3 biggest ATP surprises at the 2024 Australian Open

The ATP portion of the 2024 Australian Open contained several surprises that no one could have predicted. Those surprises were related to the performances of Daniil Medvedev, Novak Djokovic, and Jannik Sinner.

Daniil Medvedev spent 24 hours on the court playing seven matches. This was a record and particularly ironic since his first match was decided by a walkover at the beginning of the fourth set. Four matches were five-setters. Six tiebreakers were played, and four sets were decided by a 7-5 score. One of the matches did not conclude until nearly 4:00 AM. Medvedev's ability to recover and continue to play long, close matches through this tournament demonstrates an impressive and surprising level of stamina and fitness.

Novak Djokovic is the greatest men's champion in Australian Open history. He has 10 titles, four more than the second winningest player, Andre Agassi. He is the favorite every time he enters this tournament. Djokovic losing at this tournament was on the same shock level as Rafael Nadal losing at Roland Garros.

Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic have something in common at the 2024 Australian Open; both lost to Jannik Sinner.

Jannik Sinner winning a Grand Slam is not a surprise, but Sinner winning the first Grand Slam final he appeared in was somewhat shocking. Added to it is the way he won. He had to rally back from two sets down which takes a tremendous amount of discipline, fortitude, and good tennis in clutch moments.

Sinner's performance turned the page to the next generation at a tournament in which Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, or Roger Federer was a finalist every year since 2006. Before Sinner's win on Sunday, Stan Wawrinka was the only player outside the Big 3 that won an Australian Open title during that timespan, in 2014 defeating Nadal.

Read more on Lob and Smash