Jannik Sinner now has a second Australian Open trophy, which together with his 2024 US Open title makes back-to-back Slams and a total of three next to his name.
Unlike women’s final where the top seed Aryna Sabalenka was defeated by 19th seed Madison Keys, the men’s championship was decided between the 1st and 2nd seeds.
Photo: Tennis Australia / George Sal
Sinner dropped only two sets on the way to final, though his journey there was an odd one.
In the fourth round, while playing Holger Rune, he started shaking and was taken off court for treatment by a tournament doctor. Some commentators wondered if Sinner may have been suffering from heat exhaustion, though the temperature was only 32°C – a not uncommon temperature in a Melbourne summer.
Having survived that match, the day of his quarter final rumours circulated around Melbourne Park that Sinner had pneumonia.
If the rumours were true, then Sinner must be superhuman to have played as he did that night. World No. 8 Alex De Minaur was, in his words, “slapped across the face”, going down to Sinner’s precision, 3, 2 and 1, in 108 minutes.
Photo: Scott Barbour / Tennis Australia
In his semi-final against Ben Shelton, after two hours and 15 minutes of play, with the score at 1-2 15-40 in the third set, Sinner started limping. As cramps affected his left leg, he drank two bottles of pickle juice, an electrolyte liquid and a gel and continued his way to a 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2 win.
Sinner has played with cramping before, notably against Carlos Alcaraz in a semi at Roland Garros last year. Leading two sets to one, his forearm cramped and he lost in five sets.
This year at the Australian Open, arch rival Alcaraz had gone out in the quarter finals for the second time in his least successful Slam. Novak Djokovic beat him 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, to lead their head-to-head tally 5-3.
Djokovic went on to play Alexander Zverev for a spot in the final, but was forced to retire with a torn muscle after losing the first set tiebreak.
So Zverev progressed to the final having played an 81 minute semi.
It would be the third grand slam final for the German. In the pandemic times of 2020, in front of only the players’ coaches, he was defeated at the US Open by Dominic Theim, 2–6, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 7–6(6). Zverev led by two sets, and later served for the match at 5-3 in the fifth but became tentative and was broken.
Then in 2024, Alcaraz outlasted him at Roland Garros, 6–3, 2–6, 5–7, 6–1, 6–2, after Zverev had led two sets to one.
The Australian Open final against Sinner was another heartbreaker, but this time in straight sets.
The final started ominously for Zverev when Sinner held to love in the first set – an ace, followed by two wayward returns and a four shot rally that ended as Zverev hit into the net.
But Zverev steadied and the set reached 4-3 on serve. A sensational passing shot down the line brought Sinner two break points. Zverev saved both and the game went through two deuces. Another great passing shot from Sinner gave him a third break point in the game, which he also failed to convert. But on his fourth, Sinner’s passing shot was intercepted by Zverev only to land in the net. After Sinner served to love, the score was 6-3 in 46 minutes.
First to serve in the second set, Zverev struggled and was down 15-40 but recovered. At 3-3, Sinner lunged for a backhand but the shot went out and Zverev had 4-3. Immediately, Sinner grabbed his buttock and slowly walked to his chair. He later explained the issue as “a small feeling” in his glute.
There were no further signs of a glute problem and Sinner levelled at 4-4.
At 5-4, two errors from Sinner saw him go down 0-30 on his serve but he recovered for 5-5. Zverev held again. Next game, a long rally with yet another passing shot winner got Sinner to 40-30, then a let cord sent Zverev’s ball out wide and it was 6-6.
The net assisted Sinner again at 4-4 in the tiebreak. His forehand clipped the net and fell over out of Zverev’s reach. The next two points were on Sinner’s racquet – a great serve and a ball that brushed the line. The tiebreak ended at 7-4 and Zverev would have to win in five if he was to be champion.
In the third set, Sinner broke for 4-2 and a dejected Zverev talked to his box. In his last stand, he went for his shots and made it to 3-5. But the end came anyway. After a rally on championship point, Sinner drew Zverev into the net with a drop shot then passed him cross court.
As Sinner celebrated with his team, Zverev bowed his head and rubbed his eyes.
While the players stood awaiting the trophy presentation, the dual champion consoled the vanquished finalist.
When it was his turn to speak, Zverev started with a tearful “Man, this is tough”.
“… It sucks standing here next to [the winner’s trophy] and not being able to touch it, to be honest…
“I was hoping that I could be more of a competitor today, but you would just too good. It’s as simple as that. Congratulations to you. You really deserve it.”
Afterwards, in an interview with Nine Media, Sinner explained the experience of defending his title. “It’s different. You have different kind of pressure, you have different kind of expectation because you know that you can do it, potentially. But it was a different run from last year, I struggled a little bit, it was tough.”
The full size trophy replica will go on display at his parents’ place in Monarco. “My apartment is at the moment still too small”.
Away from tennis, “My happy place is with the people I love, it’s as simple as that…This is where I recover fast…just a couple of days and you feel recharged.
Title photo of Jannik Sinner at the 2025 Australian Open by AP / Ng Han Guan