Daniil Medvedev hopes his experience in Grand Slams will prove decisive when he takes on first-time finalist Jannik Sinner for the Australian Open title.

Medvedev won the US Open in 2021 and has twice lost in the Melbourne final.

Italian Sinner beat 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals to reach his first Slam final.

“The first final is always different for everyone. I hope this experience can help me and let’s see how Jannik will be,” said 27-year-old Medvedev.

“I have this experience. I will try my best, fight for my life, and let’s see who wins.”

Medvedev beat Djokovic 6-4 6-4 6-4 to win the US Open in 2021, but the Russian has also lost in the Melbourne final twice – against Djokovic in 2021 and then in a five-set thriller against Rafael Nadal a year later.

The Russian third seed has had three five-set matches on his way to the 2024 final, including hard-fought wins over top-10 players Hubert Hurkacz of Poland and Alexander Zverev of Germany in the past two rounds.

However, Medvedev felt the tough battles he has got through were a positive.

“I’m stronger than I was before this tournament because now I know I’m capable of some things maybe I thought I’m not,” Medvedev said.

“Mentally, I’m stronger than before, and I’m happy about it. It’s better to be in the final winning three-set, four-set matches.

“That’s the better way physically. But it is what it is, and I’m proud and looking forward to the final to give my 100% again.”

Medvedev – who developed a reputation as a pantomime villain in the past – also felt he has become a calmer and less volatile character.

“I said before the tournament, I want a change, I want to become better with myself,” he added.

“To not have after the matches these moments where I’m like, ‘I did this with the crowd, why did I do it? Did it help me?’

“I just don’t want to have it any more. I want to play tennis, I want to be proud of myself, I want to fight.”

Sinner, 22, had been beaten in four Slam quarter-finals before reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals last year, losing to Djokovic.

But he got his revenge on Friday with a superb performance to hand world number one Djokovic his first defeat in the Australian Open in six years.

That came after Sinner – who is a former national junior skier – had eliminated Russians Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev in the two previous rounds.

Medvedev has won six of the nine previous matches with Sinner, although the Italian has taken the past three, including wins in the 2023 ATP Tour semi-finals and hard-court finals in Vienna and Beijing.

Sinner felt his semi-final win over Djokovic was the best achievement of his career and goes into the final full of confidence.

“I’m happy to be here, happy to play my first final here in Melbourne, but in my mind I know I can and still have to improve,” said Sinner, who is often supported passionately by a loyal group of fans dressed as carrots.

“It means so much to me to beat Novak here in Melbourne, but in the other way, I know the tournament is not over.

“Sunday is a final. It’s different emotions, because the final is always different. I knew it was the semi-final and it’s not that you win the tournament like this. So I’m looking forward for Sunday, and let’s see what’s coming.”