A clinical Jannik Sinner swept past Alexander Zverev to retain his Australian Open title on Sunday and cement his status as the world’s dominant player in men’s tennis.
The 23-year-old Italian came through a tense final between the two highest-ranked players 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena, raising his arms in the air and looking to the sky in celebration.
In doing so he became the first Italian, man or woman, to win three Grand Slams, surpassing Nicola Pietrangeli.
The emphatic victory also thrust him alongside Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to successfully defend their Melbourne Park titles this century.
But it proved more misery for Germany’s Zverev, who remains one of the world’s best players never to taste Grand Slam glory, falling short once again in his third big final.
“We worked a lot to be again in this position. It’s an amazing feeling to share this moment with all of you,” Sinner said, referring to his coaching team.
He also had words of consolation for Zverev.
“A tough day for you. You’re an amazing player. Keep believing in yourself because I think we, all the players, and the coaches, whoever is involved in the sport, know how strong you are, not only as a player, but also as a person.
“So keep it up. Keep working hard because we all believe that you can lift one of these very, very soon.”
Ice-cool Sinner proved to be a tower of mental strength again in Australia, with his defence coming against the backdrop of an ongoing doping case after he twice tested positive for traces of the steroid clostebol last year.
Hanging over his 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.
“It sucks standing here next to this thing (trophy) and not being able to touch it, I’ll be honest,” said Zverev.
“But congratulations to Jannik. You more than deserve it. You’re the best player in the world by far.
“I was hoping that I could be more competitive today, but you’re just too good. It’s as simple as that.”
Last year Sinner needed five sets to tame Daniil Medvedev and win his first Grand Slam, but it never looked like going the distance this time.
The US Open champion opened with a statement ace and won his first two service games to love, with Zverev struggling to get himself into the contest.
The German fought back to save two break points and hold for 2-2, serving his way out of trouble.
He began to find his radar, taking four points off the next Sinner serve in a game that went to deuce twice as the rallies built.
But the dam finally burst in the eighth game.
Zverev saved three break points but had no answer to a fourth when he was beaten by a blazing passing shot to slump 5-3 behind.
Sinner took the set in 46 minutes and kept the pressure on in the second as cracks began to appear in his opponent’s game.
The Italian has a phenomenal ability to turn recovery shots into momentum-changing ones and he raced 15-40 clear on the Zverev serve at 1-1.
Once more, the second seed dug deep to cling on.
From then on they couldn’t be separated and it went to a tiebreak where Sinner got a lucky net cord that dribbled over to break for 5-4 and he streaked to a two-set lead.
Sinner has won all four tiebreaks he’s played in Melbourne and 16 from his last 18.
Zverev smashed his racquet in frustration at the changeover, and it didn’t get any better in the third set, worn down by the relentless Italian.
Sinner broke for 4-2 when Zverev sent a forehand long and there was no way back for the increasingly disillusioned 27-year-old.
AFP
