It’s rare for a player to win his first Grand Slam title and then successfully defend it the following year, but Jannik Sinner will aim to do just that when he faces Alexander Zverev in the Australian Open final on Sunday. The last time a repeat champion occurred was almost 20 years ago, with Rafael Nadal achieving the feat at the French Open in 2005 and 2006, and we all know how his career turned out.
Sinner, ranked No. 1, has had quite the eventful year, including an unresolved doping case. He tested positive for a small amount of an anabolic steroid twice in March, but the news didn’t break until his exoneration was announced right before the U.S. Open, which he went on to win. A World Anti-Doping Agency hearing is set for April to address an appeal in the case.
According to one of his two coaches, Darren Cahill, who will leave Sinner’s team after this season, Sinner finds solace in playing tennis. For him, stepping onto the court is a place where he feels comfortable and confident, where he can focus on what he knows and do what he excels at. Tennis has become a home for him.
Darren Cahill, one of Jannik Sinner’s coaches, praised the young tennis star for how he’s handled the immense pressure over the past nine months, particularly since April of the previous year. Cahill said that Sinner has dealt with the stress in an exceptional way, calling him one of the best he’s seen when it comes to handling pressure. He also highlighted Sinner’s ability to push aside the distractions, maintaining a clear conscience throughout the ordeal.
Throughout the two weeks in Australia, Jannik Sinner also faced health challenges. He required medical assistance during his fourth-round win against Holger Rune due to dizziness and an upset stomach, and later dealt with cramps in his semifinal victory over Ben Shelton.
Sinner shared that while managing various issues both on and off the court, he tries to keep a focus on his game. He noted that some days are easier than others, and sometimes it’s harder to stay in his own space. The 23-year-old Italian has the chance to become the youngest man to win back-to-back Australian Open titles since Jim Courier in 1992-93.
Jannik Sinner expressed his happiness about reaching this position once again, saying he’s excited to compete for another major title. The Italian will face No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev in the Australian Open final. Zverev, a 27-year-old from Germany, has previously reached two major finals but lost both in five sets — once to Dominic Thiem at the 2020 U.S. Open after leading two sets to love, and again to Carlos Alcaraz at last year’s French Open after holding a 2-1 advantage.
Zverev secured his place in the final when Novak Djokovic withdrew from their semifinal due to a leg injury just after one set of play. The final will be held at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. local time (3:30 a.m. EST), marking the first time since 2019 that the top two seeds will face off in a men’s singles final there.
Alexander Zverev praised Jannik Sinner, calling him the best player in the world over the past year, and there’s little argument against that statement. Sinner has had an impressive 2024, with a 73-6 record and eight titles — the most on the ATP Tour since 2016 — and is currently riding a 20-match winning streak that started late last season.
However, despite his incredible success, Sinner remains humble. He acknowledged that at 23 years old, he still has room for improvement. “I’m not perfect, and there are areas where I can get better,” he said. Sinner emphasized that each day brings new challenges, with different opponents to face, and he continues to learn and adapt to improve his game.
