Jannik Sinner has brushed aside concerns about his ongoing doping case after clinching the Australian Open title with a commanding victory over Alexander Zverev.
The world No 1 defeated Zverev 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 to defend his crown at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.
"I'm not thinking at the moment about this," said the 23-year-old Italian, who became the first from his nation to win three Grand Slam singles titles.
"I just came off an amazing run again here. I want to enjoy this moment. Then it's the hearing. We know now the dates, and that's it," Sinner added.
Jannik Sinner has brushed aside concerns about his ongoing doping case after clinching the Australian Open title with a commanding victory over Alexander Zverev
REUTERS
Sinner maintained he has a "clear mind" about the situation, stating: "If I know if I would be guilty, I would not play like this."
On the eve of the tournament, the Court of Arbitration for Sport announced that Sinner's doping case hearing will take place in April.
The development means the Italian could potentially miss the French Open in May if he receives a ban.
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Jannik Sinner didn't give Alexander Zverev a single break point as he won the Australian Open title on Sunday
REUTERS
The case stems from two failed doping tests last March, though Sinner was initially cleared of blame before the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the decision.
"Many, many things happen off the court, what you maybe don't know," Sinner reflected. "When I go on court, even if sometimes it's very difficult to block these kind of things, I have the team and people who are close to me who trust me."
Sinner's triumph extends his remarkable unbeaten run to 21 matches, dating back to a loss against Carlos Alcaraz in Beijing last October.
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The Italian has now equalled an ATP record by winning 47 of his first 50 matches as world number one.
His dominance on hard courts at major tournaments has been particularly impressive, having not lost a match since his defeat to Zverev at the 2023 US Open.
Like his rival Alcaraz, who sent his congratulations, Sinner has won his first three Grand Slam finals and now sits just one major title behind the Spaniard.
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The champion's consistent excellence has been notable despite the external pressures, with Sunday's victory marking his third consecutive hard-court Grand Slam success.
Zverev was left to rue another Grand Slam final defeat, his third after previous losses in New York and Paris.
"It was just a difficult moment for me," said the German. "Now, for the third time, seeing somebody lift the trophy, me standing next to that, is difficult."
Jannik Sinner has three Grand Slam titles to his name after beating Alexander Zverev in the final of the Australian Open
REUTERS
The 27-year-old praised Sinner's exceptional level, comparing him to Novak Djokovic at his peak.
"He's very, very similar to Novak when he was at his best," Zverev said. "They barely miss. They make you think you have to overhit all the time to have a chance in a rally against them."
Zverev, who failed to create a single break point during the match, described Sinner as being "in a different universe" to the rest of the tour on hard courts.
