Italy’s Jannik Sinner solidified his status as the world’s top tennis player on Sunday, defending his Australian Open title with a dominant 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Alexander Zverev (Sascha) that made history for Italian tennis.
By defending his Australian Open title, he is the first Italian player in history to win three Grand Slam titles and the youngest man to defend his Australian Open crown since Jim Courier in 1992-93.
The 23-year-old world No. 1 delivered a nearly flawless performance, becoming Italy’s first three-time Grand Slam singles champion. In a match showcasing his exceptional skill, Sinner did not allow Zverev a single break point throughout the contest.
The opening set set the tone for Sinner’s supremacy. Despite Zverev’s early complaints about delayed racket stringing, Sinner remained focused, converting a crucial break point to take the first set. Zverev’s frustration was evident, punctuated by an angry racket slam during a changeover.
A pivotal moment came in the second-set tiebreak, where Sinner’s exceptional touch saw a forehand loop over the net, a shot that seemed to symbolize his command of the match. This was followed by an unreturnable serve and a clinical down-the-line winner that put him two sets ahead.
The final set saw Sinner maintain his iron grip, breaking Zverev’s serve and closing out the match with surgical precision. This victory marks Sinner’s third major triumph and cements his position at the pinnacle of men’s tennis.
Sinner began his victory speech by commending Zverev and his team. “First of all, I would like to start with Sascha. Again, a tough day for you, your whole team, your family. You are an amazing player. Keep believing in yourself. We all know how strong you are as a player and person. Keep it up and keep working hard because we all believe you can win one of these soon. I wish you all the best
“To my team, what can I say? We worked a lot to be again in this position. It is an amazing feeling to share this moment with all of you. It is amazing to achieve these things and to share this with you guys. Darren (Cahill), it is probably, maybe your last Australian Open as a coach – I will try to convince you – and it is an honour to share this trophy with you. And Simone (Vagnozzi), you are an amazing combination of coaches. Thank you so much.
“To the tournament directors, thanks so much for making this happen. It is an incredible tournament. For me, it is the most special Grand Slam and I am so happy to be here. The sponsors, the ball kids, the chair umpires – we all appreciate you so much.
“To the crowd, I felt all your love and see you again next year. Thank you.”
For Zverev, it was a third Grand Slam final defeat, contrasting sharply with Sinner’s growing legacy as a dominant force in the sport.
The German becomes the sixth man in the Open era to lose his first three Grand Slam finals, having also been beaten at the 2020 US Open and 2024 French Open.
With this victory, Sinner not only retains his Australian Open title but also reinforces his status as the world’s top-ranked player, delivering a performance that will be remembered as a defining moment in his remarkable career.
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