International Australia | Djokovic abandons, Zverev will face Sinner in the final

(Melbourne) The title holder and world n.1 Jannik Sinner logically qualified on Friday at the expense of the American Ben Shelton (20^e) For the Australian international final in Melbourne, where he will face his runner -up on Sunday Alexander Zverev, who benefited at the start of the Novak Djokovic (7^e).

Zverev with an unfinished taste

After 1:20 am of fierce combat, the shock of the semi-finals between Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic stopped brutally at 7-6 (7/5) in favor of the German, to the Dam of the public of the Rod Laver Arena.

Hit in the left thigh since his quarter -final on Wednesday against Carlos Alcaraz (3^e), the Serbian champion was indeed forced to abandon, defeated by the pains resulting from this “muscle tear”, he then explained at a press conference.

Where the “Djoker” was in search of 37 years of a 25^e Record title in Grand Chelem, his ten-year cadet will try to win his first major trophy on Sunday in Melbourne, after two failures against Dominic Thiem in the final of the United States 2020 and against Carlos Alcaraz last year in Roland- Garros.

If he succeeds, he will be the first German to win a Grand Chelem tournament since the victory of Boris Becker to the Australian internationals in 1996 – among women, the last German victory is much more recent since Angelique Kerber has imposed on Wimbledon in 2018.

Zverev had hitherto had ever managed to beat Djokovic in Grand Chelem, nor to exceed the stadium of the semi-finals in Melbourne.

“He deserves to win his first Grand Chelem,” said Novak Djokovic at a press conference. “I will support him in the final,” he added.

“I saw him play, I trained with him [en Australie]I have the impression that he loves the playing conditions, “observed the Serbian before the semi-final. “He is an extremely dangerous opponent for any player on this surface,” warned Djokovic, who will come back to treat himself in Europe.

“Given the circumstances, a semi -final is a very good result, but I always want to fight for the trophy,” concluded the world -world, who believes that he had “very well played” during this first Tournament under the direct supervision of his ex-Rival and new coach Andy Murray.

Sinner too hard for Shelton

After a hung first round, where he had to save two round bullets, Jannik Sinner unrolled his tennis to win in three rounds 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-2 against Ben Shelton and S ‘is qualified for his second consecutive final in Melbourne.

Sinner, who had to have his thighs massaged several times in the third round due to “cramps”, will aim on Sunday a third Grand Slam title after the internationals of Australia and the internationals of the United States in 2024, which would make him the most titled Italian in history in Grand Slam.

A victory against Alexander Zverev, his runner -up in the ATP ranking, 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 in early October, aligns about twenty consecutive victory, the longest series of success in his career.

Led 4-2 in his confrontations with Zverev, he won in August 2024 during their last opposition, in the semi-final of the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati (United States) 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 big home, there will be a lot of tensions, “said the Italian.

Shelton, a surprise guest of the last square, stops him at the stadium of the semi-finals in Grand Slam, as during the internationals of the United States of 2023.