Zverev: Sinner is in a 'Different Universe' After Australian Open Loss

Alexander Zverev praised Jannik Sinner's impressive performance in the Australian Open final, likening him to Novak Djokovic at his peak. Sinner retained his Melbourne crown with a 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Zverev.

Alexander Zverev, the 27-year-old German tennis player, was left in awe of Jannik Sinner's impressive performance in the Australian Open final on Sunday. Sinner, the top-ranked Italian, retained his Melbourne crown with a convincing 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Zverev. The German player praised Sinner, saying, “He's very, very similar to Novak when he was at his best.” Zverev drew favourable comparisons between Sinner and 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic, highlighting their similarities in playing style.

Alexander Zverev becomes the first man in tennis history to play his first three major finals at three different slams and lose each one. pic.twitter.com/02svhD3Gtp

— ESPN (@espn) January 26, 2025

Zverev admitted that he felt almost powerless against Sinner, who was better in almost every facet of the sport. “They barely miss, they make you think like you have to overhit all the time to have a chance in a rally against them,” Zverev said, describing the challenges of playing against Sinner and Djokovic. “It's very, very difficult to win a point from the back of the court against them, against Novak and him. They're constantly on the baseline. They don't give you any space. They don't give you any time.” Zverev concluded, "I mean, just right now too good for me.”

A lovely warm embrace between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev 🥰#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Ypu0J7bkDW

— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 26, 2025

Sinner's dominance on hard courts was particularly impressive, with Zverev saying, “He's in a different universe right now to anyone else.” The German player reiterated his admiration for Sinner's abilities, stating, “Now it's like he's prime Novak.” Zverev, who has still not won a Grand Slam title despite being in three major finals, expressed his determination to lift a trophy. “I don't want to end my career as the best player of all time to never win a Grand Slam, that's for sure,” Zverev said. “I'll keep doing everything I can to lift one of those trophies.”