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

[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.

 

[mrzz]

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.

Oh boy I simply forgot about Nalbandian, and he was my second favorite player for a long while.

But Rios got the #1, and at the time everyone agreed he was the best player in the world. The lack of a major was a problem, yes, but people either thought he would get one eventually, or put this in the account of his "I don't give a fuck" mentality... Zverev full career is definitely better but I don't think he ever got to that place of being "the guy" as Rios did.

 

[Fiero425]

Oh boy I simply forgot about Nalbandian, and he was my second favorite player for a long while.

But Rios got the #1, and at the time everyone agreed he was the best player in the world. The lack of a major was a problem, yes, but people either thought he would get one eventually, or put this in the account of his "I don't give a fuck" mentality... Zverev full career is definitely better but I don't think he ever got to that place of being "the guy" as Rios did.

Sascha's never been a fave of mines for different reasons! I thought he was a worthy rival & comp. w/ contemp. like Med, Thiem, & Tsitsipas! His obvious problem is he has no back up game! Just draw him into the net again and again as his volley's the weakest out there!

 

[Kieran]

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.

Zverev hasn’t got the head for big finals. He’s too one dimensional, as well, so when he’s stressed he can’t improvise, when he’s losing he has no great ability to switch and hang on. He’s too predictable. I’d say Sinner knew early on he’d get a lot of chances to taut the first set, and once he won that set, it was only an academic exercise to watch the rest of it, one which I bailed on in favour of a stroll around the botanic gardens..

 

[Moxie]

@Moxie , I checked some old videos and my 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, I will try to find a complete tape of that Zverev Nadal injury match. I simply cannot comprehend it right now.

Front remembers that match fondly, too, and brings is up periodically. It looked like Zverev had a chance v. Nadal. Remember he had match up bonuses v. Nadal - height left him less troubled by high-bouncing balls, and 2HBH helped him to control the spin, and at shoulder height. And he was playing with purpose and confidence that fortnight. Not different in terms of technique. But he was no closer, in the big matches. It was hard to be too worried.

 

[britbox]

Oh boy I simply forgot about Nalbandian, and he was my second favorite player for a long while.

But Rios got the #1, and at the time everyone agreed he was the best player in the world. The lack of a major was a problem, yes, but people either thought he would get one eventually, or put this in the account of his "I don't give a fuck" mentality... Zverev full career is definitely better but I don't think he ever got to that place of being "the guy" as Rios did.

I don't know mate, I don't think you can ever have claim to being "the guy" without winning a big cup. He was only number one for a few weeks. Sampras was still "the guy" for me.

 

[El Dude]

Oh boy I simply forgot about Nalbandian, and he was my second favorite player for a long while.

But Rios got the #1, and at the time everyone agreed he was the best player in the world. The lack of a major was a problem, yes, but people either thought he would get one eventually, or put this in the account of his "I don't give a fuck" mentality... Zverev full career is definitely better but I don't think he ever got to that place of being "the guy" as Rios did.

Rios was a brief nova (but not a supernova). He really only had one "elite" year and top 10 for fourish. I definitely agree that, at his best, he was a more brilliant player than Zverev. But "floor" matters too, and ultimately greatness has to come down to more than "how good was a guy when he played his best?" Otherwise we end up in Nalbandian = GOAT insanity.

Anyhow, I think in many ways reaching #1 is more impressive than winning a Slam. The latter is very hard to do: winning seven best of fives in a row, often against several top 10 players and usually involving beating at least one of the best in the game. But reaching #1 means you played better overall than everyone else for the last 52 weeks. That's why there are tons of Slam winners who never reached #1 (and several who never reached the top 10), but only one #1 who never won a Slam.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just finished listening to Gil Gross Podcast his thoughts on the final,
Gil cut to the chase with Zverev and said if he dosent fix his Performance Problem's in Majors in his opinion he wont be winning a major
Gil said his excuse was "I'm just not good enough" is not the answer to fixing performance in majors, he has been to 3 majors and this latest defeat will leave 'scar tissue deeper'
Gil suggest he seeks 'mental therapy' he compares what Madison Keys did at 29 years old, mental therapy helped Madison, not just as a player, but as a person, winning a major dosent define me as a person, when she let that go she was able to produce her best tennis this year, winning in Adelaide and winning her first GS title, she was able to play freely.
It is up to Zverev he has solutions to try to fix 'performance problems' he has in majors, no one else can do it for him.