Sinner is the world No. 1; his opponent at Melbourne Park on Sunday, the Australian Open final, is second seed Alexander Zverev. Both players are chasing history: Sinner is looking to defend his title, and Zverev is looking for his first Grand Slam win.
Match Preview
And it is Jannik Sinner who will head to the final with a 20-match win streak at hard-court Grand Slam events to his name, putting his dominance on the surface into stone. The Italian’s tournament has been stamped by clinical displays, including a powerful 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2 semi-final victory against Ben Shelton. Though he was cramping in the later stages, Sinner’s all-around game and mental fortitude have been key to his journey to the championship match.
Sinner’s run has also featured signature wins against elite-level talent, including Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals, during which he unleashed the best tennis of his life in a 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 demolition of the Australian. The 23-year-old’s ability to stay measured in a match under pressure has made him the man to beat in Melbourne, but he will come up against someone who knows how to beat him in Zverev, the last man to do so in a major on hard courts.
On the other hand, Alexander Zverev is on the brink of a long-desired breakthrough at the Grand Slam level. The German was the beneficiary of Novak Djokovic’s injury retirement in their semi-final clash but has displayed resilience throughout the tournament. Zverev’s quarter-final victory against Tommy Paul showcased his skill at coming through in the clutch — he won two tiebreaks on his way to a four-set win.
But Zverev’s ability to play well under pressure remains in question. The 27-year-old has been runner-up on two previous occasions in a Grand Slam final, losing to Dominic Thiem at the 2020 US Open and Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros last year. Against Sinner, Zverev will have to deal not only with his own history of struggles but with the fact that he is facing the best hard-court player on the planet.
Tournament So Far
Jannik Sinner:
First round: def. Nicolas Jarry 7-6(2), 7-6(5), 6-1
Semi-final: def. Ben Shelton 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2
Alexander Zverev:
First round: def. Lucas Pouille 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
Semi-final: def. Novak Djokovic 7-6(5), ret
Head-to-Head
Zverev leads their head-to-head 4-2, last beating him at the 2023 US Open. But Sinner emerged victorious in their latest meeting in Cincinnati, indicating an evolution in his assertiveness.
Prediction
Sinner’s extraordinary consistency and composure make him the favorite, but Zverev’s desire for that first Grand Slam title could give the match an extra edge. Should Sinner stay fit and sustain his level, he is due to prevail in a challenging five-set battle and continue his streak on hard courts.
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