It’s a frightening prospect for his rivals, but a jubilant Jannik Sinner insists he’s not even close to peaking after etching his name alongside tennis titans Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the sport’s record books.
Sinner’s one-sided 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 victory on Sunday night over Alexander Zverev in the first Australian Open final featuring the world’s top two players in six years not only earned the Italian a third major in 12 heady months.
The straight-sets rout also elevated the 23-year-old to rarefied air alongside Djokovic and Federer as only the third man since Open-era tennis began in 1968 to snare three consecutive hard-court grand slam crowns.
“It feels amazing,” Sinner said after successfully defending his crown and being feted by fans after the trophy ceremony at Melbourne Park.
“Obviously, it was a very, very long run to have this one again. It is definitely a different feeling for sure.
“I know how much work I put into this one and, having this one twice, it’s amazing.
“You have a different kind of pressure as defending champion. You have different kind of expectation because you know you can do it, potentially.
“It was a different run from last year. I struggled. But this is the reason why I kept going — the crowd. It means so much to me.”
While he is now halfway towards also joining Djokovic as the only man since Rod Laver in 1969 to holding all four grand slam titles simultaneously, Sinner’s participation in the next major at the French Open in May 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 in 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 ITIA 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 dark cloud over Sinner’s immediate future — and his quest for more grand slam spoils in 2025 and possibly 2026.
“Honesty, having difficulties especially in the tough moments and how I handled them, I know exactly this will help me in the future,” he said.
“But I also want to enjoy this one because this one has a different feeling, has a different perspective, this trophy.
“It’s difficult to talk about the future. But this one means so much to me.”
In addition to his two Australian Open titles, captured either side of hoisting the US Open trophy for the first time in 2024, Sinner won the season-ending ATP Finals championship and spearheaded Italy’s successful Davis Cup defence.
Yet he is vowing to get even better in 2025 and beyond — regardless of what happens with the CAS hearing.
“Maybe the second serve could be a little bit more aggressive and trying to sneak into the net a little bit more,” he said.
“For sure, there are some areas where I can improve.
“I also want to be a better player. I’m not only seeing the result.
“It is important in one year’s time to say ‘OK, I have improved as a player’ and that is much more important.”
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au