daniel chigunweThe Italian completes a straight-sets win over world number two Alexander Zverev to remain unbeaten in Grand Slam finals.
Jannik Sinner has retained his Australian Open title with an emphatic 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 win over Alexander Zverev, breaking new ground for Italian tennis and leaving his German rival smarting after a third Grand Slam final defeat.
World number one Sinner became Italy’s first player to win three Grand Slam crowns on Sunday, moving past Nicola Pietrangeli who won back-to-back men’s titles at Roland Garros in 1959-60.
“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 all of you, 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.”
World number one brushes aside doping concerns A year after mowing down Daniil Medvedev in five sets for his first major trophy, Sinner sapped his second Melbourne Park final of all drama by applying suffocating pressure and clinical execution.
Under the lights at Rod Laver Arena, he captured the decisive break in the sixth game when Zverev pushed a forehand long.
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 the motions but gave up match point with a hopeful forehand that fell well wide of the line, allowing Sinner to seal the win with a backhand passing shot.
Sinner raised his arms in triumph as the crowd hailed the win, and then he clambered into the terraces to embrace his entourage.
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.
A hearing is scheduled at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for April.
He cast all the worries aside to notch a 19th career title and extend his incredible winning streak to 21 matches.
Sinner breaks back Zverev with ease
At 23, Sinner celebrates a title that cements his place as the game’s pre-eminent hard court player. He was relentless from the get-go, holding to love twice in the first set before his first blemish on serve in the fifth game.
Zverev had to slog to save early break points and was second best in the rallies.
He grumbled to the chair umpire about a racquet not being re-strung at the change of ends when trailing 4-3.
He was broken in the next game while stranded at the net as Sinner blasted a forehand that nearly knocked the racquet out of Zverev’s grip.
Superb net play and a sharp backhand volley gave Sinner three set points and he converted the first with an ace.
Though outplayed in every facet, Zverev held on white-knuckled to take the second set into a tiebreak.
It was level pegging at 4-4 when the match turned viciously away from him as Sinner fired into the net cord and had the ball dribble over.
Sinner thumped down a huge serve to raise two set points and converted the first, firing a furious forehand winner from the baseline.
Gutted, Zverev smashed his racquet as he returned to his chair and whacked it again after sitting down. – aljazeera
Bongani Ndlovu