Weekend Tennis Roundup

Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka won big Down Under. Full report plus all the ATP beef that's fit to post BELOW.

As I'm sure you've heard, Jannik Sinner defeated Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open men's final, 3–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–3, to win his first Grand Slam title

Although I felt badly for the Russian -- becoming the first man to lose two major finals after being up two sets to love -- it was the correct result for the sport. We've long known Sinner might be the next big thing, so defeating Novak Djokovic in Melbourne without capturing the trophy just wouldn't have seemed right to me. Exciting that we now have more than one Next Gen player in the winners’ circle.

On the women's side, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka defeated Zheng Qinwen in the final, 6–3, 6–2 to secure her second major title

Zheng may be disappointed by her performance, but she has a lot to be proud of

Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden beat Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in the men's doubles final, 7–6(7–0), 7–5. 

This was the first major title for Bopanna -- he's reached two U.S. Open finals, 13 years apart! -- who also rises to No. 1 in the world at the age of 43

He joins a short list of past Indian players who have reached the top!

Hsieh Su-wei and Elise Mertens defeated Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jeļena Ostapenko in the women's doubles final, 6–1, 7–5

And the 38-year-old Hsieh also teamed up with Polish hunk Jan Zielinski to defeat Desirae Krawczyk and Neal Skupski in the mixed doubles final, 6–7(5–7), 6–4, [11–9]!

Also: 

Congrats on looking like this

Dino Prizmic lost in the first round to Djokovic yet he's still all anyone can think about 

The young Croatian's legs apparently don't just happen

David Ferrer, Bernabe Zapata and Carlos Calderon look good enough to eat

Whatever Nico Jarry had done to himself, it turned out great!

And he's very talented with his instrument 

Wait, is Yannick Hanfmann a sex worker?

 Not that Dominik Kopfer is anything to sneeze at.

After having one of the best stretches in his career, Grigor Dimitrov proved Down Under that he's still just a pretty face

... and body 

Ooh la la: Arthur Bouquier

Kevin Krawietz is Daddy

As is Jaime Pulgar

Andreas Mies is not only one of the most handsome guys on tour ...

he's super friendly/responsive to gay "fans" like me(!)

Something tells me MAGA pinup Christian Harrison doesn't understand what his party would like to do to people like BFF Cesar Ramirez 

Shirt misspelled Latinos 

Is Cesar looking for a replacement? 

Although it's hard to top Harrison’s facial hair 

Even in defeat, Novak Djokovic now has 100 more weeks at No. 1 than his closest competitor 

The long ride home 

Borna Coric lost twice this weekend: Once in the final of a Belgian Challenger and again in the Hair Department 

God bless Ben Lock ...

for never putting it away

Who wouldn’t get down on all fours for Lloyd Glasspool? 

Aryna celebrates with her team 

Did anyone get a load of that cutie shadowing Sabalenka after his AO victory? 

Andrea Vavassori and Simone Bolelli are definitely the team to watch this year 👅👅👅

German engineering: Oscar Otte and Jan-Lennard Struff get leggy

Now Adam Jones is sniffing around teenybopper Holger Rune?

Preparing to relocate to Denmark? 

Marcelo Arevalo and new partner Mate Pavic got knocked out in the third round Down Under ...

But at least they have a (sponsored) way to drown their sorrows

Argentina's Matias Descotte

Croatian Duje Ajdukovic

Fast engraving required! 

Marton Fucsovics sends his congratulations to Sinner 

Hendrik Jebens has it, flaunts it

Sinner takes Norman Brookes out for a walk 

And to the park 

I'm guessing Sam Groth was in Melbourne to complain about 2020-21 Covid policies

Daniel Masur does it again! 

Eating out with Holger Rune 

Quentin Halys is Fila's greatest asset 

U.S.-born Aleks Kovacevic had one of the best runs of the Balkan boys

Fabien Reboul is hot before and after 

Is Cam Norrie coming out of his slump? 

Would like to know more about Antoine Escoffier

Andy Murray is looking awfully fit 

... despite a first-round loss to Benoit Paire(!) in Montpellier

Nice to see Luca Pouille in action again, this time playing doubles with Gregoire Barrere

American freestyle skier Mac Forehand has the best name in sports! 

Listen to the Ball Boys recap the first major of the year HERE.

And last but not least: I realize Joe Baena's friend Sasha Solonin is only tangentially related to tennis ... 

But I just pray that Garrett Morosky did to him what Arnold did to the maid in Brentwood