MELBOURNE — Of all of the reward bestowed on Jannik Sinner after he received his second consecutive Australian Open championship, and third Grand Slam title total, nothing felt as vital because the comparability made by runner-up Alexander Zverev.
Dealing with Sinner, significantly on onerous courts, reminded Zverev quite a lot of attempting to resolve the problem introduced by none apart 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 important to overhit on a regular basis to have an opportunity in a rally in opposition to them,” Zverev mentioned after shedding to Sinner 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 at Melbourne Park on Sunday night time.
“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,” mentioned Zverev, who’s ranked No. 2 however felt a lot additional away from No. 1 Sinner in Rod Laver Area. “(Each) transfer, clearly, super. They’re consistently on the baseline. They don’t offer you any area. They don’t offer you any time.”
Sinner, nonetheless simply 23, is a great 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 is just not alone among the many latest technology of tennis stars. His prime 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 consider Djokovic whereas watching Sinner lengthen his document in main finals to 3-0, which features a U.S. Open title in September.
What about Jannik Sinner is just like Novak Djokovic?
The never-give-an-inch courtroom protection. The squeaking sneakers whereas sprinting, stretching, sliding to succeed in photographs that almost all different gamers would not. The flexibility to flip from protection to offense in a cut 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 actually formidable.
These Djokovic-like tendencies usually are not mere coincidence.
Sinner, who’s from Italy, modeled himself after the Serbian star.
“Recreation style-wise I regarded as much as him, attempting to grasp what he’s doing, how he handles the strain moments and vital moments,” Sinner mentioned. “I nonetheless imagine we’re totally different as gamers, as a result of everyone seems to be totally different, however for positive we’ve similarities. The similarities are having fairly clear ball-striking from the baseline, having good motion, understanding somewhat bit the place your opponent (goes to play) the ball.”
The swift enchancment Sinner has made over 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 for the reason that begin of final season. It is why nobody needs to play him today.
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 mentioned. “I keep in mind these matches. Earlier than, I all the time felt like as soon as I used to be getting on prime 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 can be to get higher on clay and grass, the surfaces on the French Open and Wimbledon. Earlier than play begins at Roland Garros in Might, Sinner has a listening to scheduled in April within the World Anti-Doping Company’s enchantment of a ruling that cleared him in a doping case.
“In the meanwhile, I’m not excited about this,” Sinner mentioned. “In fact, you might have your moments, (on) sure days, the place you’re feeling like: ‘I want I’d not have this drawback.’”
Sinner and his coaches discuss loads about rising his sport
Sinner and his two coaches, Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill, all discuss loads about placing in onerous 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 positive, he’s a man that tries to enhance daily — happening courtroom, (in) follow, attempting to place new issues (in) his sport, attempting to enhance bodily,” Vagnozzi mentioned. “He is one of many guys that may attain the highest degree. I imply, after we discuss prime degree, we take into consideration Novak, about Roger or Rafa.”
