German tennis star Alexander Zverev might have been lasted out of the Australian Open final in straight sets, but at least he has a sense of humour about it.
The world No 2 made the final at Melbourne Park after Novak Djokovic retired injured following the first set in their semi-final clash.
Then Zverev collided with Sinner in the final, the current world No 1 who is in staggering form with 21 consecutive wins.
Sinner also beat Zverev in the ATP Masters 1000 in Cincinnati in 2024 in the semi-finals, leaving the German scratching his head and wondering what he needs to do to beat the Italian ace.
However on their return home, both stars were booked on the same flight. And Zverev finally got a win.
Thanks to the booking system, Zverev was seated in front of Sinner and he posted a cheeky photo to Instagram to let his Italian rival know all about it.
Australian Open finalists Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner were seated together on their trip home to Europe
Zverev posted this cheeky message to Instagram after losing the Australian Open final to his Italian rival
‘Well at least I’m ahead of him this time,’ Zverev posted with laughing face emojis.
While Sinner has had the wood on Zverev recently, their head-to-head is much more even.
Zverev has actually beaten Sinner four times in their seven meetings, including a run of four victories in a row before Sinner’s recent outburst of form.
It’s a frightening prospect for his rivals, but a jubilant Jannik Sinner insists he’s not even close to peaking after etching his name alongside tennis titans Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the sport’s record books.
Sinner’s one-sided 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 victory on Sunday night over Zverev in the first Australian Open final featuring the world’s top two players in six years not only earned the Italian a third major in 12 heady months.
The straight-sets rout also elevated the 23-year-old to rarefied air alongside Djokovic and Federer as only the third man in almost 40 years to snare three consecutive hard-court grand slam crowns.
‘It feels amazing,’ Sinner said after successfully defending his crown and being feted by fans after the trophy ceremony at Melbourne Park.
‘Obviously, it was a very, very long run to have this one again. It is definitely a different feeling for sure.
Sinner has been in incredible form and has claimed back-to-back Australian Open titles
Sinner consoles Zverev after winning the Aussie Open final in straight sets at Melbourne Park
‘I know how much work I put into this one and, having this one twice, it’s amazing.
‘You have a different kind of pressure as defending champion. You have different kind of expectation because you know you can do it, potentially.
‘It was a different run from last year. I struggled. But this is the reason why I kept going – the crowd. It means so much to me.’
In addition to his two Australian Open titles, captured either side of hoisting the US Open trophy for the first time in 2024, Sinner won the season-ending ATP Finals championship and spearheaded Italy’s successful Davis Cup defence.
Yet he is vowing to get even better in 2025 and beyond.
‘Maybe the second serve could be a little bit more aggressive and trying to sneak into the net a little bit more,’ he said.
‘For sure, there are some areas where I can improve. I also want to be a better player. I’m not only seeing the result.
‘It is important in one year’s time to say ‘OK, I have improved as a player’ and that is much more important.’
But while he is now halfway towards also joining Djokovic as the only man since Rod Laver in 1969 to holding all four grand slam titles simultaneously, Sinner’s participation in the next major at the French Open in May remains in doubt.
The world No.1 faces a potential ban of at least one year when he fronts the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland in April for alleged doping.
The World Anti Doping Authority is challenging a decision last year by the International Tennis Integrity Agency not to suspend Sinner for what the ITIA deemed to be accidental contamination by a banned anabolic steroid in March.
That closed-doors hearing will take place in Lausanne on April 16-17, casting a cloud over Sinner’s immediate future – and his quest for more grand slam spoils in 2025 and possibly 2026.
‘Honesty, having difficulties especially in the tough moments and how I handled them, I know exactly this will help me in the future,’ he said.
‘But I also want to enjoy this one because this one has a different feeling, has a different perspective, this trophy.
‘It’s difficult to talk about the future. But this one means so much to me.’
