Sinner wins back-to-back Australian Open titles …as Keys dethrones Sabalenka
![• Sinner with his trophy](https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Keys-left-with-Sinner-celebrating-with-their-trophies-780x470.webp)
Jannik Sinner underlined why he is the world best men’s player by securing back-to-back Australian Open titles with a merciless victory over Alexander Zverev.
Italian top seed, Sinner, delivered in the decisive moments to secure a 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 win over second seed Zverev.
![](https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Madison-Keys.webp)
The straight-set win was a demonstration of Sinner’s relentless baseline game, physical power and mental steeliness.
Zverev did not have the tools to break him down and became increasingly frustrated as a result.
The 27-year-old 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.
The way in which he ruthlessly dismantled Zverev was a stark contrast to the fight he needed to recover from two sets down against Daniil Medvedev last year.
Sinner did not face a single break point against Zverev and the way he secured his first championship point calmly luring his opponent forward with a drop-shot before drilling a backhand past him – illustrated the ease he felt.
Earlier on Saturday American underdog Madison Keys finally got her hands on a Grand Slam trophy after holding off defending champion Aryna Sabalenka to win the Australian Open women’s title.
Keys, playing her second major final and first for more than seven years, overcame the world number one 6-3 2-6 7-5.
Only three other women have been older than the 29-year-old Keys when winning their first Grand Slam title.
Keys, seeded 19th in Melbourne, clasped her head in amazement before sharing an emotional hug with husband and Coach, Bjorn Fratangelo.
Belarus’ Sabalenka, 25, had been attempting to claim a rare third successive victory at the opening major of the season.
Beating Sabalenka was the pinnacle of a title run where she has beaten a host of star names.
Keys also beat second seed, Iga Swiatek, in the semi-finals, becoming the first player to beat the top two Australian Open seeds since Serena Williams in 2005.
That came on the back of previous victories over former Melbourne finalists Danielle Collins and Elena Rybakina, plus 2023 Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina.—BBC