Jannik Sinner Aims for Back-to-Back Titles Against Alexander Zverev in Australian Open Final
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Jannik Sinner is hoping to make history by becoming the first man in over two decades to win back-to-back Australian Open titles. On Sunday, he faces Alexander Zverev in a final where the defending champion aims to repeat his success from the previous year.
The last player to achieve such a feat was Rafael Nadal, who won consecutive French Open titles in 2005 and 2006. For Sinner, 23, this would be a significant milestone, especially after a challenging year that included an unresolved doping case. The Italian player tested positive for trace amounts of an anabolic steroid twice in March, but was cleared ahead of the U.S. Open, which he went on to win. His case is still under review by the World Anti-Doping Agency, with a hearing scheduled for April.
Despite the pressure from the doping investigation and off-court distractions, Sinner has remained focused on his game. Darren Cahill, one of Sinner’s coaches, praised his ability to manage the stress. “He’s an amazing young man who’s been able to put everything to one side and stay focused on his tennis,” Cahill said. “He deals with pressure like no one else.”
Sinner’s journey to the final has not been without challenges. He dealt with health issues during the tournament, including dizziness and an upset stomach during his fourth-round win over Holger Rune, and cramps in his semifinal match against Ben Shelton. Still, he has managed to push through and now stands just one win away from achieving another major career milestone.
“I’m just happy to be in this position again,” Sinner said. “To play for such a big trophy again is a great feeling.”
Standing in his way is 27-year-old Alexander Zverev, who is aiming to capture his first Grand Slam title. Zverev, who has previously fallen short in two major finals, will be looking to capitalize on his opportunity. In 2020, he lost to Dominic Thiem in five sets at the U.S. Open, after leading by two sets to none. Last year, Zverev lost to Carlos Alcaraz in a hard-fought French Open final after leading 2-1 in sets.
Zverev earned his place in the final after Novak Djokovic retired early from their semifinal match due to a leg injury, but he has been in strong form throughout the tournament. As the second seed, Zverev will try to overcome his previous Grand Slam disappointments and claim the biggest title of his career.
This will mark the first time since 2019 that the top two seeds will face off in the Australian Open men’s final. Sinner’s dominance over the past year has been impressive, with an incredible 73-6 win-loss record and eight titles in 2024—the most of any player on the ATP Tour since 2016. He enters the final on a 20-match winning streak.
Despite being the favorite, Sinner remains humble about his accomplishments. “I’m 23, and I’m not perfect. I know I have areas to improve,” he said. “Every day is a challenge, and I always try to learn and get better.”
With both players in peak form, the final promises to be an exciting and intense showdown at Rod Laver Arena.