Australian Open: Jannik Sinner takes on Alexander Zverev in men’s singles final in Melbourne on Sunday | Tennis news
Defending champion Jannik Sinner is eyeing the Australian Open titles, with Alexander Zverev and his bid for Grand Slam success in Melbourne on Sunday standing in the way.
It is the first men’s singles slam final between the two top-ranked players in the world since the 2019 Australian Open, in which Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal in straight sets.
These two are and An in-form duo in men’s tennis at the moment, but there have been distractions off the court.
Sinner’s run to the finals comes as a long-running doping case stemming from a failed drug test last March hangs over his head.
Although she has been cleared to play tennis with integrity, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is seeking a ban of up to two years for the Italian at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with a hearing set for April.
Zverev’s most recent of his two Grand Slam finals appearances, at the French Open last summer, followed a semi-final victory over Casper Ruud that came hours after an out-of-court settlement was reached to end the trial stemming from former ex-Sirlfrien’s allegations for the attack in 2020.
There is chatter and conjecture about both men, but both have managed to put it in the box and focus on their tennis – both are excellent on court.
“He sees playing tennis as his safe place,” said Darren Cahill, one of Sinner’s two coaches. “That’s where he can go and do his thing and feel like that’s what he knows, that’s what he understands, what he’s good at.
“It became home for him to step on the court and play tennis.
“There’s already been a lot of pressure in the last nine months. He deals with it as well as anyone I’ve ever seen deal with pressure.
“He’s an amazing young man who has managed to put that to one side. He has a clear conscience.”
Sinner added before the final: “A lot of things are happening, on the field and off the field. I’m trying to isolate myself a bit, I’m trying to be me on the field.
“There are days when it’s easier, days when I struggle a little more.
“I try to take away the things in my head, the pressure. Even if it’s easy to say, but it’s hard to do.
“I will try to do it and enjoy these moments. We have won six very, very difficult games.”
Sinner’s six ‘hard’ wins included just two dropped sets, against wild card School in the second round and 13th seed Holger Rune in the fourth – receiving medical treatment for dizzy spells and an upset stomach during the latter match.
But any fears that the 23-year-old sensation was not in peak physical form were allayed by the ease with which he put aside both Australia’s home hope Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals and Big Ben Shelton in the Last Four – both dispatched in straight sets – to take his total to about 20 victories during the 2024 season and the beginning of this one.
That makes Sinner the favorite for Sunday’s final, even when up against world no. 2 in Zverev, a man who broke his career winning record of 4-2 against the Italian – including two on the hard courts of the US Open.
“We’ve had very tough games in the past,” Sinner said. “Anything can happen, he is an amazing player … There will be a lot of tension, but I will enjoy it.”
Zverev seeks to overcome the ultimate fragility of the Grand Slam
Zverev was almost a man in straws so often.
They lost two finals, six semi-final exits, and five times they were knocked out in the quarters. Once in the Grand Slams in the early part of his career, late, in the early part of his career, the young generation that they led for him.
Alcaraz overcame a two-set-one deficit to triumph over the German in the French Open final last year, while Zverev surrendered a two-set lead to Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open decider.
Such collapses on the biggest stage have led to accusations of mental fragility against Zverev, but his form over the past year has hinted at a stronger resolve within the 27-year-old, with ATP 1000 titles most recently at the Italian Open and Paris Masters – his first at that level from 2021.
The towering 6ft 6in Zverev boasts one of the most powerful serves in the game, adding more consistency to that weapon of late thanks to a lower toss, while he’s also a ferocious forehand from deep behind the baseline – although that style sometimes prompts criticism that it’s too much “passive” at certain points.
Zverev also has a relentless drive, a part of his game that has only been helped further by his re-announcement of Andy Murray’s former coach Jez Green for this season – a response to his floundering in that five-set French Open loss to Alcaraz from Alcaraz last time she got this far. phases.
“I was always very proud and I always knew I could last with anyone as long as I wanted when I was with Jez Green,” Zverev said. “I got tired against Carlos. I didn’t want that to happen again this year.”
Zverev’s staying power may be part of the reason Djokovic decided to retire hurt after just one set of their semi-final on Friday.
“Even if I won the first set, it’s going to be a big uphill battle for me to stay physically fit to stay with him in the sets for another … two, three, four hours,” Djokovic said after the Hard Muscle retired in the left leg.
The record 24-time Grand Slam Champion has also backed Zverev now to secure a ‘deserved’ first title.
“I want to [Zverev] All the best, he deserves his first slam, “said Djokovic.” I’ll be rooting for him and hope he can get it here. “
Zverev himself insists he is ready to take the next step in his career on Sunday. “I feel like I’ve done the work and I feel like I’m ready for it,” he said.
