Jannik Sinner of Italy poses with Norman Brookes Problem Cup the morning after defeating Alexander Zverev of Germany within the males’s singles ultimate on the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025.
| Picture Credit score: AP
Of all of the reward bestowed on Jannik Sinner after he received his second consecutive Australian Open championship, and third Grand Slam title general, nothing felt as important because the comparability made by runner-up Alexander Zverev.
Dealing with Sinner, significantly on exhausting courts, reminded Zverev loads of making an attempt to unravel the problem introduced by none aside from 24-time main champion Novak Djokovic.
“He’s very, similar to Novak when he was at his finest. They barely miss. Like, barely miss. They make you assume like it’s a must to overhit on a regular basis to have an opportunity in a rally in opposition to them,” Zverev stated after dropping to Sinner 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 at Melbourne Park on Sunday evening.
“It’s very, very tough to win a degree from the again of the courtroom in opposition to them — in opposition to Novak and him,” stated Zverev, who’s ranked No. 2 however felt a lot additional away from No. 1 Sinner in Rod Laver Area. “(Each) transfer, clearly, large. They’re continuously on the baseline. They don’t provide you with any area. They don’t provide you with any time.”
Sinner, nonetheless simply 23, is a good distance from attaining only a fraction of what Djokovic has at 37, in fact.
And simply as Djokovic had a few hurdles by the names of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to cope with, Sinner shouldn’t be alone among the many latest era of tennis stars. His high rival at this level is Carlos Alcaraz, who has 4 Slam victories at age 21 — and received all three matches he performed in opposition to Sinner in 2024.
Nonetheless, it made sense to think about Djokovic whereas watching Sinner lengthen his document in main finals to 3-0, which features a U.S. Open title in September.
The never-give-an-inch courtroom protection. The squeaking sneakers whereas sprinting, stretching, sliding to achieve pictures that the majority different gamers would not. The flexibility to flip from protection to offense in a break up second. The wherewithal and reflexes to neutralize even the most important servers.
Add all of it up — plus a serve ok to keep away from any break factors in opposition to Zverev — and Sinner is definitely formidable.
These Djokovic-like tendencies should not mere coincidence.
Sinner, who’s from Italy, modeled himself after the Serbian star.
“Sport style-wise I regarded as much as him, making an attempt to know what he’s doing, how he handles the stress moments and essential moments,” Sinner stated. “I nonetheless imagine we’re completely different as gamers, as a result of everyone seems to be completely different, however for certain now we have similarities. The similarities are having fairly clear ball-striking from the baseline, having good motion, understanding slightly bit the place your opponent (goes to play) the ball.”
The swift enchancment Sinner has revamped the previous couple of years is unmistakable.
It is why he ascended atop the rankings final June and hasn’t budged. It is why he’s 80-6 with 9 titles because the begin of final season. It is why nobody needs to play him as of late.
Zverev was 4-2 in opposition to Sinner earlier than Sunday, together with wins on the U.S. Open in 2021 and 2023.
How a lot has Sinner modified since then?
“He serves higher. He returns higher. He hits his forehand higher. He hits his backhand higher. He strikes higher. He volleys higher. I imply, there’s nothing that he doesn’t do higher proper now,” Zverev stated. “I keep in mind these matches. Earlier than, I all the time felt like as soon as I used to be getting on high of the rally, I used to be profitable most of these rallies. Now it’s like he’s prime Novak. It’s so tough to undergo him.”
The upcoming activity might be to get higher on clay and grass, the surfaces on the French Open and Wimbledon. Earlier than play begins at Roland Garros in Could, Sinner has a listening to scheduled in April within the World Anti-Doping Company’s attraction of a ruling that cleared him in a doping case.
“In the mean time, I’m not fascinated about this,” Sinner stated. “In fact, you’ve got your moments, (on) sure days, the place you are feeling like: ‘I want I might not have this downside.’”
Sinner and his two coaches, Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill, all discuss lots about placing in exhausting work to develop much more as a participant.
“He is nonetheless younger. … You by no means know what’s (going to) occur sooner or later, however for certain, he’s a man that tries to enhance each day — occurring courtroom, (in) apply, making an attempt to place new issues (in) his sport, making an attempt to enhance bodily,” Vagnozzi stated. “He is one of many guys that may attain the highest degree. I imply, once we talk about high degree, we take into consideration Novak, about Roger or Rafa.”
Revealed – January 28, 2025 03:33 am IST
