Jannik Sinner’s Dominance Continues with Second Australian Open Title
In the world of tennis, few stories are as captivating as the rise of Jannik Sinner. On a bright Sunday in Melbourne, Australia, Sinner once again showcased his exceptional talent by claiming his second consecutive Australian Open championship. The 23-year-old Italian sensation never faced a single break point, using his complete game to outplay and frustrate Alexander Zverev, securing a 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory in the final.
Sinner’s triumph at Melbourne Park marks him as the youngest man to win the Australian Open two years in a row since Jim Courier achieved the feat in 1992-93. This victory further cements Sinner’s position at the top of the tennis world, having risen to No. 1 last June and maintaining that spot ever since. The gap between him and the No. 2-ranked Zverev was as pronounced as ever in the Rod Laver Arena, reminiscent of the 2019 Australian Open final when No. 1 Novak Djokovic defeated No. 2 Rafael Nadal in straight sets.
To truly appreciate Sinner’s dominance, consider this: since the start of last season, he has won three of the five major tournaments, including the US Open in September. His record during this period is an astounding 80-6, with a total of nine tournament titles. His current unbeaten run spans 21 matches, dating back to last year.
However, not everything has been smooth sailing for Sinner. The past 12 months have been clouded by a doping case in which he was cleared by a ruling that was appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency. He tested positive for a trace amount of an anabolic steroid twice last March but attributed it to accidental exposure involving two members of his team, who have since been fired. Sinner was initially exonerated in August, and a hearing in the WADA appeal is scheduled for April.
Grand Slam Finals: A Tale of Two Players
While Sinner became the eighth man in the Open era to start his career 3-0 in Grand Slam finals, Zverev finds himself on the opposite end of the spectrum. He is the seventh player to be 0-3 in Grand Slam finals, adding this loss to those at the 2020 US Open and the 2024 French Open. Unlike those earlier five-set battles, this contest was not as close.
There was only one moment that hinted at tension. Late in the second set, Zverev was two points from taking the set, leading 5-4 and reaching love-30 on Sinner’s serve. However, a break point and a set point never materialized. Zverev dropped the next four points, making it 5-all, and Sinner emerged victorious in the ensuing tiebreaker. No surprise there, as Sinner went 4-0 in tiebreakers over the past two weeks and has won 16 of his past 18.
Sinner’s All-Around Game
A year ago, Sinner faced more challenges to earn his first Slam, needing to overcome Djokovic, who retired one set into his semifinal against Zverev due to a torn hamstring, before erasing a two-set deficit in the final against 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev. Beating Zverev allowed Sinner to become the first man since Nadal at the French Open in 2005 and 2006 to follow up his first Grand Slam title by repeating as the champion at the same tournament a year later.
Sinner’s all-around style, which appears to have no significant weaknesses, was on full display. The only perceived vulnerability might be his net play, but he won 10 of 13 points when moving forward against Zverev. In contrast, Zverev managed 14 of 27, partly due to Sinner’s ability to slip passing shots by him.
Watching Sinner cover the court is reminiscent of Djokovic, with his sneakers squeaking as he transitions from a sprint to a slide, often nearly ending in the splits. Both Sinner and Zverev use their long limbs to propel themselves from corner to corner at a considerable pace, delivering deep groundstrokes with power.
The Final Showdown
Despite Zverev’s prowess, it was Sinner who proved superior in every meaningful way. While Zverev held a 12-6 advantage in aces, Sinner’s variety and ability to switch speeds and locations might be unmatched in the men’s game at the moment. This was a significant factor in Sinner not facing any break points.
Sinner returned serves from Zverev that reached 138 mph and accumulated 10 break chances, converting two. The first, thanks to a passing shot, put Sinner ahead 5-4 after 44 minutes. Zverev walked back behind the baseline, shaking his head while talking to his father and brother, seated in the front row of their courtside coaches’ box.
There was more negative body language after Sinner served out that set at love, the final note an ace at 120 mph. Zverev trudged to the sideline, shoulders sagging, and dropped his racket on an equipment bag adjacent to his bench, a gesture that conveyed annoyance more than anger. Later, it became the latter: Zverev cracked one racket on the court and used one racket to hit another on the sideline.
Understandable, given what Sinner was doing on the other side of the net.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
