Jannik Sinner salutes Aussie super coach Darren Cahill after defending Australian Open crown

Jannik Sinner salutes Aussie super coach Darren Cahill after defending Australian Open crown Sinner was clinical as he claimed his second title Defeated Alexander Zverev in straight sets Credited his Aussie coach for his dominant form By DARREN WALTON FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: 23:45, 26 January 2025 | Updated: 23:45, 26 January 2025 e-mail View comments Jannik Sinner has saluted his Aussie super-coach after entering Novak Djokovic , Roger Federer-like territory with a clinical straight-sets Australian Open final triumph over Alexander Zverev . Sinner denied Zverev an elusive maiden major while enhancing his own growing grand slam stature with a steely-eyed 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 victory over the gutted German at Melbourne Park on Sunday night. In defending the trophy he claimed last year for the first time and adding to his 2024 US Open crown, Italy 's new tennis trailblazer becomes the first player since Djokovic in 2016 to win three successive hard-court grand slams.

Seemingly setting Sinner on the path to greatness, Federer is the only other man in the 57-year open era to have accomplished the feat. The triumphant Sinner paid a touching tribute to South Australian mentor Darren Cahill and the rest of his entourage after announcing mid-tournament this would be their last Open working together. 'We worked a lot to be again in this position.



It's an amazing feeling to share this moment with all of you,' the champion said. Jannik Sinner claimed back-to-back Australian Open titles after defeating Alexander Zverev Sinner shares an embrace with his Australian coach Darren Cahill after winning the final Cahill has an incredible record of leading his charges to grand slam titles and world No 1 'I know also a part of the team is at home and my family and everyone, but it is amazing to achieve these things, but mostly to share this with you guys. 'And I know Darren, I tried to convince you (to stay on but) it's your last Australian Open as a coach, and I'm very, very happy to share this trophy with you.

' But while the 23-year-old marched relentlessly halfway towards completing a Djokovic-like rare non-calendar-year grand slam sweep with his latest success, Sinner's participation in the next major remains in doubt. The world No.1 faces a potential ban of at least one year when he fronts the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland April for alleged doping.

The World Anti Doping Authority is challenging a decision last year by the International Tennis Integrity Agency not to suspend Sinner for what the TIA deemed to be accidental contamination by a banned anabolic steroid in March. That closed-doors hearing will take place in Lausanne on April 16-17, casting a cloud over Sinner's immediate future - and his quest for more grand slam spoils in 2025 and possibly 2026. For now, though, tennis's most dominant force is very much on top of the world after putting the doping allegation dramas aside to sweep to a third grand slam title in an utterly dominant 12 months.

In so doing, the top seed ensured Zverev remains the sport's most unfulfilled talent after denying the world No.2 a desperately sought first slam of his own. Sinner was unstoppable as he charged his way to another grand slam title at Melbourne Park Alexander Zverev of Germany poses with the runner up trophy on the podium Zverev has now lost all three of his grand slam finals, having blown a two-set lead against Dominic Thiem at the 2020 US Open, and letting a two-sets-to-one advantage slip against Carlos Alcaraz at last year's French Open.

Little wonder why Zverev, sensing his latest opportunity slipping away, smashed his racquet in anguish after losing the second-set tiebreak on Sunday night. Even worse for Zverev, Sinner was seen clutching his left hamstring late in the second set of the first Open final pitting the world's top two players against each other since 2019. The German must have known he'd have had a chance, had he extended the final to at least four sets.

Alas, Sinner breaking Zverev for a second time in the sixth game proved the beginning of the end. Showing no let-up, Sinner served out the match in two hours and 42 minutes to also join Federer (Wimbledon 2003 against Mark Philippoussis) and Rafael Nadal (US Open 2017) as only the third man this century to win a grand slam final without offering up a solitary break-point chance. 'It sucks standing here next to this thing and not being able to touch it, to be honest,' Zverev said after missing his chance to etch his name on the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.

'But congratulations to Jannik. You more than deserve it. You are the best player in the world by far.

'I was hoping that I could be more of a competitor today, but you were just too good. It's as simple as that.' 'I want to thank my team.

I mean, are trying to do all the right work. I'm just not good enough. 'But I really appreciate what everybody has done over the last few years, back from my ankle injury, to world No.

2, to playing grand slam finals again. 'I don't know if I'll ever be able to lift a trophy, but I'll keep coming back, keep trying.' Jannik Sinner Novak Djokovic Alexander Zverev Share or comment on this article: Jannik Sinner salutes Aussie super coach Darren Cahill after defending Australian Open crown e-mail Add comment.