Mumbai: In the closing moments of the first set during the Australian Open final against world No. 2 Alexander Zverev on Sunday, Jannik Sinner demonstrated precisely why he has achieved ten consecutive straight-set victories over top-10 players. His performance over the past year has rendered him nearly invincible on hard courts.

During the eighth game, at deuce, Sinner executed a remarkable backhand down the line in response to a powerful forehand from Zverev, showcasing his agility as he slid and glided with his left leg fully extended while maintaining a low stance. In the subsequent game, while serving for the set at 15-love, Sinner displayed exceptional defensive skills at the baseline, forcing an error from Zverev, and then transitioned to an aggressive net play on the next point.

His movement on the court was fluid and graceful, reminiscent of Leon Marchand, the four-time gold medalist swimmer from the Paris Olympics, who was observing from the Rod Laver Arena.

A fellow Olympic champion from Tokyo found himself outmatched by a player on the verge of becoming a two-time champion in Melbourne. Sinner, now a three-time Grand Slam winner at the age of 23, secured this status following his victory of 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3, making him the youngest player to defend the Australian Open title since Jim Courier in 1992-93.

“We worked hard to reach this position again,” Sinner remarked during his on-court address to his team.

As the first Italian to claim three Major titles, this victory reinforces Sinner’s captivating dominance on the men’s tour, marking his 47th win in his first 50 matches as world No. 1, and solidifying his prowess in hard-court Grand Slams, with his last defeat occurring at the 2023 US Open.

“You’re the best player in the world by far,” Zverev, 27, expressed, visibly upset after losing his third Grand Slam final. “I had hoped to be more competitive today, but you’re simply too good. It’s as straightforward as that.”

Indeed, it is as straightforward as that. While fortune favored the young player at times, such as a fortunate net chord at 4-4 in the tiebreaker, his performance was characterized by consistent brilliance throughout.

Sinner did not encounter a single break point during the match.

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