As it happened Australian Open 2024: Sinner’s grand slam breakthrough after five-set comeback

I expected him to push the ball more but not this way, so he came out crushing the ball, moving me around, so I had my gameplan but it didn’t work so I tried to change a couple of things as soon as possible but he was pushing the ball as hard as I never saw him before so he is also improving, trying to make a step forward and for sure we will see him hold this trophy.

You have an Australian connection with Darren Cahill, my first coach as well, what has he brought to the team?

We were calm and tried the whole day today, he kept the whole team with great composure and he is a very nice man. He has a great family next to him, behind him and that makes him a very special coach, it is crazy.

What about that last moment when you are serving for the championship, a life-changing moment for a player playing in their first major, what were those moments like as you came closer to the title?

I just tried to stay in a positive mindset. Like before, but also trying to take it, I don’t want to lose this trophy standing back, I wanted to stand close to the line, trying to hit and also the matchpoint I tried to move him so, you know, it was a great moment and, you know, it was a great moment.

What is your plan tonight with your team? How do you guys plan to celebrate this momentous occasion?

I don’t know. I think we will celebrate tomorrow, after tomorrow, with a good mindset. That’s it. Look, I have no idea. I’m really hungry now so I try to eat something as soon as possible.If you hear me back there, give me something to eat, I’m sweating.

It has been a hell of a journey until now, even if I’m only 22. You know, my parents, they always gave me the the belief that I can do it in one way but in the other way they always kept zero pressure on myself. I had pressure when I started to play the first professional tournaments when I played because I didn’t want them to pay for my things but from that moment I had my own money to provide for my team and that for me was a game changer.

I guess coming back from 2-0 down, mentally to be so strong to be able to do that, how are you able to dig deep in your first major final?

The match was going so fast the first two sets and I had zero chance to play with this level but then I was looking forward for just, you know, the small chances and then after....Somehow I managed to break him trying to win one set at a time and one game at a time and that is it, to be honest. The support has been crazy throughout the whole two weeks. Without them, it would have been impossible today.

He thanks his team and his loved ones at home in Europe.

“Sometimes it is not easy as I’m still a little bit young but it is what it is,” Sinner said.

“I still want to thank everyone.

“You guys make me feel at home. It’s 15,000 people but it feels like much more. Thank you so much everyone.

“I wish everyone could have my parents because they always let me chose what I wanted to do. I played some other sports when I was younger and I wish others could have parents like them.”

Sinner had special words for his family back home.

“I wish that everyone could have my parents because they let me choose what I want to,” he said.

“I don’t know what else to say, see you next year.”