In a stunning display of skill and determination, Italy’s Jannik Sinner successfully defended his Australian Open title with a commanding 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Germany’s Alexander Zverev on Sunday. The 23-year-old World No. 1 made history by becoming the first Italian to win three Grand Slam titles, surpassing the legendary Nicola Pietrangeli.
Under the bright lights of Rod Laver Arena, Sinner showcased why he is regarded as the pre-eminent hardcourt player in the game today. Utilizing a blend of powerful groundstrokes and strategic play, he kept Zverev on the back foot throughout the match. “It was an amazing performance from my side,” Sinner reflected. “This one has a different feeling and means so much to me.”
The victory extends Sinner’s impressive winning streak to 21 matches, further cementing his position at the pinnacle of men’s tennis. Despite the high stakes, he remained humble, acknowledging the challenges off the court. “Many things happen off the court that you maybe don’t know,” he shared. “When I go on the court, even if it’s difficult to block these things, I have the team and people close to me who trust me.”
For Zverev, the loss marked his third defeat in a Grand Slam final, a tough pill to swallow. “First of all, it sucks standing here next to this thing and not being able to touch it,” the emotional German said, gesturing to the trophy. “Congrats to Jannik, you’re the best player in the world by far. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to lift the trophy but I’ll keep coming back, I’ll keep trying.”
In the women’s doubles final, top seeds Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic and Taylor Townsend of the United States secured the title after defeating Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia and Hsieh Su-wei of Chinese Taipei in a thrilling three-set match, 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-3. Their victory capped off an exciting tournament, leaving fans eager for what’s to come in the tennis season ahead.
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Ruthless Sinner downs Zverev to retain Australian Open title
cgtn.com
