Australian Open final: Jannik Sinner dubbed ‘best player in world by far’ by beaten Zverev
Italian world No 1 retains title, but says No 2-ranked German ‘can lift one of these very, very soon’
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, 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.
