In a thrilling final, Alexander Zverev despairs against his opponent from Italy. At times things get dramatic in Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.
Alexander Zverev dramatically missed the chance to win the first German men’s Grand Slam title since Boris Becker in 1996. The Hamburger lost in the final of the Australian Open 3:6, 6:7 (4:7), 3:6 against defending champion Jannik Sinner and has to continue to wait for his first major title.
Zverev’s final trauma continued in the Rod Laver Arena. After the US Open 2020 and the French Open last year, the Hamburg native also suffered a defeat in Melbourne in the last step towards winning the Grand Slam tournament. In the history of professional tennis, only five players before him had lost their first three Grand Slam finals.
If he had won against Sinner, Zverev would have become the first German men’s Grand Slam tournament winner in 29 years. Back then, Becker had triumphed in Melbourne. In addition to Becker, Steffi Graf, Michael Stich and Angelique Kerber from Germany were also able to celebrate Grand Slam titles in the professional era.
Sinner, who won his 21st win in a row, wrote tennis history for his home country. With three Grand Slam titles, he is the most successful player in Italy – at the age of just 23. In addition to the prestige win, Sinner also collects prize money worth the equivalent of 2.11 million euros. Zverev can at least console himself with a bonus of 1.14 million euros.
The finale to read in the ticker:
Jannik Sinner – Alexander Zverev 6:3, 7:6 (7:4), 6:3
3rd set, 6:3, 7:6 (7:4), 6:3 – Then it happened: Jannik Sinner is the winner of the Australian Open again. The Italian defends his title perfectly with a forehand cross. And that with a completely deserved three-set win over Alexander Zverev. The German then collapses on the bench and claps his hands over his head. He probably still has to realize what just happened to him here. In his third Grand Slam final, the Hamburg native was only equal to his opponent in moments – also because Jannik Sinner showed an almost perfect final. The 23-year-old dominated, hardly made any mistakes, and overall simply made the impression of being more concentrated, more focused, and more calm in the crucial moments. And is now a three-time Grand Slam winner.
3rd set, 6:3, 7:6 (7:4), 5:3 – But Zverev doesn’t want to make it that easy for his opponent. With serve winners he brings his service through and shortens it again. Now Sinner can serve to win the title.
3rd set, 6:3, 7:6 (7:4), 5:2 – Is everything happening very quickly now? Sinner is playing his serve and is on the verge of defending his title in Melbourne. Now Zverev is serving against losing the final.
3rd set, 6:3, 7:6 (7:4), 4:2 – This can’t be allowed! Zverev gets the next break! And the Hamburger’s body language says it all: after a forehand into the net at 15:40, he lets himself hang. Is belief in a final miracle increasingly dwindling? Thanks to another clever forehand from Zverev, Sinner is now 4-2 ahead. Zverev then looks at his box, shrugs his shoulders, and apparently asks “What else should I do?”
3rd set, 6:3, 7:6 (7:4), 3:2 – Sinner presents again to zero. The Italian has long since regained the security he briefly lost in the middle of the second set. He doesn’t show any weakness and appears extremely stable again. And Zverev? He seems increasingly perplexed.
3rd set, 6:3, 7:6 (7:4), 2:2 – Good. Zverev stays tuned and plays through his serve game. Very important.
3rd set, 6:3, 7:6 (7:4), 2:1 – That simply doesn’t exist! Zverev tries everything in this phase, but Sinner still has a counterattack ready! At 0:30 from his perspective, Zverev whips a forehand over the net, which Sinner still reaches. Zverev then comes to the net, tries to stop – but the Italian still reaches the ball, counters with a long-line passing ball that Zverev doesn’t foresee, reaches it with a reflex, but only ends up in the net. Thunderous applause for this rally.