The win cemented a superb fortnight for the 22-year-old, who had already sprung a major shock by beating top seed Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals. And he also made history by becoming the first Italian player, male or female, to win the Australian Open singles title.
The delight on Sinner’s face was evident as he lifted the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, and it seems he’s still not ready to let go of it either. He was spotted at Dubai Airport carrying the silverware through security as part of his hand luggage, rather than have it packed away in his suitcase.
KISS radio presenter @katiebevano posted a picture of the sport’s new star as he walked with the trophy, which was placed in a small green bag. And she also admitted that bumping into Sinner left him feeling comically inferior.
“Things that weren’t on my 2024 bingo card: meeting Jannik Sinner in Dubai Airport security as we both sorted out our hand luggage. His carry-on bag being the actual Australian Open trophy (!) made the electronics and liquids in my tray look very unimpressive.”
@ashleemwoods replied with “Imagine putting a laptop covered in stickers next to the Norman Cup.” Bevan added “Nothing has ever humbled me quicker,” before revealing the pair had a photo together, but she wasn’t willing to post it given they’d both come straight off a 14-hour flight.
It’s likely that Sinner will have plenty more silverware to negotiate before his career his out. The world No.4 has now emerged as a serious threat to the dominance of Djokovic, who arrived in Melbourne having won three of the previous four Grand Slam events.
And odds have already shortened on him prevailing at the next major event in May and June – the French Open in Paris. He was previously a quarter-finalist at the tournament in 2020, when still a teenager.
And he’s not the first star to famously keep a trophy close to him. The iconic Roger Federer later revealed that when he finally won the French Open in 2009, he slept with the trophy for a prolonged period having finally completed the career Grand Slam.
