Sinner denied Zverev an elusive maiden major while enhancing his own growing grand slam stature with a steely-eyed 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 Â victory over the gutted German at Melbourne Park on Sunday night.
In defending the trophy he claimed last year for the first time and adding to his 2024 US Open crown, Italy's new tennis trailblazer becomes the first player since Djokovic in 2016 to win three successive hard-court grand slams.
Alexander Zverev (left) looks on as Jannik Sinner raises the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
Seemingly setting Sinner on the path to greatness, Federer is the only other man in the 57-year open era to have accomplished the feat.
The triumphant Sinner paid a touching tribute to South Australian mentor Darren Cahill and the rest of his entourage after announcing mid-tournament this would be their last Open working together.
"We worked a lot to be again in this position. It's an amazing feeling to share this moment with all of you," the champion said.
"I know also a part of the team is at home and my family and everyone, but it is amazing to achieve these things, but mostly to share this with you guys.
Jannik Sinner (left) hugs coach Darren Cahill after his Australian Open triumph. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
"And I know Darren, I tried to convince you (to stay on but) it's your last Australian Open as a coach, and I'm very, very happy to share this trophy with you."
But while the 23-year-old marched relentlessly halfway towards completing a Djokovic-like rare non-calendar-year grand slam sweep with his latest success, Sinner's participation in the next major 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 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 TIA 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 cloud over Sinner's immediate future - and his quest for more grand slam spoils in 2025 and possibly 2026.
Alexander Zverev shows his frustration after losing the second set in a tiebreak. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
For now, though, tennis's most dominant force is very much on top of the world after putting the doping allegation dramas aside to sweep to a third grand slam title in an utterly dominant 12 months.
In so doing, the top seed ensured Zverev remains the sport's most unfulfilled talent after denying the world No.2 a desperately sought first slam of his own.
Zverev has now lost all three of his grand slam finals, having blown a two-set lead against Dominic Thiem at the 2020 US Open, and letting a two-sets-to-one advantage slip against Carlos Alcaraz at last year's French Open.
Little wonder why Zverev, sensing his latest opportunity slipping away, smashed his racquet in anguish after losing the second-set tiebreak on Sunday night.
Even worse for Zverev, Sinner was seen clutching his left hamstring late in the second set of the first Open final pitting the world's top two players against each other since 2019.
Sinner seemed troubled by a hamstring late in the second set but powered on to his dominant victory. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
The German must have known he'd have had a chance, had he extended the final to at least four sets.
Alas, Sinner breaking Zverev for a second time in the sixth game proved the beginning of the end.
Showing no let-up, Sinner served out the match in two hours and 42 minutes to also join Federer (Wimbledon 2003 against Mark Philippoussis) and Rafael Nadal (US Open 2017) as only the third man this century to win a grand slam final without offering up a solitary break-point chance.
"It sucks standing here next to this thing and not being able to touch it, to be honest," Zverev said after missing his chance to etch his name on the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.
Alexander Zverev (left) was full of praise for Jannik Sinner after the Italian's straight-sets win. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
"But congratulations to Jannik. You more than deserve it. You are the best player in the world by far.
"I was hoping that I could be more of a competitor today, but you were just too good. It's as simple as that."
"I want to thank my team. I mean, are trying to do all the right work. I'm just not good enough.
"But I really appreciate what everybody has done over the last few years, back from my ankle injury, to world No.2, to playing grand slam finals again.
"I don't know if I'll ever be able to lift a trophy, but I'll keep coming back, keep trying."
