Champ Sinner backs beaten Zverev for grand slam glory

Jannik Sinner has hailed nearly-man Alexander Zverev as a grand slam champion in waiting after taking down the world No.2 in straight sets in the Australian Open final.

The top-ranked Sinner was full of empathy for his vanquished opponent after his 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 win on Sunday night consigned Zverev to a 0-3 record in major finals.

Zverev, one of the most unfulfilled talents in tennis, let his frustration show when he smashed his racquet after the second set.

The 27-year-old was emotional at the trophy presentation on Rod Laver Arena after letting slip another opportunity to claim an elusive grand slam title.

He was consoled by the sporting Sinner, who has no doubt about his rival's ability.

"As you know, he is struggling to get these kind of trophies. I saw him down, you can see the images," Sinner said of his post-match interaction with Zverev.

"I told him he is one of the best players in the world and he has to keep believing in himself and he has a great team, a great family - everyone is pushing him to do the right thing.

"He has improved a lot and there is no other player who deserves more to be holding these kind of trophies than him.

"I truly believe that he is going to be a grand slam champion at some point."

In his previous grand slam finals, Zverev let a two-set lead slip against Dominic Thiem at the 2020 US Open and relinquished a two-sets-to-one advantage against Carlos Alcaraz at last year's French Open.

Zverev said there is nothing more that he wants than to lift a grand slam trophy.

"I'm doing everything I can. I'm working as hard as I ever did," he told reporters soon after the final.

"I think I'm doing all the right things off-court, I think I'm practising the right things, but I lost in straight sets today.

"That is a fact. I lost to Jannik in straight sets today.

"I don't want to end my career as the best player of all-time to never win a grand slam, that's for sure.

"I'll keep doing everything I can to lift one of those trophies."

There was some drama before Zverev's on-court speech at the trophy presentation, when a protester interrupted proceedings.

The protester shouted "Australia believes Olga and Brenda" in reference to domestic abuse allegations against Zverev in recent years by former partners Olga Sharypova and Brenda Patea, which he has strenuously denied.

"I believe there are no more accusations. There haven't been for, what, nine months now," Zverev said.

"Good for her. I think she was the only one in the stadium who believed anything in that moment.

"If that's the case, good for her. I think I've done everything I can, and I'm not about to open that subject again."

Zverev's next shot at grand slam glory will come at the French Open, where his loss to Alcaraz in last year's final followed three consecutive semi-final appearances.