Can Alexander Zverev Halt Title Defender Jannik Sinner from Claiming AO Back-to-Back Titles?
Australian Open grounds.

World number two Alexander Zverev is through to the Australian Open final for the first time after injured Novak Djokovic retired from their semifinal match. Defending champion Jannik Sinner awaits the German player at Melbourne Park on Sunday’s championship match.

The final 2025 Australian Open weekend has revealed the new women’s champion, American Madison Keys, who stunned reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, unlocking Grand Slam glory at age 29 on Saturday.

Can Alexander Zverev emulate Keys’s feat by stopping Jannik Sinner from succeeding in retaining the title on Sunday’s final?

The 27-year-old German will be chasing his maiden major title when he hits the court on Sunday to play world No. 1 Sinner, seeking to clinch back-to-back titles in Melbourne, his third Slam on hard courts overall.

Zverev, a three-time Slam finalist, advanced to his first AO championship match after 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic retired from their semifinal encounter, dropping a demanding opening set after one hour and 21 minutes due to a muscle tear injury.

In his on-court interview, the 23-time ATP titlist outlined: “I played probably one of my best sets of the tournament now with the first set, and I won 7/5 in the tiebreak while he was injured.”

I don’t know, maybe I’m not that good, maybe Novak is too good for the sport. I don’t know what to say,” he joked.

Djokovic prevailed with brilliance over world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz in a dramatic quarterfinal match, leaving the court with his leg heavily tapped due to the injury sustained during the battle.

In his post-match press conference, the Serbian asserted: “It’s a muscle tear. Two years ago, I managed it better. On the court, it didn’t bother me as much. This time, that wasn’t the case.”

Meanwhile, the Italian player, who made a flawless run to win his first-ever major at Melbourne Park last season, remains the favorite to lift the trophy again this weekend.

The man on top of the Rankings has been the most consistent player on tour ever since, continuing his run of form into the new season.

On a 20-match winning streak at the hard-court majors, the 23-year-old has become a force to beat, showcasing a dominant, sharp display from the onset to build a solid path to the final.

The San Candido native booked his ticket back to the Australian Open title match after moving past No. 21 seed Ben Shelton 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2 on Friday night.

His clinical performances led him to drop just two sets throughout the tournament, showcasing a remarkable mental strength, unbothered by the pressure and focused on his own game.

On Monday, he was tested by 13th seed Holger Rune and the challenging weather conditions, battling through three hours and 13 minutes in the heat at Rod Laver Arena.

Despite experiencing physical distress during his fourth-rounder against the Dane player, Sinner found a way to navigate out of danger in four sets to progress into the quarterfinals.

Against Shelton, he did not play at his 100 percent, dealing with cramps in his thigh, but even then, he did not hesitate, moving forward to dismantle the left-hander American.

Moreover, he became the youngest man to make multiple finals in Melbourne since Jim Courier.

For three sets, two-and-a-half hours is quite a time, so happy to finish in three,” Sinner remarked after beating Shelton in the semifinals.

Very happy to be back in the final, and we’ll see what happens on Sunday.”

Speaking about the ultimate stage of the major, facing Zverev, the San Candido native commented: “We had some tough matches in the past. Everything can happen. He is an incredible player looking for his first major, and there is going to be a lot of tension again, but I’m happy to put myself in this position once again.”

On Friday, Zverev became the third German player in the Open Era to make it through the AO men’s singles final.

The 2024 Roland-Garros runner-up leads Sinner 4-2 in their series. Last season, they met once at the Cincinnati semifinals, a grueling three-hour clash the top seed won while striving with his hip.

In his on-court interview, the Hamburg-born said: “Grand Slam finals are always difficult. The two best players in the world are playing on that court.”

I lost twice in a fifth set, once in a fifth-set tiebreak at the US Open. I’ve had my tough losses. I feel like, maybe it’s time for me to have some luck in a Grand Slam final as well.”

The stage for a stellar Sunday showpiece is set!

Cecilia demartini
Sports Pundit staff writer @ceci_2812
Cecilia is a writer and journalist, passionate about motorsport and tennis.Her articles are published in newspapers and international online publications.

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