The Italian and the German will compete this Sunday in Melbourne. A shock at the top between the world's 1 and 2 numbers.
The Italian Jannik Sinner (seeded n ° 1) and the German Alexander Zverev will be, this Sunday, on the poster of the Australian Open final. This is the first final of the Australian Open opposing the 1 and 2 world numbers since that having opposed Novak Djokovic to Rafael Nadal in 2019. The Serbian, then n ° 1, was won 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.
X -rays
Jannik Sinner (Italian; world n ° 1); 23 years old; 1.91 m. Professional since 2018. 18 titles including 2 in Grand Slam: Open d'Australia 2024 and US Open 2024; Masters 2024 and 4 Masters 1000. In Melbourne, where he has 20 victories (4 defeats), the Italian is the man to beat, the title holder.
Alexander Zverev (German; world n ° 2); 1.98 m. Professional since 2013. 23 titles (winner of the Masters in 2018 and 2021; 7 Masters 1000 titles). Olympic champion in 2021 in Tokyo. In Melbourne, where he had 31 victories (9 defeats), his best course was, before the 2025 edition, semi-finalist (in 2020 and 2024).
The routes
Jannik Sinner (seeded n ° 1) lost a set against the Australian Tristan Schoolkate, from qualifying (in the 2nd round), then another against the Danes Holger Rune in the round of 16. That day, the Italian, surprised by the warmth and resistance of his rival,, in the literal and figurative, trembled. Before regaining balance and serenity. To give brilliance to a journey marked by serene successes against Chilean Nicolas Jarry (1st round), the American Marcos Giron (3rd round), the Australian Alex de Minaur (n ° 13; in the quarterfinals) And the American Ben Shelton (n ° 21; in the semi-finals), happy to complete the case in three sets when cramps had fun climbing along his wading legs.
Alexander Zverev (seeded n ° 2) A, on the road to the final, sold two sets: in the final 8th against Ugo Humbert (n ° 14), then in the quarter -finals against the American Tommy Paul (n ° 12) . The rest of his career was carried out without cold sweats. The German dominated Lucas Pouille (1st round), the Spaniard Pedro Martinez (2nd round), the British Jacob Fearnley (3rd round). Before a semi-finals interrupted after the tie-break of the first set against Novak Djokovic. Injured, suffering from a muscle tear in the left thigh, the Serb left the way, German, a new major final.
The game
Zverev can rely on his service and his physique to resist, prolong the exchange, make doubt, vacillate or even drop Jannik Sinner, the indestructible n ° 1 always under the threat of a suspension following two positive anti -doping controls Last spring. Zverev, less aggressive than his rival, positioned later than the Italian in return, will have to modify his habits a little to open the door, sow doubt. Roger Federer had, last year, pointed to one of the weak points of the German: “I see someone who plays far too defensively when it is the most important. He must remember that he must not be too passive and I think that all something really great can happen to him … “
Face-to-face
Alexander Zverev leads to his duel with Jannik Sinner by 4 victories at 2. The German leads 3-1 on hard; 2-1 in large slam. If Zverev had, at the end of the suspense, imposed 6-3 in the 5th set in the round of 16 of the US Open in 2023, Sinner won the last match having opposed them, in the semi-finals at Cincinnati at the end of An extremely played match 7-6 (11/9), 5-7, 7-6 (7/4). It will be their first meeting at the Australian Open.
-The issues
Jannik Sinner, holding the title, targets the double to Melbourne. Alexander Zverev, unhappy finalist of the US Open 2020, beaten by Dominic Thiem 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) and Roland-Garros 2024, dominated 6- 3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 by Carlos Alcaraz, runs, after a first Grand Slam title. Zverev l'Opinâtre would become, in the event of success, the player to need the greatest number of participations (10) to win the Australian Open, in front of the Swiss Stan Wawrinka and the Czech Petr Korda, titled During their 9th attempt. The last title of a German in Melbourne Date of Boris Becker, in 1996.
To the state
Jannik Sinner (the youngest player to reach 2 consecutive finals in Melbourne from Jim Courier in 1992, 1993) is a collector. The Italian surfs a series of 20 consecutive victories. To this series are added 13 consecutive victories in Grand Chelem (US Open 2024 Plus open in Australia 2025), 13 victories consecutive to the Australian Open. And 20 consecutive Grand Chelem consecutive victories on hard, the last player to beat him was… Alexander Zverev at the US Open 2023.
What they think of each other
“It's hard to say who is the favorite. It will above all be a mental battle. We have had very difficult matches in the past. Anything can happen. He's an incredible player. He is looking for his first major tournament. There will be a lot of tension again, but I am happy to play in this position. Sundays are always special days in tournaments, and I will enjoy it ”presents Jannik Sinner. “Jannik has been the best player in the world in the past 12 months. There is no doubt about it. He won two Grand Chelem tournaments. He was very, very stable in this regard ”summed up Alexander Zverev aware of the magnitude of the task.
The key
The quality of the return of Jannik Sinner (126 points won in return, 2e Player of the tournament behind the American Tommy Paul) faced with the success in the service of Alexander Zverev (67 Aces, 3rd the most efficient player of the tournament, category dominated by the American Reilly Opelka). The Italian and the German (who worked a lot of his physique to resist a 5 sets marathon; he had regretted a penalizing vacuum during the final of the last Roland-Garros against Alcaraz) can, relying on Their strong points, make the difference.
The Novak Djokovic notice
Forced to declare forfeit (after the first lost set 7-5 in the tie-break) against the German Alexander Zverev, Novak Dkokovic assured after the semi-final having a weakness for the German in the perspective of the final: “He deserves to win his first Grand Chelem. I will support him in the final. »» Alexander Zverev was also able to take advantage of Jackie Chan's encouragement.
And the advice of Madison Keys who, like him, has long run after a first Grand Slam title, before winning this Saturday against Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka: “At one point, you just have to free yourself from the stress of saying yourself: will one day I win one? ', Stop worrying and simply play tennis. Ultimately, this is the only thing you can control and on which you can focus. If you put yourself enough covers in this position (in the final of a great slam), generally good things end up happening. ”
