Australian Open: This blow ends Zverev’s dream of the first Grand Slam title

Alexander Zverev lowered his head, congratulated his overpowering opponent fairly on the net and was disappointed on the bench. The German tennis star missed the crowning glory at the Australian Open in the final showdown against Jannik Sinner and has to continue to wait for his first Grand Slam title. The 27-year-old lost to the world ranking and defending champion from Italy deserved 3: 6, 6: 7 (4: 7), 3: 6.

Zverev’s final trauma continued in the Rod Laver Arena. After the US Open 2020 and the French Open in the previous year, the Hamburger also conceded a defeat in Melbourne in the last step towards the Grand Slam tournament victory. In the history of profit tennis, only five players had lost their first three Grand Slam finals in front of him.

In a victory against Sinner, Zverev would have chosen the first German Grand Slam tournament winner for men for 29 years. At that time, Boris Becker had triumphed in Melbourne. In addition to Becker from Germany, Steffi Graf, Michael Stich and Angelique Kerber were also able to celebrate Grand Slam titles in the professional era.

Sinner, who brought his 21st win in a row, wrote tennis history for his home country. He is the most successful player in Italy with three Grand Slam titles-at the age of 23. In addition to the prestige gain, Sinner also cuts prize money of the equivalent of 2.11 million euros. After all, Zverev can comfort itself with a premium of 1.14 million euros.

On the Australian national holiday, Zverev had little access to his opponent’s service. He himself had major problems to get his service. After two deflected breakballs at 1: 2, Zverev cheered himself up: “Let’s go!”

But Sinner finally took advantage of his sixth break chance and earned the first set because he was the winner in most longer rallies. Zverev made too many mistakes, especially with the forehand, the length in his strokes often did not fit. Some stops and volleys also failed.

In the second round, too, Zverev was initially dissatisfied with the quality of his blows. Several times he indicated a throw of his racket onto the ground. Sinner, who had to struggle with physical problems during the tournament, had to survive a frightened second at 3: 4: After a long failure, he reached his hand on the rear left thigh.

After that, the Italian did not move so well anymore. Zverev now sensed his chance and played a little more risky. In the lost tie -break, the German was a big bad luck when he was decisively falling behind a network roller to 4: 5. He then let his frustration out on the bench by thrusting the racket on his pocket.

In the third set, Sinner was also better in the crucial situations. After a break, he rushed to the German, who had not received a single break chance until the end. The world ranking listen converted his first match ball after 2:42 hours.

“It is astonishing how Jannik Sinner cold these background noises,” said Eurosport expert Becker. Sinner is accompanied by a doping shade. Due to the negotiation in front of the International Sports Court CAS in April, he still threatens a lock of up to two years because of his acquittal after two positive doping test.