Australian Open 2025: Yannick Sinner beats Alexander Zverev for back-to-back Grand Slam title

Italian player Jannik Sinner celebrates his victory over German player Alexander Zverev in the men's singles final on day 15 of the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 26, 2025. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP) / -- Photos for editorial use only - commercial use strictly prohibited -- (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP, Getty Images) — Jannik Sinner beats Alexander Zverev to win his second consecutive Australian Open title. (Photo by William West/AFP via Getty Images)

Defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner has done it again. Sinner defeated Alexander Zverev in straight sets 6-3, 7-6, 5-3 in the 2025 Australian Open final to cement his third career Grand Slam title.

The world No. 1 dominated nearly the entire match against No. 2 Zverev to defend his Australian Open title and win his 19th overall title. Sinner won the 2024 Australian Open and US Open titles, and reached the semifinals at the 2024 French Open and 2023 Wimbledon.

With this victory, the 23-year-old Sinner became the first Italian player to win three Grand Slams and the second player (after Novak Djokovic) to win the Australian Open multiple times. ). He is also the first man to defend a Grand Slam title since Rafael Nadal in 2005-06.

Zverev summed up Sinner succinctly after the game: "You were great."

Sinner and Zverev have met six times before, with Zverev winning four of them. In their last meeting, Sinner defeated Zverev in the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open.

Sinner started off strong in a back-and-forth first set, while Zverev was visibly frustrated by the end of the set as he struggled with his forehand. Sinner advantage, 6-3.

Zverev looked and played more confidently in the second set, and Sinner showed some signs of a strain, seizing his left hamstring that cost him his semifinal win over Ben Sher. Dayton was in trouble during the game. But Sinner did not let Zverev succeed, and the game entered a tie-break. Sinner won 7-4 and the second set 7-6. Zverev appeared to have trouble with his racket during the match, returning to the sidelines and smashing one in frustration. At this point, the two sides were tied 3-0 in the tiebreaker.

Sinner cruised from there. Zverev was visibly wilting, his body language defeated, and the third set was the most competitive of the entire match. Sinner faced no break points on Sunday and his service accuracy was excellent (84% on first serve).

Sinner is currently on a 21-match winning streak in hard-court majors; his last loss was to Zverev in the round of 16 of the 2023 U.S. Open.

January 26, 2025, Melbourne, Australia: Tennis: Grand Slam - Australian Open, singles, men's, final. Sinner (Italy) - Zverev (Germany), Rod Laver Arena. Alexander Zverev reacted with disappointment. Photo: Frank Molter/dpa (Frank Molter Photography/Photo Alliance via Getty Images) — Alexander Zverev slams his racket in frustration. (Photo by Frank Molter/Getty Images)

Zverev, 27, has 23 career titles but has never won a Grand Slam - the closest he came was the 2024 French Open final, where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz, and Dominic Thiem won the 2020 US Open. Visibly emotional after the game, Sinner comforted Zverev before presenting the award and put his hand on Zverev's shoulder while talking to him.

When Zverev took the podium, he looked at the championship trophy with a hint of relief on his face: "It's terrible to stand next to this thing and not be able to touch it," he said with a smile.

Zverev reached the Melbourne final after seventh seed Djokovic withdrew from the semi-finals and defeated 12th seed Tommy Paul, Ugo Humbert, Jacob Fearnley, Peder Ronaldo Martinez and Lucas Pouille.

On the way to the championship, Sinner defeated No. 21 seed Shelton, No. 8 seed Alex De Minaur, No. 13 seed Holger Ruhn, Marcos Giron, Tristan Skookette and Nicholas Jerry.