Jannik Sinner was imperial on Sunday. Alexander Zverev was also remarkable. But after the match. Lucid on his final, on his shortcomings, but also on his way of talking about his executioner. The blow is tough for the German, but at least the crystal clear scenario of this Australian Open final has the merit of not overwhelming it with regrets: “I think I served better than him. Other than that, he did everything better than me. It's as simple as that. He deserves his victory. He is the best player in the world on hard, by far. He completely outdated me.”
Zverev remembers the time he could dominate Sinner on hard. He beat it twice at the US Open, in 2021 and especially in 2023. Sixteen months ago. Just before the Italian operated his progressive transmutation in a player of another dimension. The world number 2 has the feeling of having crossed a milestone since then, especially since he was trying to find his best level after his serious injury. But Sinner exploded. So, today, this victory in 5 sets during the US 2023 seems to him very far.
“He is a much better player now. It serves better. He returns better. It strikes better in the forehand. It strikes better in reverse. He moves better. He volleyball better. There is nothing that he does not do better todaysums up the now triple unhappy finalist in Grand Chelem. Before, I had the feeling of being able to take over in most exchanges if I did what it takes. “ Then he drops this fatal sentence (for him): “Jannik is like Novak to his top.”
The image of the final: when Sinner comforts a deconfit zverev
Video credit: Eurosport
Sinner: “It's a fantastic compliment”
Comparison with Djokovic has been frequently used to define the new world number one in recent months. Sascha Zverev really had the impression of living this Sunday on the Rod Laver Arena. “”He is really very, very comparable to Novak when he was at his best, he insists. They almost never miss. They give almost nothing. They give you the impression that you must constantly overplay and always put more to have a chance to take stock of the exchange for them.”
Flatter, the comparison obviously did not displease the person concerned when it was reported during his press conference. “”It is a fantastic compliment, souffle Sinner. I think everyone is different, but obviously, in terms of style of play, I have similarities with Novak tennis. I observed it a lot, I tried to understand what he was doing, how he managed the moments of tension during the matches, which he did in the important moments.”
A last passing to finish: the title ball of Sinner on video
-Video credit: Eurosport
The world number one, on the other hand, refutes the idea that it is as strong as the Djokovic of the very large era, which remains the absolute reference in his eyes. “”I continue to think that Novak, at its top, it's very, very, very difficult to beat that“He said.”I am still very young, I am 23 years old, I am not perfect. I still have a lot of work to provide“, He had tempered after his semi-final against Ben Shelton. But he understands that he is compared to Djokovic:”Similarities? A very clean ball strike at the bottom of the short. The quality of travel. And a little understanding of where and how the opponent will put the ball.”
When we have, like Sascha Zverev, suffered the yoke of Novak Djokovic for years, seeing a sort of clone tumbled while the original version is not yet a retirement, that is not easy to live. On this surface, at least. “”On hard, Jannik is really the best player in the world now “Zverev slice, at the forefront to judge.
On Eurosport John McENROE said the same thing, at the nearest word, at the end of this final. “”He won the last three big chelems on hard, it's just facts! There is nothing else to say. He is in a different galaxy compared to all the others“, add Zverev in conclusion. Welcome to the planet Sinner. The almost consistent copy of the Djokovic planet.
Sinner, domination at the Djokovic? “He is the best player in the world on hard today”
Video credit: Eurosport
