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Sinner wins back-to-back Australian Open titles …as Keys dethrones Sabalenka

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.

• Keys shows off her trophy

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.

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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

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