Jannik Sinner thanks Stefanos Tsitsipas for 'Christmas gifts' after warm-up win in Melbourne ahead of Australian Open

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Stefanos Tsitsipas described Jannik Sinner's 2024 as "unstoppable", and the world No. 1 continued where he left off last season with a straightforward win in the pair's Australian Open warm-up clash. Sinner beat the Greek 6-3 7-6(5) in part two of the 'Arena Showdown', an evening of entertaining exhibition tennis in Melbourne, after Carlos Alcaraz beat Alexei Popyrin earlier on Friday.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

An in-form Jannik Sinner thanked Stefanos Tsitsipas for the "Christmas gifts" of some cheap points after he beat the Greek in an Australian Open exhibition warm-up.

Sinner, the world No. 1, continued his excellent streak on hard courts with a 6-3 7-6(5) victory as the crowd got a glimpse of the top players' form before the tournament begins on Sunday.

Rod Laver Arena was treated to an entertaining evening of tennis in the 'Arena Showdown', with Carlos Alcaraz beating home favourite Alexei Popyrin in an earlier exhibition match.

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Asked about his impressive serving, Sinner said, "I wish it would be like this in a real match, not only in exhibitions.

"I think it was more entertaining the match before us, so thank you for staying," he told the crowd.

"It was not so many rallies, conditions are not easy to play. The ball is flying quite a lot so the first shot is quite important, especially the serve, we both tried to serve as well as we could.

"Thank you for giving me some Christmas gifts in the breaker," he joked to Tsitipas. "It was a fun match."

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Video credit: SNTV

Tsitsipas has long been a favourite of the crowds at what he's described as his adopted major.

Speaking before the match got underway, he said: "It feels great [to be back]. It's my home Slam, I've said this before. It's great to be home."

He was unable to turn that support into a win against Sinner, but he was one of very few players to beat the Italian last year, dispatching him in the Monte Carlo semi-finals before going on to win the tournament for the third time in four years.

"Honestly, I should have lost that match, I don't know how I won it - a mistake by the line umpire," he joked.

"Even though I did win, Jannik has had an amazing season, I got a little bit lucky there. I was in a way proud of myself, because he was just unstoppable, so I can just say I was one of his losses."

Sinner was next to unplayable for most of 2024, setting numerous records and losing just six matches, and he was particularly imperious on hard courts.

He appeared to be picking up where he left off at the start of the 2025 season, putting Tsitsipas under pressure early. The world No. 1 earned a break point in the Greek's first service game, and broke in his next to lead 3-1.

Tsitsipas - a former French Open and Australian Open finalist - stayed in touch, but Sinner's superiority was evident, and it took him just 34 minutes to take the first set 6-3.

Tsitsipas came under pressure again early in the next set, saving a break point in his first service game, but stayed toe-to-toe with the Italian in a tighter second set.

There were oohs and ahhs from the appreciative, packed crowd on Rod Laver as a closely-fought tie-break followed, with Sinner twice levelling from behind. An ace teed up match point at 6-5, and Tsitsipas double-faulted to concede victory.

Sinner has been drawn in the opposite half of the Australian Open draw to major rivals Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, with the pair among the favourites to face him in a prospective final.

The Italian will play unseeded, big-serving Chilean Nicolas Jarry in the first round, while world No. 11 Tsitsipas faces American youngster Alex Michelsen.

Watch and stream the 2025 Australian Open live on Eurosport and discovery+

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