Defending champion Jannik Sinner faces Alexander Zverev in the men’s final

Melbourne, Australia (AP) – Defending champion Jannik Sinner will meet Alexander Zverev in the first Australian Open Men’s final between the players ranked no. 1 and no. 2 ago Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal in 2019.

Top seed Sinner is a 23-year-old from Italy who could become the youngest man to win back-to-back titles at Melbourne Park since Jim Courier in 1992 and 1993. Sinner also won the US Open last September, shortly after he was released in a doping case that is still not completely resolved.

Sinner will try to become the first man since Nadal at the French Open in 2005 and 2006 to follow up his first Grand Slam Title by repeating as the champion at the same tournament a year later.

Sinner goes into Sunday On a 20-game winning streak dating back to late last season.

The Second-seeded Zverev is a 27-year-old from Germany seeking his first Grand Slam title. He is 0-2 in previous major finals, losing both in five sets.

Zverev advanced to the final when Djokovic stops playing After the first set of their semifinal on Friday because of a torn muscle in his left leg. Djokovic, who was booed by some spectators as he left Rod Laver Arena, posted a photo of his hamstring MRI On social media early Sunday with the caption: “Thought I’d leave this here for all the sports injury experts out there.”

Play is scheduled to start at 7:30 PM local time (3:30 AM EST), and Sinner is listed as the favorite, according to the BETMGM Sportsbook.

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Associated Press