Australian Open: Final showdown against Sinner: Zverev is eager for the coronation

Australian Open: Final showdown against Sinner: Zverev is eager for the coronation

Australian Open
Final showdown against Sinner: Zverev is eager for the coronation


There has not been a male Grand Slam champion from Germany for 29 years. Alexander Zverev wants to change that on Sunday and also overcome his personal final trauma.

The day before his hoped-for coronation as Grand Slam champion, Alexander Zverev didn’t spare himself. In the Melbourne afternoon heat, the German tennis star hit the balls intensively with his training partner Michail Ledowskich. Zverev’s groan after each punch could be heard loudly from the top tiers of the Margaret Court Arena. Final opponent Jannik Sinner, on the other hand, fled from the sun and trained indoors.

One thing is clear: Zverev is keen on the title. “Everyone knows what I’m chasing,” he said again and again at the Australian Open. The Hamburger wants to put his final trauma behind him on Sunday (9:30 a.m. CET/Eurosport and RTL) and make tennis history. 29 years after Boris Becker’s triumph in Melbourne in 1996, a male German tennis professional could once again win a Grand Slam title. “Now the sensation is in the air,” Becker told “Bild”.

Sinner with a flawless final record

Sinner also wants to enjoy the duel between number one and number two in the world. “Ultimately it’s a tennis game,” said the defending champion from Italy: “It has to be fun.” But Zverev will only have fun if he can finally lift the trophy in the Rod Laver Arena.

In his previous two Grand Slam finals at the US Open 2020 and the French Open last year, he failed to achieve his title goal after five-set thrillers. Sinner, on the other hand, emerged victorious in his two major finals last year in Melbourne and New York.

Fitness could be the big plus point for Zverev. The world number two showed no signs of fatigue or major physical problems during the tournament. In addition, Zverev was able to save some energy by giving up record champion Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals after the first set.

Focusing even more on fitness was a lesson learned from the French Open final lost to Carlos Alcaraz after five sets. “I got tired then and I didn’t want to experience that again this year,” said Zverev. He brought fitness trainer Jez Green back into his team and he is very happy with this decision.

Sinner doesn’t seem to be in top physical shape. The weakened and occasionally trembling Sinner only survived the heat battle in the round of 16 against the Dane Holger Rune with difficulty. And during the semi-final win against US professional Ben Shelton, he suffered from slight cramps. Sinner only addressed the problems indirectly: “There are days when it’s easier and days when I struggle a little more.”

Zverev with respect for Sinner

So far he has done an excellent job of keeping the rallies short and winning quick points. “With Jannik Sinner you get the impression that he calms down, even when things get critical,” said Eurosport expert Becker.

“It’s hard to say who the favorite is,” said Sinner. The bookmakers see it differently, they classify Zverev as a slight outsider. Sinner has won his last 20 matches on the tour. Sinner was asked after reaching the final whether he felt unbeatable. “No,” answered the South Tyrolean. Behind his success there is a lot of work, good preparation and also a certain humility.

“Sinner is the best player in the last twelve months, there is no doubt about that,” said Zverev. The statistics speak for the German: he has won four of the six duels so far.

Does the doping debate matter?

Zverev does not want to publicly comment on the fact that his final opponent is being accompanied by a doping debate. The Italian still faces a ban of up to two years following the hearing before the Cas International Court of Arbitration for Sport in April due to his acquittal after two positive doping tests.

“It’s something I’ve been carrying around with me for quite a long time now,” Sinner said at the start of the tournament. Maybe that will also be an advantage for Zverev in the final.

dpa

Source: Stern

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