MELBOURNE (AP) — Jannik Sinner delivered a commanding performance on Sunday, successfully defending his Australian Open title with a 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Alexander Zverev in the men’s final. The win marked his third career Grand Slam triumph, with the 23-year-old Italian now firmly cementing his place among tennis’ elite.
It wasn’t long ago that Sinner was seen as a promising young talent still on the rise. Just a year ago, he had yet to claim a Grand Slam title. But the man who made waves in 2022 by winning his first Grand Slam at the US Open has now elevated his game to new heights, becoming the first Italian to capture three major titles—two of them at the Australian Open.
Since assuming the World No. 1 ranking in June, Sinner has been an unstoppable force on the men’s tour, and this victory only served to underline his dominance. In his win against Zverev, Sinner made history by becoming only the fourth player in the last 35 years to claim a Grand Slam final without conceding a single break point.
“I always enjoy defending a title, but there’s definitely extra pressure,” Sinner said in his post-match interview. “Every match has been tough, but I was feeling good today. I started well, hitting the ball aggressively, and my serve was on point. It’s about raising your level, and I felt like I did that.”
Zverev, for his part, was gracious in defeat, acknowledging Sinner’s superb play. “He’s the best player in the world by far,” the German said. “I couldn’t really get into the match, and Jannik just played a perfect final.”
However, the victory came with a shadow hanging over it, as Sinner’s off-court controversy looms large. After a positive test for Clostebol, a banned substance, in March of the previous year, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal of a ruling in his favor has led to an ongoing legal case. The Court of Arbitration for Sport is set to hear the appeal on April 16. Despite this unresolved issue, Sinner has remained focused, extending his remarkable unbeaten streak to 21 matches—a streak that Zverev never looked close to threatening.
From the outset, Sinner displayed why he’s currently the best in the game. Zverev’s usually reliable serve remained powerful, but his forehand was off, leading to 12 unforced errors in the opening set. Sinner capitalized, staying solid from the baseline and easily outlasting Zverev in longer rallies. The Italian dropped just six points on serve throughout the set, making it clear who was in control.
Zverev found himself constantly under pressure, fighting off five break points before eventually succumbing on the sixth when he mishit a volley into the net. Sinner, showcasing his precision and variety, sealed the set with an ace after maneuvering Zverev around the court with his crisp net play.
The second set offered some resistance from Zverev. Though he struggled at the start, his serve and groundstrokes improved as the set went on. At 4-5, with Sinner serving to stay in the set, Zverev had a chance to break, but Sinner responded with two brilliant serves, winning four consecutive points to avoid danger.
As the set continued, both players engaged in an intense rally of 21 shots, one of the most electrifying exchanges of the match. Sinner’s perfect passing shot during that point demonstrated why he’s currently the top player in the world, and he would go on to win the tiebreaker and take a two-set lead.
With Zverev’s energy seemingly sapped, the third set became a formality. Sinner, untroubled, coasted to his second consecutive Australian Open title, becoming the youngest player in 32 years to defend a Grand Slam title in Melbourne.
The Italian has now firmly staked his claim as a dominant figure in men’s tennis, and with his career continuing to ascend, it seems only a matter of time before he adds even more Grand Slam titles to his resume.
