Summary

  • Men's final at Australian Open on final day

  • Jannik Sinner beats Alexander Zverev in straight sets to defend title

  • Defending champion Sinner wins 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 against second seed Zverev

  • It is a third Grand Slam title for world number one Sinner

  • Zverev becomes sixth man in Open era to lose his first three major finals

  • Use audio icon to listen to BBC Radio 5 commentary from Melbourne, Australia (UK only)

  1. Postpublished at 09:17 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport in Melbourne

    When the rallies are being extended, it is Zverev who is more likely to break down first.

    Sinner has won five of the eight rallies which have gone over nine shots.

    Dragging Zverev onto his forehand side has been a particularly effective tactic, with the German feeling more uncomfortable on that wing and being lured into an impatient return.

  2. Zverev holdspublished at 09:14 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    *Sinner 3-3 Zverev

    An ace gets Alexander Zverev's next service game up and running, but a poor backhand miss draws Jannik Sinner level.

    The defending champion tries to squeeze a forehand winner down the line on the next point, but it's a couple of inches wide and Zverev fires down back-to-back aces to wrap up the hold.

    Alexander ZverevImage source, Getty Images
  3. 'Zverev is handing out the unforced errors'published at 09:11 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    Sinner 3-2 Zverev*

    Annabel Croft
    Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

    It just feels like Jannik Sinner is going into lockdown mode during these long exchanges. He doesn't miss a ball, much like how Novak Djokovic plays his game.

    Time and time again it is Alexander Zverev who is handing out the unforced errors.

  4. Sinner holdspublished at 09:09 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    Sinner 3-2 Zverev*

    Neither player is straying too far from the baseline at the moment and the result is a lot of longer rallies.

    Alexander Zverev has been the one trying to find the all-important winner but it hasn't been paying off as a couple of misses hand Jannik Sinner the hold.

  5. Postpublished at 09:08 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    *Sinner 2-2 Zverev

    Alexander Zverev pulls a forehand wide before Jannik Sinner repays the favour with an overhit strike. Deuce again.

  6. Deuce on Sinner's servepublished at 09:06 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    *Sinner 2-2 Zverev

    A service winner noses Jannik Sinner in front before the pair engage in a lengthy battle of baseline hitting, with the German eventually finding the net.

    But a brilliant service return from Zverev keeps him in the next point as Sinner, surprised, fires long before netting. 40-40.

  7. Postpublished at 09:03 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    *Sinner 2-2 Zverev

    Alexander Zverev sweeps the ball one way and then the other, and Jannik Sinner can't keep up.

    The German hangs his head back in frustration on the next point as his forehand misses its mark. 15-15.

  8. Postpublished at 09:02 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport in Melbourne

    MelbourneImage source, BBC Sport

    As one of the must-see events of the Melbourne summer begins, thousands of fans are sat outside of Rod Laver Arena.

    Grounds passes are dished out for $19 Australian dollars (just under a tenner), meaning it is great value for the Melburnians without a golden ticket to watch while soaking up the atmosphere.

    The Garden Square area is packed as people find a spot to watch the big screen.

    One pair of girls are sat on the concrete floor and using their jackets as picnic blankets.

    Over at Grand Slam Oval - which resembles a music festival with the BPM pounding and booze flowing - there are several screens and barely a patch of grass to be had.

    MelbourneImage source, BBC Sport
  9. Zverev holds after saving break pointspublished at 09:01 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    *Sinner 2-2 Zverev

    An aggressive couple of points from Alexander Zverev as he arrives at the net and dinks a winner past Jannik Sinner.

    And there's the hold as the top seed sends long.

    Alexander ZverevImage source, Getty Images
  10. 'Sinner's return of serve is absolutely exceptional'published at 09:00 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    Sinner 2-1 Zverev*

    Annabel Croft
    Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

    Sinner's return of serve is absolutely exceptional - he just sees it so clearly.

    I think players are intimidated by the way he middles it because he sometimes gets it back into the middle of the court with a lot of pace and heaviness on it. The return almost lands right at the feet of the server.

    So I think Zverev could be in trouble here...

  11. Postpublished at 09:00 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    Sinner 2-1 Zverev*

    Jannik Sinner isn't able to convert his first break point, turning Alexander Zverev's serve wide.

    And he can't do much on the second one either. We go to deuce.

  12. Break points Sinnerpublished at 08:59 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    Sinner 2-1 Zverev*

    Somehow Jannik Sinner gets a return on that brutal serve from Alexander Zverev, but the second seed is at the net to push away a winner.

    But hold on! A fantastic passing winner from Sinner gifts him two break points.

  13. Postpublished at 08:57 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    Sinner 2-1 Zverev*

    Jannik Sinner catches Alexander Zverev out with a deep forehand strike before the German nets. A half-chance for Sinner at 0-30.

    Jannik SinnerImage source, Getty Images
  14. Sinner holds to lovepublished at 08:55 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    Sinner 2-1 Zverev*

    Two big Jannik Sinner serves get the better of Alexander Zverev once again and, after ending a lengthy rally, the defending champion races to the net to slam down a forehand winner.

    Another perfect service game for the Italian.

  15. Zverev holdspublished at 08:53 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    *Sinner 1-1 Zverev

    An ace and then an unforced error from Jannik Sinner get the job done for Alexander Zverev.

    A solid start for both players.

    Alexander ZverevImage source, Getty Images
  16. Postpublished at 08:51 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport in Melbourne

    Talk about a statement of intent!

    Jannik Sinner does not miss a first serve on his way to a very comfortable hold.

    A real tummy-settler.

  17. Postpublished at 08:50 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    Sinner 1-0 Zverev*

    A clip off the net works well for Alexander Zverev and he's able to take control of the point before Jannik Sinner sends a backhand wide.

    The Italian overhits the next point, but he lands a perfect backhand winner to claw back to 30-15.

  18. 'This is bound to be another tight battle'published at 08:48 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    Sinner 1-0 Zverev*

    Pat Cash
    Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

    I'm trying to work out why their head-to-head is 4-2 in favour of Zverev.

    They both play a similar sort of game where they are tall, they cover the court really well and they hit heavy shots.

    I think Sinner has the better forehand, which is just an extraordinary shot. Their serve is pretty equal I think, but Zverev probably has a better serve. When it comes to volleys, they are both pretty competent.

    I could go on forever so I think this is bound to be another tight battle...

  19. Sinner holds to lovepublished at 08:48 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    Sinner 1-0 Zverev*

    Not a bad way to start the final! An ace from Jannik Sinner followed by another unreturnable serve.

    And again! Alexander Zverev gets his racquet to it, but can only push the ball as far as the net.

    When the German eventually does return Sinner's serve, he's on the backfoot and a short rally goes the way of the Italian.

    Jannik SinnerImage source, Getty Images
  20. Sinner serves first to start finalpublished at 08:46 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January

    *Sinner 0-0 Zverev

    One more step to Grand Slam glory. Who will get their hands on that historic trophy?

    Jannik Sinner, the defending champion, serves first to get this final under way.

    Away. We. Go.