Jannik Sinner joins Alexander Zverev in final and will aim for double in Melbourne

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner logically qualified on Friday against Ben Shelton (20th) for the final of the Australian Open, where he will face Alexander Zverev on Sunday, who benefited from the retirement of Novak Djokovic (7th).

After a tight first set, where he had to save two set points, the Italian played his tennis to win in three sets of 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 and 6-2 against the American and qualified for his second straight final in Melbourne.

Sinner, who had to have his thighs massaged several times in the third round due to crampswill aim for a third major title on Sunday after the Australian Open and the United States Open in 2024, which would make him the most successful player in the history of his country in a grand slam tournament.

A victory against Zverev, his runner-up in the ATP rankings, would also allow him to establish his domination at the top of the hierarchy, which he has occupied since June 2024. Sinner, whose last defeat dates back to Beijing at the beginning of October, lines up a 20th victory in a row, the longest series of successes of his career.

Led 4-2 in his confrontations with the German, he won in August 2024 during their last duel, in the semi-finals of the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati after a long fight of more than three hours.

It will be a very difficult match, anything can happen. He is an incredible player, he will want to win his first grand slam title, there will be a lot of tensiondeclared the Italian.

Shelton, surprise guest of the last four, stops again at the semi-final stage in a major tournament, like at Flushing Meadows in 2023.

Djokovic gives up

Injured, Novak Djokovic threw in the towel after losing the first set against Alexander Zverev in the other semi-final.

The Serb (7th) lost the first set 7-6 (7/5) and immediately went to the net to concede the victory. The spectators booed him as he returned to the locker room. He responded with a two thumbs up.

At a press conference, he indicated that the pain in his leg was getting worse and worse. He injured his leg during his quarter-final victory against Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.

I knew. Even if I won the first round, it was going to be a tough battle for mehe declared.

Djokovic was trying to win this major tournament for an 11th time and a 25th grand slam title. But for the second time in his last four appearances in a major tournament, he was unable to go all the way.

He withdrew from the French Open before the quarterfinals after tearing the meniscus in his right knee. He had surgery a few days later and reached the final at Wimbledon, then won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

There was a chance. Who knows? Djokovic launched. I’ll see how the season goes. I want to continue.

Zverev will participate in his first final in Melbourne.

The first thing I want to say is: Please don’t boo a player who is injuredsaid Zverev on the pitch. I know everyone has paid for their tickets and everyone wants to see, hopefully, a great five-inning game. But you have to understand: Novak Djokovic is someone who has given this sport, over the last 20 years, absolutely his whole life.