Imperious Sinner roars past Zverev to Australian Open title
The Italian clinched his second straight Melbourne title and a third slam in all with a stunning serving performance
Jannik Sinner, Australian Open 2025 | © Vincent Thian/AP/SIPA
World No 1 Jannik Sinner was at his imperious best as he marched to a second Australian Open title – and a third Grand Slam title – with a 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory over Alexander Zverev in Melbourne on Sunday.
The Italian served brilliantly, pulled Zverev all over the court with the power of his groundstrokes and touch on his drop shots, and wrapped things up in two hours, 42 minutes to complete the successful defence of his title.
“It’s an amazing feeling to achieve these things, but it’s even more amazing to share it with you,” Sinner said to his team during the on-court presentation. “
Zverev, bidding for his first Grand Slam title in his third major final, was outplayed throughout, second-best from the baseline, in long rallies and when he tried to go forward, found wanting at the net, Sinner invariably finding the pass he needed.
There was a little bit of luck – a dead net cord in the second-set tiebreak gave Sinner a minibreak and a 5-4 lead – but mostly, it was the brilliance of Sinner that kept Zverev at bay. He won 84 percent of points on first serve and didn’t face a single break point and had it not been for Zverev coming up big on break points on several occasions, the scoreline would have been even more one-sided.
Sinner breaks once to win first set
Zverev had won four of the previous six matches between the two and had talked up his chances, suggesting that if the match went long, he felt he could come out on top, as he had done in three of their four matches to go the distance.
But Sinner was on his game right from the start and he never allowed Zverev to get a foothold on his serve, giving him the breathing room to attack the German’s serve.
Zverev got himself out of trouble from 1-2, 0-30 thanks to some big serving but at 3-4, he found himself down 0-30 again. A big serve got him back to 15-30 but a drop-shot, forehand down the line combination gave Sinner two break points and though Zverev got back to deuce, Sinner ripped a backhand down the line on the run and two points later, after a short approach from the German, Sinner fired a forehand winner to break.
Sinner then held to love, finishing off with an ace, to take the first set after 46 minutes.
Tiebreak puts Sinner two sets up
Zverev dug himself out of trouble again in the first game, from 15-40, but he was under constant pressure, always having to produce some massive serving while Sinner largely cruised through his service games.
Just as he dud in Cincinnati last year, Sinner dropped back often to return the Zverev second serve and as last year, it worked well, always giving Zverev a different look.
The world No 2continued to fight hard and stayed on serve throughout the second set, forcing Sinner back whenever he could. At 6-5, he had Sinner under some pressure at 30-30 but again, the Italian came out on top after a brilliant point and went on to hold to force a tiebreak.
Zverev had a mini break, at 2-1 but the pair changed ends at 3-3 and then, at 4-4, the net cord gave Sinner the breathing space, and luck, he needed and he won the next two points, leaving Zverev understandably frustrated, cracking one racquet onto another when he sat courtside.
Sinner rides momentum for victory
Sinner continued to look untouchable on serve, no matter what Zverev did, and the German began to look resigned to his fate.
Games stayed on serve to 3-2 but after forcing two break points, Sinner fired a backhand winner to get the vital break. From then on, though Zverev got to deuce a couple of times, he could not break through and Sinner served out for victory, a drop shot and backhand pass a fitting way to end.A
An emotional Zverev was disappointed not to win his first slam but was full of praise for Sinner.
“First of all, it sucks to be standing so close to this and not be able to touch it,” he said of the winner’s trophy. But Jannik, you deserve it, you’re the best player in the world by far. I was hoping I could be more of a competition today but you were just too good. It’s as simple as that.
“I don’t know if I will lift this trophy, but I’ll keep coming back and keep working.”
