reacted” as the idea of becoming a Grand Slam champion continued to sink in.

“I’m so proud, I don’t know what’s going on really,” Sinner began. “It was a very tough match.

“He [Medvedev] started really well, moving me around the court. I couldn’t make my game plan work, but then in the third set I was looking for those small chances, which I used and then the match changed.

“I’m really happy with how I reacted, and now the emotions are [there]. There are so many emotions that I still have to process. Unbelievable feelings.”

After breaking the Russian’s serve to go up 4-2 in the fifth set, Sinner manoeuvred himself from there into a position to serve for the match.

Although he admitted to feeling “physically tired” in the decider, the Italian said the occasion spurred him on.

“It was tough. I was looking forward – the first point [of the last game] was crucial,” he said. “Then I went to the net, and the volley was not that clean, but I tried to keep it in the court.

“I told myself I wanted to push. I didn’t want to wait, and on match point, I went and hit it. I was physically tired; he was also. I tried to move him and it was the right choice.

“In the final, you have extra motivation. The match was going so fast and in one hour 15, I was two sets down.

“I tried to keep it as long as possible; I knew that he’d played so many hours. As the match [grew] long[er], I [thought] that I might be the favourite. Today was very important.”