With a 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 victory over Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner broke new ground for Italian tennis and gave his German rival, Simon Smarting, a third Grand Slam final defeat, the Australian Open champion.
After Nicola Pietrangeli, who won back-to-back men’s titles at Roland Garros in 1959 and 1960, Nicola Pietrangeli, who won three Grand Slam titles, won the first three on Sunday.
“We worked a lot to be in this position again”, Sinner said at the trophy presentation, paying tribute to his team.
“It’s amazing to share this feeling with you all, and it’s amazing to achieve things and share it with you guys.”
” Keep believing in yourself, “Sinner said to the defeated German”. We know how strong you are as a player and person, and you can lift a trophy. “
Doping concerns are put to the side of the world number one.
Sinner applied suffocating pressure and clinical execution to his second Melbourne Park final, one year after slaying Daniil Medvedev in five sets for his first major trophy.
When Zverev pushed a forehand long in the sixth game, he broke the tie at Rod Laver Arena.
Arguably, the German’s spirit had already been broken by an unlucky net cord that turned the second-set tiebreak in Sinner’s favour.
Zverev went through with a hopeful forehand that fell well wide of the line, allowing Sinner to claim the win with a backhand passing shot. However, Zverev gave up match point.
After he clambered into the terraces to welcome his entourage, Sinner triumphantly raised his arms as the crowd cheered the victory.
Hanging over Sinner’s head has been a World Anti-Doping Agency appeal against his exoneration, with the global body seeking a long ban. He denies knowingly doping.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will hold a hearing in April.
He put all of his worries to rest and won his 19th career title, which would have extended his incredible winning streak to 21 matches.
Sinner effortlessly backs up Zverev.
At 23, Sinner celebrates a title that cements his place as the game’s pre-eminent hard court player.
He kept his grip on the serve until the fifth game, holding on to his first love twice in the opening set before displaying his first blemish on the serve.
Zverev was second best in the rallies and had to work hard to save early break points.
He complained to the chair umpire that a racquet had to be re-strung when the game was tied 4-3 at the end.
In the following game, Sinner hit a forehand that nearly slammed the racquet out of Zverev’s grasp while stranded at the net, breaking him.
Sinner scored three sets of three, scoring the first with an ace, thanks to excellent net play and adroit backhand volley.
Though outplayed in every facet, Zverev held on white-knuckled to take the second set into a tiebreak.
When Sinner viciously retreated from him as the match approached 4-4 and the ball was dribbled over the net.
Sinner fired a furious forehand winner from the baseline after thumping down a massive serve to convert the first set point.
Zverev slammed his chair as he came back to his chair, and he whined it once more after sat down.
“Best player in the world” is a phrase.
Zverev dropped serve in the third period to cut the sting completely, leading 4-2 after the match with a wild forehand that soared over the baseline.
Zverev would not make a single break point for the match as he enjoyed a third helping of Grand Slam success. Sinner would not make a single mistake.
” It sucks standing here next to this thing]trophy] and not being able to touch it, I’ll be honest, “Zverev said after the match.
” But congratulations to Jannik. You more than deserve it. By far, you are the best player in the world.
“I was hoping that I could be more competitive today, but you’re just too good. It’s as simple as that”.
Before giving his follow-up speech, Zverev was heckled by a crowd member who yelled, “Australia believes Olga and Brenda,” repeatedly.
After the mother of his child, Brenda Patea, accused him of physical abuse, Zverev’s lawyers claimed in a June of last year that he had agreed to pay a settlement. A German court decided to dismiss the case.
Patea’s accusations were repeatedly refuted by Zverev.
In January 2023, the ATP, citing insufficient evidence, closed an investigation that was launched after another ex-girlfriend, tennis player Olga Sharypova, accused Zverev of domestic abuse.
Recent Australian Open champions
2016 Novak Djokovic, Serbia
2017 Roger Federer, Switzerland
2018 Roger Federer, Switzerland
2019 Novak Djokovic, Serbia
2020 Novak Djokovic, Serbia
2021 Novak Djokovic, Serbia
2022 Rafael Nadal, Spain
2023 Novak Djokovic, Serbia
2024 Jannik Sinner, Italy
2025 Jannik Sinner, Italy
