Daniil Medevev left to ponder another missed Australian Open opportunity in loss to Jannik Sinner

Daniil Medvedev probably thought nothing could hurt more than when he gave up a two-set lead in the 2022 Australian Open final to fall to Rafael Nadal.

This one might.

Without 10-time winner Novak Djokovic, Nadal or Roger Federer playing in the Open final for the first time since 2005, the Russian surely thought it was his time to shed the tag as a one-slam wonder.

The world No.3 looked on track for a one-sided win at Melbourne Park on Sunday night, playing young Italian Jannik Sinner, in his first major final, off the court early.

Medvedev broke the Italian in the fourth game and wrapped up the opening set in near-flawless fashion in just 36 minutes, before another 6-3 scoreline in the second.

But in a repeat of the epic five-set Nadal final when he took the opening two sets and had a triple break point for a 4-2 lead in the third, Medvedev faded and, with it, his dreams of a second grand slam title.

He eventually succumbed 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-3.

Now having played six grand slam finals, Medvedev has only held the trophy aloft once, at the US Open in 2021.

The 27-year-old had twice previously lost the decider at Melbourne Park, a straight-sets loss in 2021 to Djokovic and then a year later heartbreak in five hours against Nadal.

That demoralising defeat took him more than a year to recover from, failing to make a final in his next six events and he was unable to get past the fourth round at another major until Wimbledon in 2023.

He made a third-round exit at the Australian Open last year, with his ranking dropping from No.1 to outside of the top 10.

Medvedev admitted he couldn’t match the physicality of Nadal and after spending a record 24 hours and 17 minutes on court through this Open, it proved telling against Sinner.

Had he won, Medvedev have eclipsed Carlos Alcaraz’s 23-hour, 40-minute effort in winning a grand slam at the 2022 US Open.

Alas, the missed opportunity may take some time to shake, although he vowed he would continue his quest for a second major.

“Big congrats to you Jannik, you deserve it,” Medvedev said.

“It always hurts to lose in the final but probably being in the final is better than losing before.

“I always want to win but I guess I have to try harder next time but I’m proud of myself.

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it today but I’m going to try to make it next time.”