Australian Open: Jannik Sinner takes on Alexander Zverev in men’s singles final in Melbourne on Sunday | Tennis news

Defending champion Jannik Sinner is eyeing the Australian Open titles, with Alexander Zverev and his bid for a brilliant Grand Slam success standing in his way on Sunday in Melbourne.

It is the first men’s singles final in a clash between the world’s top-ranked players since the 2019 Australian Open, which saw Novak Djokovic defeat Rafael Nadal in straight sets.

These two are The duo are in form in men’s tennis at the moment, but there have been distractions off the court.

Sinner’s run to the final has come as a long-running doping case stemming from failed drug tests last March hangs over his head.

Although he has been cleared to play by the Tennis Integrity Authority, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is seeking a ban of up to two years for the Italian at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with a hearing due in April.

Zverev’s latest of his last two Grand Slam appearances, at the French Open last summer, came after a semi-final victory over Casper Ruud that came hours after an out-of-court settlement was reached to end an ongoing lawsuit by an ex – Delete accusation of assault on girlfriend in 2020.

There is trickery and guesswork for both men, but both have been able to put it in a box and focus on their tennis – both excel on court.

“He finds playing tennis to be his safe place,” said Darren Cahill, one of the Sinners’ two coaches. “This is where he can go and do his thing and feel like this is what he knows, this is what he understands, what’s good.

“It became a house for him to go to court and play tennis.

“There’s been a lot of pressure around him for the last nine months now. He handles it as well as anyone I’ve ever seen handle pressure.

“He’s an amazing young man who has been able to put that to one side. He has a clear conscience.”

Sinner added ahead of the final: “There’s a lot going on, on and off the court. I try to isolate myself a little bit, I try to be myself on the court.

“There are days where they are easier, days when I struggle a little more.

“I’m trying to take the things off my head, the pressure. Even if it’s easy to say, but hard to do.

“I will try to do that and also enjoy these moments. We won six very, very difficult games.”

Sinner’s six ‘hard-fought’ wins have featured just two dropped sets, against wild card Trisball School in the second round and 13th seed Holger Rune in the fourth – receiving medical attention for dizzy spells and a stomach upset during the last match.

But any fears that the 23-year-old sensation was not in peak physical form have been put to rest by the ease with which he disposed of both Home Australian Hope Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals, and big-serving Ben Shelton in the Last Four – both sent in straight sets — to get his scores to 20 straight wins through the end of the 2024 season and the start of this one.

That’s why the Spaniard is favorite for Sunday’s final, even when he’s up against the world No. 2 in Zverev, a man who edges a 4-2 career win record against the Italian – including two on the hard courts of the US Open. .

“We had some very tough games in the past,” Sinner said. “Anything can happen, he’s an incredible player … there’s going to be a lot of tension, but I’m going to enjoy it.”

Zverev looks set to overcome the last major fragility

Zverev has so often been the ready man at Slams.

Two finals lost, six semi-final appearances and five times knocked out in the quarters. After being thwarted in Grand Slams by the likes of Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer in the early part of his career, of late, it has been the new generation led by Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz to do for him.

Alcaraz overcame a two-set deficit to triumph over the German in last year’s French Open final, while Zverev surrendered a two-set lead to Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open decider.

Such slumps at the biggest stage have led to accusations of mental frailty against Zverev, but his form over the past year has hinted at a stronger resolve within the 27-year-old, with ATP 1000 titles captured at the Italian Open and the Paris Masters Last Year – his first at that level since 2021.

The imposing, 6ft 6in Zverev boasts one of the most powerful serves in the game, adding more consistency to that weapon in recent times thanks to a lower ball, while he is also a ferocious hitter of the ball from deep behind base – although this style sometimes prompts criticism in its way of being too ‘passive’ at certain points.

Zverev also has a relentless drive, a part of his game that has only been helped further by his re-hiring of Andy Murray’s former coach Jez Green for this season—a response to his wilting in that loss. of the French Open in five sets to Alcaraz The last time she reached this stage.

“I was always very proud and I always knew I could last anyone as long as I wanted when I was with Jez Green,” Zverev said. “I got tired against Carlos. I didn’t want that to happen again this year.”

Zverev’s staying power is perhaps part of the reason Djokovic decided to retire injured after just one set of their semi-final on Friday.

“Even if I won the first set, it’s going to be a big uphill battle for me to stay physically fit to stay with him in rallies for another … two, three, four hours,” Djokovic said after pulled with it A torn muscle in his left leg.

The record 24-time Grand Slam Champion also backed Zverev now to secure a ‘deserved’ first title.

“I wish (Zverev) all the best, he deserves his first clash,” Djokovic said. “I’ll be cheering for him and hopefully he can get it here.”

Zverev himself insists he is ready to take the next step in his career on Sunday. “I feel like I’ve done the work and I feel like I’m ready for it,” he said.