2025 Australian Open Men's Final: Yannik Sinner vs. Sascha Zverev

[Vince Evert]

Rios is hands down the best non major winner.

Also Miloslav Mecir a U S Open and Australian finalist, losing to Lendl both times.

 

[Vince Evert]

Back to back titles for Sinner he never faced a BP all match
Sinner Forza!

And when was the last time that it was done? Player wins a GS final without being down a break-point.

 

[mrzz]

Also Miloslav Mecir a U S Open and Australian finalist, losing to Lendl both times.

Haven't seen him play...

 

[Moxie]

I lost the first two but saw from the third onwards. Not a Zverev specialist but I do feel his game got way more boring after the injury. It was a different player in that match against Nadal.

No, his game has always been just this boring. You can go back and see the highlights of that match, just switch it off as soon as Sasha rolls his ankle. (No one wants to relive that.) He was playing some of the best tennis of his life in that match, and he was having an excellent tournament. But you'll still see him hang behind the baseline. Get passed more often than not when he ventures forward. Footwork never beautiful. His forehand looks good in highlight reels, which don't show how often it breaks down. Yes, he has talents, but a big one is being 6'5" (serve, wingspan) and I don't count that one. He does have a stunning BH, I'll give him that.

He's come back to a very high level, but I thought he might come back from career-threatening injury rather more humble and committed, but he doesn't seem to have that in his character. Which is why I believe he'll never win a Major.

 

[mrzz]

No, his game has always been just this boring. You can go back and see the highlights of that match, just switch it off as soon as Sasha rolls his ankle. (No one wants to relive that.) He was playing some of the best tennis of his life in that match, and he was having an excellent tournament. But you'll still see him hang behind the baseline. Get passed more often than not when he ventures forward. Footwork never beautiful. His forehand looks good in highlight reels, which don't show how often it breaks down. Yes, he has talents, but a big one is being 6'5" (serve, wingspan) and I don't count that one. He does have a stunning BH, I'll give him that.

He's come back to a very high level, but I thought he might come back from career-threatening injury rather more humble and committed, but he doesn't seem to have that in his character. Which is why I believe he'll never win a Major.

You surely recall that particular match way better than I do. But I should have written "before that match against Nadal". Because I do remember some matches were he displayed more... more "blood in his eyes" as we say here in Brazil.

But now that I am thinking of it, maybe his "transformation " into this boring (but efficient) player occurred before the injury. I remember when he was still up and coming, I was watching he playing Murray and I thought "this kid moves pretty well for a big guy, actually he moves well, period". I would have never say that nowadays....

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

And when was the last time that it was done? Player wins a GS final without being down a break-point.

Nadal 2017 USO

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Also Miloslav Mecir a U S Open and Australian finalist, losing to Lendl both times.

Wasnt he nick named the Big Cat or something similar? Mecir?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I had projected Sinner and Alcaraz to meet in the final, pity it didnt happen, at least both players werent in the same side of the draw this time

 

[Jelenafan]

Rios is hands down the best non major winner.

Oh I agree Rios was more talented, gifted & explosive than Zverev. Come to think of it, I can come up with at least a dozen players I would place as “better” than Zverev. (Nalbandian to name one)

My context was actual career record history, aka 3 Major finals, 7 Masters wins, YE’s as top 5, top 10, weeks as a top 4 ranking, etc. Zverev’s record bests quite a few even multiple Slam winners.

 

[Moxie]

You surely recall that particular match way better than I do.

For obvious reasons. He was troubling Nadal, for sure.

But I should have written "before that match against Nadal". Because I do remember some matches were he displayed more... more "blood in his eyes" as we say here in Brazil.

But now that I am thinking of it, maybe his "transformation " into this boring (but efficient) player occurred before the injury. I remember when he was still up and coming, I was watching he playing Murray and I thought "this kid moves pretty well for a big guy, actually he moves well, period". I would have never say that nowadays....

I probably sell Zverev short on some of his talents, but I don't think his game or his attitude has changed markedly, at all. Young, talented players can be dangerous in a kind of way at 19, that they may cease to be, when they have more to protect, but other than that, I still think he's always lacked something in the trouser dept.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Vince,
I looked up Mecir's nick name it was Big Cat, he did have great footwork and the French called him "Le Prestidigitateur" ( The Conjuror)

 

[El Dude]

Oh I agree Rios was more talented, gifted & explosive than Zverev. Come to think of it, I can come up with at least a dozen players I would place as “better” than Zverev. (Nalbandian to name one)

My context was actual career record history, aka 3 Major finals, 7 Masters wins, YE’s as top 5, top 10, weeks as a top 4 ranking, etc. Zverev’s record bests quite a few even multiple Slam winners.

This, exactly. Rios, Mecir, and Nalbandian might have been more talented, but Zverev has had the much better career. In that sense, I sort of see "greatness" as actualized talent, so Zverev is "greater" than those guys.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

For obvious reasons. He was troubling Nadal, for sure.

I probably sell Zverev short on some of his talents, but I don't think his game or his attitude has changed markedly, at all. Young, talented players can be dangerous in a kind of way at 19, that they may cease to be, when they have more to protect, but other than that, I still think he's always lacked something in the trouser dept.

Moxie,
Apart from the mentality of Zverev he does lack technical skills, he does have a good BH/Serve/his fhand breaks down when under pressure,
Stefanos also suffers with technical skills a good fhand/serve but his bhand lets him down time and time again
Medvedev, who had a most disappointing AO, his pushing tactics just dont work anymore, also playing 5 sets matches before the 2nd week of a major, leaves him depleted at the business ends of majors especially at the AO, where he will lose finalist points this year.Medvedev said he needs to find a higher gear to compete against Alcaraz and Sinner, he is yet to find that gear and sadly I dont think he will find that higher gear.

 

[Vince Evert]

oh so that's what the protester was yelling about, prior to Alexander's speech.

Tiley's bold crowd claim in face of Djokovic, Collins saga...​

Australian Open boss Craig Tiley has claimed the 2025 crowd was one of the best behaved in the tournament's history, despite criticism from some players throughout the event.

A record-breaking 1.2 million fans poured through the gates at Melbourne Park throughout the 15-day event, and Tiley said fewer were evicted than ever before.

But there were several high-profile incidents of poor crowd behavior - most notably following Novak Djokovic's semi final retirement, and against American Danielle Collins in the first week of the tournament (Note: you forgot to add Jack Draper and his two matches vs Kokkinakis and then, the best match on the men's side at this years AO, versus Aleks Vukic)

Speaking on Nine's Today on Monday morning, Tiley said he believed Australian tennis fans were the best in the world.

"The majority of the spectators have behaved extremely well ... I think they are the best in the world," he said.

"I came over a couple of months ago from Davis Cup in Spain, and that's a whole different scenario when it comes to crowd behaviour.

"We think that the crowd really behaved very well. We had fewer evictions than we've ever had before.

"There's always going to be a very small minority, a tiny minority that are going to be disruptive, and we made it very clear if you are, we're going to remove from the precinct. And we did that with some people.

"But it was a smaller number that we'd done before. So on the whole, we were pleased with how the crowd behaved."

Among the last of the fans removed from the precinct was a woman during the presentation following the men's singles final on Sunday evening.

Runner-up Alexander Zverev was about to make his speech when she chanted "Australia believes Olga and Brenda", in reference to the domestic violence allegations against the German.

Earlier in the tournament, Collins slammed the "super drunk" fans that packed in to watch her second-round match against Aussie Destanee Aiava. She went back-and-forth with spectators throughout the match, but her post-match celebrations only stoked the fire.

She blew them a kiss, gestured for them to kiss her bottom, and then sarcastically thanked them for their contributions to the "big fat pay cheque" she would be receiving.

Aiava said "it was like a rugby league crowd" was watching the match. In her third-round match against eventual champion Madison Keys, Collins was constantly booed.

Brit Jack Draper said he copped the "worst abuse he'd experienced, even though (he) thrived on it".

Players have also been critical of the bar constructed alongside Court 6, which took inspiration from the 'party holes' that feature at LIV Golf events.

On Friday, the Rod Laver Arena crowd came under fire for booing Djokovic after he retired at the end of the first set of his semi final against Zverev.

Zverev and tennis great John McEnroe were among the most vocal critics of the crowd's behavior.

Ever the pantomime villain, Djokovic had engaged the crowd himself during his third-round clash with Tomas Machac.

Tiley conceded "no one likes booing", but claimed fans were frustrated at the situation rather than Djokovic personally - a sentiment he claimed he shares with the Serb.

"That was such an unbelievable set – it went for an hour and a half nearly," Tiley said.


"The crowds were more disappointed that they weren't going to see what was probably going to become one of the best matches at Melbourne Park.

"I think that was definitely that case afterwards. I spoke to Novak and the other players afterwards, they didn't feel that they were booing specifically at them. It was more the disappointment in that particular instance.

"In this case, the crowd are really having a great time and they want to see a lot of tennis ... but it would be ideal not to have (booing)."

by Damien McCartney
msn online

 

[Vince Evert]

Danielle should have said that she would donate her "big fat pay cheque" to the California fire victims, that'll immediately silenced up the crowd. Tragedy whats happening over there.

 

[Vince Evert]

For obvious reasons. He was troubling Nadal, for sure.

I probably sell Zverev short on some of his talents, but I don't think his game or his attitude has changed markedly, at all. Young, talented players can be dangerous in a kind of way at 19, that they may cease to be, when they have more to protect, but other than that, I still think he's always lacked something in the trouser dept.

and so what does Alexander have to do to improve his game, according to you ?

 

[Vince Evert]

good one here by Harrison Reid, of seven news online. Certainly is one of the defining images that many of us will take from this years championship, for many years to come.

Jannik Sinner reveals touching words with Alexander Zverev in ‘fantastic moment’ after Australian Open win​

A shattered and teary Alexander Zverev was left with a lasting message from the man who crushed his dream.

Sinner threw his head back and raised his arms aloft after hitting the championship-winning backhand, before soaking in the moment with the crowd to toast his second straight Australian Open win.

But just moments later, Sinner was seen consoling his opponent.

Just before the official ceremony began, the Italian world No.1 was speaking to Zverev, who had tears in his eyes as Sinner wrapped his arms around him.

“Fantastic moment,” tennis journalist Jose Morgado said.

Speaking to Sinner after the official proceedings were long complete, Jim Courier wanted to know what he said.

“I really do want to know what you said to Sasha (Alexander) Zverev before the ceremony; it seemed like a very intimate moment between the two of you,” Courier asked on Nine.

A humble Sinner said he reminded Zverev just how good he is, and that he is capable of winning that elusive major title.

“As we all know, he is struggling to get these kind of trophies, and I saw him down,” Sinner said of Zverev, who is now 0-3 in grand slam finals.

“I told him that he is one of the best players in the world and he has to keep believing in himself, and he has a great team, great family.

“Everyone is pushing him to do the right things and he has improved a lot, and there is no other player who deserves to hold this kind of trophy more than him.

“I truly believe that he is going to be a grand slam champion at some point. He has more more chances on clay as for example I do; I feel like on grass court, if he serves very well, he is difficult to beat.

“At the US Open, he was very, very good, and then also today, he played good tennis.

“So, I feel like if he keeps working (he will get there), and I wish him only the best because he is a good man.”

Courier and Todd Woodbridge lauded the sportsmanship of Sinner, and the lasting image that his classy gesture will leave.

“That’s one of the great pictures that we’re going to have of this Open, in fact,” Woodbridge said

Courier added: “Those are absolutely indelible images right there.”

The loss means Zverev will continue to be tagged the most unfulfilled talent in tennis, conceding he is “just not good enough” after losing the decider to Sinner in straight sets.

The world No.2 was handed a passage into the title match when Novak Djokovic withdrew from their semi-final through injury, but couldn’t capitalise on the opportunity to claim an elusive major crown.

“It sucks standing here next to this thing and not being able to touch it, I’ll be honest,” the 27-year-old German said at the trophy presentation.

“Congratulations to Jannik, you more than deserve it. You’re the best player in the world by far.

“I was hoping that I could be more of a competitor today, but you’re just too good. It’s as simple as that.”

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

AO boss Craig Tiley isnt ruling out an unprecedented Saturday start to the Melbourne Park major after fans flocked to the season opening grand slam in record numbers.
More than 1.1 million spectators attended the 2025 Open, smashing the crowd record and generating huge money for Tennis Australia and the Victorian government.
Despite boorish crowd behaviour tarnishing the tournaments reputation somewhat, Tiley has revealed organizers will consider extending the event to 16 days in future.
The Open moved to a Sunday in 2024 and beginning on a Saturday would give the billion dollar extravaganza three full weekends of main draw action, further feed the cash cow that is the biggest annual Australian sporting calendar.
"We wouldn't do anything without thinking carefully about what impact it has on the players and the fans, but there's just an insatiable desire in Australia for people to watch tennis" Tiley told AAP at Melbourne Park. ( source Darren Walton via AAP)

 

[Moxie]

and so what does Alexander have to do to improve his game, according to you ?

As I said to @mrzz above, he has more talents than I give him credit for, (his serve and bh are huge weapons.) He's obviously nearly good enough for the big moment, so in my humble opinion, what he needs is an attitude change. More humility in the face of adversity. A never-say-die-attitude. The ability to change something that's not working, even mid-match. I believe this is why many suggest he needs a coaching change. Time to try that.

 

[mrzz]

@Moxie , I checked some old videos and realized my memory played a trick on me. You are right, there is little difference between the Zverev of old and the current one. One flash here or there, but I surely had selective memory on this one.

Having said that, I will try to find a complete tape of that Zverev Nadal injury match. I simply cannot comprehend it right now.