Jannik Sinner has labelled his second successive Australian Open an “amazing performance”, but acknowledged he needed a stroke of luck to win the crucial second-set tie-breaker in the men’s singles final.
The only time Sinner looked troubled by his German opponent throughout the entire night was when the second set was tied up at 6-6.
Jannik Sinner with the Australian Open trophy.Getty Images
But even then, fate was on the Italian’s side.
With the score locked at 4-all in the tie-breaker, Sinner hit the top of the net during a multiple-shot rally and the ball popped over the tape and dropped in for an unlikely winner, leaving Alexander Zverev shaking his head in disappointment.
It handed Sinner a 5-4 advantage, and he was able to serve out the next two points to win the tie-breaker 7-4 and close out the set.
Zverev took out his frustrations on his racquets between ends, perhaps sensing he had blown his final chance.
Loading
From there on, the result seemed inevitable as the world No.1 cruised through the third and final set, winning his second Australian Open 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 in two hours and 42 minutes.
“It was an amazing performance from my side,” Sinner said in his post-match press conference.
“I felt like I was, in the beginning of the match, serving really well and trying to get into the zone very fast. It was a very high-quality from my side.
“The second set, I got a bit lucky in the tie-break, as we saw.
“All things considered, amazing run again here in Australia. I’m extremely happy. Sharing this with the team here and family and the people I love, it’s amazing.”
12.08am on Jan 27, 2025
‘He does everything better than me’, says Zverev
By
A gutted Alexander Zverev has admitted he was completely outplayed by world No.1 Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open men’s singles final.
The German has now lost three grand slam singles finals from as many appearances, following the straight-sets capitulation to the Italian on Rod Laver Arena 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3. The match was over in two hours and 42 minutes.
Alexander Zverev in his post-match press conference.AP
“From the back of the court, [he] completely outplayed me,” the dejected Zverev said in his post-match press conference.
“I’m serving better than him, but that’s it. He does everything else better than me.
“He moves better than me. He hits his forehand better than me. He hits his backhand better than me. He returns better than me. He volleys better than me.
“At the end of the day, tennis has five or six massive shots, like massive factors, and he does four or five of them better than me. That’s the reason why he won. He deserved to win today.”
Zverev, 27, explained why he was overcome with emotion at the end of the match, consoled in a touching moment by his opponent.
“I think it’s very difficult to give an on-court speech after you lose a grand slam final,” he said.
“I’m doing everything I can. I’m working as hard as I ever did. I think I’m doing all the right things off-court. I think I’m practising the right things, but I lost in straight sets today.
Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev after the men’s final.AP
“I mean, those are facts. That is a fact. I lost to Jannik in straight sets today.
“I mean, I don’t want to end my career as the best player of all-time to never win a grand slam, that’s for sure. I’ll keep doing everything I can to lift one of those trophies.”
Zverev lost the final of the 2020 US Open to Dominic Thiem in five sets as well as dropping last year’s French Open final to Carlos Alcaraz in five sets.
11.29pm on Jan 26, 2025
‘I wanted to empty the tank’: Sinner on his struggles
By
Jannik Sinner says he had petrol in the tank to see out tonight’s men’s singles final despite concerns about his fitness throughout the tournament.
He appeared to suffer heat stress during his fourth-round win over Holger Rune and looked to cramp in his semi-final.
Loading
He was asked how he felt heading into the clash with Alexander Zverev on Rod Laver Arena tonight?
“Honestly, in semi-finals and finals you have much more pressure, you have much more adrenaline in your body and I feel like this keeps you going,” he said.
“In your mind there is only one match left. You want to empty your tank a little bit. That was what I was trying to do.”
He was asked if he was suffering from cramp when he grabbed at the back of his left leg during the second set of the final.
Jannik Sinner of Italy serves.Getty Images
“No, just a small feeling, but it went away,” he said. “I was prepared for it. And I’m very happy.”
In a scary warning for his rivals, the Italian world No.1 said he had room for improvement after his straight sets victory - 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 - against German No.2 seed Alexander Zverev. He has now won three grand slam singles titles.
“Maybe the second serve could be a little bit more aggressive and trying to sneak into the net a little bit more,” he said.
“For sure, there are some areas where I can improve.”
The 23-year-old right-hander said he was now looking forward to getting home to be with family and friends.
“My happy place is with the people that I love,” he said. “It is as simple as that.
“This is where I recover fast. When you are feeling very comfortable with certain people off the court, in just a couple of days you feel recharged. This is exactly what I am looking for.”
Advertisement
11.23pm on Jan 26, 2025
Sinner revels in second Open glory
By
Jannik Sinner says it feels amazing to have won his second Australian Open.
He was almost drowned out by cheering from a large crowd gathered behind the Nine commentary box during his post-match interview.
“It is definitely a different feeling for sure,” he said of the second title down under.
“I know how much work I put into this one and having this one twice it’s amazing.
“You have different kind of pressure. You have different kind of expectation because you know you can do it, potentially.
“It was a different run from last year. I struggled, but exactly this is the reason why I kept going. The crowd. It means so much to me.”
11.09pm on Jan 26, 2025
Dawn of the big two. Tennis’ new era
By
Following decades of dominance from Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, we are now clearly into a new era, according to Jim Courier.
The Nine commentator is labelling it the dawn of the ‘New Two’ - Italian Jannik Sinner and Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
Jannik Sinner.Eddie Jim
“We are calling it the ‘New Two’ - Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz who have swept the last four majors (French Open, Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open).
“We will see if someone can elbow their way, maybe it was Holger Rune who was the biggest threat when Sinner wasn’t feeling his best. Sinner escaped that.
“For right now it is these guys, it is Sinner and Alcaraz.”
But Courier warned not to write off Djokovic completely.
“If Novak is healthy we saw what he can do,” Courier said.
10.55pm on Jan 26, 2025
Sinner thanks retiring Aussie coach, Darren Cahill
By
Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner says he tried to talk coach Darren Cahill out of retirement as he thanked his team for his victory.
“Talking about my team, what can I say?” the Italian said.
Jannik Sinner.AP
“We worked a lot to be again in this position. It’s an amazing feeling to share this moment with all of you.
“I know also a part of the team is at home and my family and everyone, but it is amazing to achieve these things, but mostly to share this with you guys.
“And I know Darren, it’s probably your - maybe, I tried to convince you to stay - it’s your last Australian Open as a coach, and I’m very, very happy to share this trophy with you.
“And everything started a little bit when I made my whole change to Simone (Vagnozzi), and I think you are an amazing combination of coaches.”
Advertisement
10.50pm on Jan 26, 2025
‘I will be back’: Zverev declares
By
Zverev has vowed to be back for next year’s Australian Open.
“I really did think I had a chance, but here I am,” he said after the match.
Alexander Zverev.Getty Images
“You know, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to lift a trophy, but I’ll keep coming back, keep trying, and I’ll see you guys all next year.”
Jannik Sinner thanked the German during his victory speech.
“You are an amazing player,” Sinner said.
“Keep believing in yourself, because I think all players, coaches, whoever is involved in this sport know how strong you are, not only as a player, but also as a person.
“So, keep it up, keep working hard, because we all believe that you can lift one of these very, very soon.”
10.46pm on Jan 26, 2025
‘Australia believes Olga and Brenda’: Zverev heckled
By Scott Spits and Roy Ward
Alexander Zverev paused his runners-up speech after shouting from an individual in the crowd.
Alexander Zverev was heckled before he could begin his speech.AP
The allegations were made by two women; ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova, who made the claims of emotional and physical abuse in a 2020 article by tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg, and another ex-girlfriend, Brenda Patea, who claimed the tennis player pushed her against a wall and “choked” her during an argument.
A woman in the crowd disrupted the post-match presentation, targeting the world No.2.
Just as Zverev was about to speak to the capacity Rod Laver Arena crowd, a woman was heard shouting the following: “Australia believes Olga and Brenda”.
She said that sentence multiple times while Zverev waited for her to finish. The crowd jeered the woman, who appeared to be taken away by security just afterwards. The German did not acknowledge what the woman said when he began his speech. Zverev attracted sympathy from fans when he started talking about Sunday night’s loss, the third time he has been unsuccessful in a major final.
He went on to say “it sucks” standing next to the winner’s trophy and not being able to touch it.
“But first of all, congratulations to Jannik. You more than deserve it. You are the best player in the world by far,” Zverev said.
“I was hoping that I could be more of a competitor today, but you were just too good. It’s as simple as that. Congratulations to you. You really deserve it.”
10.43pm on Jan 26, 2025
Watch Sinner capture his second Australian Open
By
Loading
Advertisement
10.41pm on Jan 26, 2025
Spare a thought for this Aussie
By Scott Spits
Australian Tristan Schoolkate.Chris Hopkins
A quick shout-out to Australian wildcard Tristan Schoolkate – the WA player took a set off Jannik Sinner in the second round, one of only two players to do this year. Holger Rune was the other one when Sinner was battling his physical aliment six days ago in the fourth round. What else was telling about Sinner’s tournament? Four tie-breakers ... all of them in his favour. A mighty player.