Alexander Zverev reacted to the Djokovic drama in the style of a sportsman. In the last step towards the longed-for first Grand Slam title, he doesn’t want to take Jannik Sinner into account. “I’m looking forward to Sunday. I feel like I’ve done the work so far and that I’m ready for it,” said the tennis star with a satisfied smile after he reached the final of the Australian Open for the first time by giving up injured record champion Novak Djokovic. Djokovic was unable to continue after losing the tiebreak of the first set 5-7 and only playing for 81 minutes.
If Zverev actually lifts the trophy for the first time in the title showdown on Sunday (9.30 a.m./Eurosport) in his 36th Grand Slam tournament start, he would make tennis history. Only Croatian Goran Ivanisevic (48) needed a longer attempt to win his first crown at one of the four major tournaments. The world number two would be the first male German winner since Boris Becker, who also celebrated the last of his six Grand Slam victories in Melbourne in 1996.
Becker gave Zverev a tip for the title in the conversation: “Just keep the rhythm as before, you are on a very good path.” The Eurosport expert particularly liked that Zverev and his team showed great restraint after the abruptly ended semi-final. “It’s good that they’re not in each other’s arms too much and are already celebrating the final.”
Final opponent Sinner is also slightly injured
Zverev knows that the work is not quite done yet. Especially since Sinner, as defending champion and world number one, is on paper the toughest final opponent that could stand in his way. The South Tyrolean celebrated his 20th win in a row with a 7:6 (7:2), 6:2, 6:2 in the semifinals against US professional Ben Shelton – although he was plagued by “mild cramps,” as he confirmed afterwards. That’s another reason why he didn’t want to hear anything about being a favorite. Zverev plays “incredibly good tennis”.
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Sinner is the best player in the last twelve months, there is no doubt about that.
Alexander Zverev about his final opponent Jannik Sinner
Sinner is also accompanied by a doping shadow. He still faces a ban of up to two years following the hearing before the Cas International Court of Arbitration for Sport in April due to his acquittal after two positive doping tests.
“Sinner is the best player in the last twelve months, there is no doubt about that,” said Zverev. The statistics speak for the German: he has won four of the six duels so far.
Djokovic keeps his fingers crossed for Zverev
But while Sinner has already collected two Grand Slam titles at the age of 23, Zverev (27) still has zero. He lost his two previous finals on the Grand Slam stage at the US Open 2020 and the French Open last year. Partly he lost his nerve, partly due to bad luck. “Maybe it’s time for me to have a bit of luck in a final,” said Zverev.
One thing is clear: Djokovic is a Zverev fan in the final. “He deserves his first Grand Slam title. I will cheer him on, hopefully he can do it,” said the 24-time Grand Slam tournament winner. The German number one admitted that these words would mean “a lot” to him: “I admire and respect Novak very much.”
That’s why he comforted the Serb, who had injured his thigh, immediately after the task. He left the pitch without any cheers and then made a passionate plea for the booed opponent. “At some point people have to understand what this man has done and what this man has brought to this sport.”
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Zverev won the Grand Slam title over the course of his career, the younger Sinner, on the other hand, already has two.
For him it was “incomprehensible” that some fans in the Rod Laver Arena booed Djokovic. “The gentleman is 37 years old! You shouldn’t forget that. “People at 37 sometimes can’t get out of bed,” said Zverev and appealed: “Leave him alone! He’s done enough.”
The 2021 Olympic champion also reacted so compassionately because he was able to empathize very well with Djokovic. In the semifinals of the French Open 2022 against Spain’s clay court king Rafael Nadal, he suffered a bad ankle injury and also had to give up. “That’s life, that’s sport,” said Zverev.
Djokovic said he was playing with a “torn muscle” that he sustained in his left thigh during his quarterfinal win against Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. He didn’t hit a ball until about an hour before the match against Zverev. “Towards the end of the first set I just felt more and more pain,” said the ten-time Australian Open winner.
“I’m a bit shocked too,” said Becker, who used to train Djokovic. He very much hopes that Djokovic does not end his career. Djokovic explained that it cannot be ruled out that he will no longer return to Melbourne. But he also emphasized: “I want to continue.”