Jannik Sinner remains the undisputed king of hard courts even as he faces an April date at a sports court for an appeal hearing in his doping case.

The world No. 1 captured his second straight Australian Open title and his third straight hardcourt major with a comprehensive 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over No. 2 Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s final.

Sinner did not face a break point in the final and dropped just two sets en route to the title.

Of his 19 career titles, 17 are on hardcourts.

“At the moment, he’s the man on this surface,” ESPN’s John McEnroe said on air.

While the Italian improved to 3-0 in Slam finals, the German fell to 0-3 in that round. Zverev, 27, advanced to the final when 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic retired after one set in their semifinal with what he later revealed was a torn hamstring.

Sinner, 23, now has as many major titles as Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka. He also became the first Italian man to win three majors. He improved to 17-3 against To 10 opponents.

“It’s an amazing feeling to share this moment with all of you [on my team],” Sinner said while referencing his coach Darren Cahill, who is retiring from coaching after this event. “I know a part of the team is at home and my family and everyone, but it’s amazing to achieve these things but mostly to share with you guys.”

Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have combined to win the last five major titles as Zverev’s generation again is coming up short against players who could end up among the all-time greats.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Jan. 10 it scheduled a closed-doors hearing on April 16-17 at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland related to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal that seeks to ban Sinner from the sport for at least one year..

CAS gave no timetable for a verdict, though the parties could request a fast-track decision before the French Open starts May 25.

WADA is challenging a decision last year by the International Tennis Integrity Agency not to suspend Sinner for what it judged was accidental contamination by a banned anabolic steroid last March. Sinner’s explanation — that trace amounts of Clostebol in his doping sample was due to a massage from a trainer who used the substance after cutting his own finger — was accepted.

Sinner won the U.S. Open in September after details of his case were revealed. It had been kept confidential since April because Sinner successfully appealed against being provisionally banned from playing.

“Well obviously, we’ll have to see what happens in April with this whole thing because that is a huge thing,” McEnroe said. “He’s going to be a major factor at all the majors for years to come.”

Still, Sinner has seemed to shake all of this off as he went about his business during the fortnight.

After seizing a two-sets-to-love lead, Sinner went up a break 4-2 in the third when Zverev sailed a forehand long.

Serving at 5-3, 40-30, he captured the title with a backhand passing shot winner following a drop shot that drew Zverev to the net.

In the first set, Zverev made 12-of-14 first serves but his forehand broke down. Sinner broke him for 5-3 with a passing shot and then served out the set with an ace at 40-love.

In the second set tiebreaker, Zverev caught an unlucky break when he hit a net cord ball that landed on his side at 4-all. Sinner then closed it out on set point with a serve-plus-one forehand winner into the open court.

Zverev smashed his racquet after losing the tiebreak.

Zverev, who is diabetic, also injected himself with insulin twice during the match.

He sat dejectedly in his chair after Sinner won the title.

“First of all, it sucks standing here next to this thing and not being able to touch it,” Zverev said of the trophy. “But congratulations to Jannik, you more than deserve it. You’re the best player in the world by far.

“I was hoping that I could be more of a competitor today, but you’re just too good. It’s as simple as that.”

He added: “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to lift the trophy, but I’ll keep coming back, I’ll keep trying.”

(The AP contributed reporting)