A first for Zverev or a double for Sinner ? MAXPPP – Montage ML
If he wants to win his first Grand Slam title, world No. 2 Alexander Zverev will have to surpass himself to beat the defending champion and world No. 1, Jannik Sinner, this Sunday, January 26, in the final of the Australian Open in Melbourne.
The Italian is not only the defending champion. He has also just won 20 matches in a row on the ATP circuit, a series unheard of in two years and achieved at the time by the illustrious Novak Djokovic.
At 23, the double Grand Slam winner (Australian Open 2024 and US Open 2024) has nevertheless repeated that he is neither invincible nor “perfect”, and that his success comes above all from his “work” daily.
Against Zverev, “it's difficult to say who is the favorite”, cautiously advanced Sinner. “Anything can happen.” “They're No. 1 and No. 2, ranking-wise it's the perfect final”, said Darren Cahill, one of Sinner's coaches. “The best player will win.”
Sinner stands out in Grand Slam final
False modesty from the Sinner camp or real distrust ? The record of previous duels between the 27-year-old Hamburg colossus and the Italian ogre, undefeated since the final of the Beijing tournament in early October, leans rather in favor of the German, with four victories in six matches. Of their three Grand Slam confrontations, Zverev has won two (at the 2021 and 2023 US Open) and Sinner one (at Roland-Garros 2020).
But they have never yet faced each other in the final of a major tournament, a stage of the competition where Sinner's record is as dazzling as Zverev's is cruel (two defeats in two finals, at the 2020 US Open and at Roland-Garros in 2024). “It will be a mental battle above all”, predicted Jannik Sinner on Friday after his semi-final victory against Ben Shelton (20th).
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Alexander Zverev warned earlier in the day, before knowing his opponent for the title, that he felt “ready” to win his first major trophy. “Everyone knows what my goals and dreams are, right?”, he had pretended to wonder earlier in the tournament. “When you arrive at a Grand Slam as world number 2, you can only want to win”, he had proclaimed.
“I did the job”, especially on the physical level after feeling by his own admission “tired” at the end of his title match against Carlos Alcaraz (3rd) in Paris, insisted Zverev on Friday, who until this year had never exceeded the semi-finals in Melbourne. “I don't want that to happen again this year”, insisted the German, known for the physical workouts he inflicts on himself as soon as his matches are over.
Zverev is “a beast physically, a fantastic athlete with a great record in five-set matches”, complimented Darren Cahill. But, he added, “Jannik is improving and has proven that he is capable of winning important five-set matches in Grand Slams”. Like the final in Melbourne last year against Daniil Medvedev. “I have no fears that he will go the distance over five sets if necessary”, hammered the Australian coach.
Djokovic will support Zverev
In the final, Alexander Zverev will in any case be able to count on the support of major tournament expert Novak Djokovic, winner of 24 Grand Slam titles and forced to retire in the semi-finals against him due to a left thigh injury.
“I really wish Sascha the best”, said the Serbian champion after throwing the sponge. “He deserves to win his first Grand Slam”, he added. “I hope he can do it here”, concluded Djokovic, a ten-time winner of the Australian Open.
The Australian Open final between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev will be broadcast on Eurosport 1 from 9:30 a.m. in France.