World No. 1 Jannik Sinner defended his Australian Open title on Sunday, defeating Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 in the men’s final to claim his third career grand slam win.
The 23-year-old Italian has cemented his dominance on the men’s tour, becoming the first Italian player to win three grand slam titles—two at the Australian Open and one at the US Open—since rising to World No. 1 last June. His clinical performance in Melbourne made him just the fourth male player in 35 years to win a grand slam final without conceding a single break point, a feat achieved despite not playing his absolute best.
“Defending the title is always different. You have this extra pressure, but I always enjoy it. Every match has been very tough,” Sinner told Eurosport after the match.
Alexander Zverev, playing in his third grand slam final, praised Sinner as “the best player in the world by far.” However, the German’s game faltered under pressure, particularly his forehand, allowing Sinner to dominate rallies and maintain an impenetrable service game throughout the match.
Despite an ongoing doping controversy involving Clostebol—a banned anabolic steroid detected in his system last year—Sinner has embarked on a 21-match unbeaten streak. The International Tennis Integrity Agency cleared him of wrongdoing, though the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal will be heard in April.
For Zverev, the loss extends his search for a first major title, while Sinner’s victory marks him as the youngest man in 32 years to win back-to-back Australian Open titles.
Source: Swifteradio.com
