Will is world No. 1 and defending champion Yannick Siner Win again? Or maybe Alexander Zverev Will he get his first Grand Slam title? Our experts weigh in on who will win the Australian Open men’s title.
What can Sinner do to beat Zverev?
Jared Barcelona: Stock up on pickle juice. After suffering from cramp problems during his semi-final victory Ben Shelton – Not to mention his struggles against Holger Ron In the fourth round – Sinner needs to make sure his body is fully recovered against a player like Zverev, who likes to exchange long, exhausting balls. Sinner is the one to beat, but his best chance still lies in keeping the points shorter, taking an early lead, and avoiding a long wait for the Zverev match. Stay healthy, win brilliantly, and claim back-to-back Australian Open titles.
Bill Connelly: Be prepared to grind. This is the only thing we guarantee you in the match against Zverev. All of their past three matches have gone the distance, and seven of their past 16 sets have ended either 7-5 or 7-6. They have only played once since he became a Sinner sinBest player in the world last year; He won in Cincinnati, but it was 7-6, 5-7, 7-6. Sinner has the most efficient serve in the world, but Zverev always hits his first serve and carries almost as much. His game plan will be to hold on to the points, prolong them and make Sinner suffer. The guilty must endure.
Darcy Maine: Is it too obvious to say: “Exactly what he did throughout the tournament?” Or, just like he did against everyone at the US Open or the ATP Finals? Or perhaps more specifically, what did he do against Zverev in their last encounter in a marathon semifinal in Cincinnati in August? Everything Sinner has done in recent months – from his calm demeanor to his skillful shooting – has been almost textbook. Sinner said it will be a mental battle on Sunday, and since he showed no signs of nervousness or fear throughout, if he can stay on track, this is his title to win again.
Jake Michaels: If Sinner continues to play the same way he has over the past 12 months, he will not give Zverev much of a chance of winning. The world number one has become virtually unbeatable at major tournaments on hard courts, winning 20 straight matches, 14 of them in straight sets. Over the past two weeks at Melbourne Park, Sinner has been hitting the ball as cleanly as ever, refusing to make mistakes and attacking with pinpoint precision. Expect more of the same in Sunday’s final.
What can Zverev do to defeat Sinner?
Barcelona: Be more decisive. To beat the world number one, Zverev must strike the right balance between consistency and aggression; He can’t count on crushing Sinner – especially if he recovers from the cramp in the semis at full health. Zverev’s first serve has been excellent in this tournament, so maintaining that weapon is crucial as well. But he needs to know when to play assertively, get inside the backline at the right moments and seize opportunities when they are there – something he seemed reluctant to do in the first set against him. Novak Djokovic. It’s hard to dictate points to the best player in the world, but you don’t win Grand Slams without taking risks in the big moments. He cannot hope that the sinner will stumble. He has to have the awareness to go into his shots.
Connelly: Take your shots when you have them. Zverev has proven that he can grind and play suffering ball like no one else and outlast all but the best competitors. That makes him almost impervious to upset – and against an injured Djokovic in the semi-final, he extended the first set to 80 minutes and took away any will Djokovic had to continue. But even last year, when he finished second in the world, he went just 2-5 against the top five competitors. In last year’s French Open final, there were only 53 winners Carlos AlcarazHe scored 71, saving only 44% of break points while Alcaraz faced more than that but saved 74% of them. It will be difficult to wear out a sinner with patience. When Zverev has a winner in his sights, he needs to take it, and when he forces a break point, he needs to win it.
who: After Zverev lost to Alcaraz in five sets in the French Open final in June, he admitted that he felt exhausted after the match and realized that he needed to make changes to compete with the best in the world for the biggest titles. He did so, bringing back his former physical coach and emphasizing stamina and endurance during his training and in the pre-season. This noticeable improvement could be the key for him on Sunday. Sinner is pretty much back in the final and hasn’t had to play five sets on hard courts since last year’s final (!) in Melbourne. If Zverev can push Sinner into the decider, he could wear him down and claim victory.
Michaels: Zverev has beaten Sinner four times in his career, so he will know he has the tools to beat the world number one. But you have to consider if Zverev is to win his first Grand Slam title on Sunday, his serve will need to be strong. The German has won several cheap points over the past two weeks thanks to hitting 71% of his first serves, the best performance of any player past the fourth round of the tournament. If he can serve with that kind of efficiency, and enjoy some relatively pain-free serving games, it will put pressure on Sinner.
Who will win?
Barcelona: This marathon has been written all over it. Look at the final meeting between the two, a three-set epic that lasted more than three hours in Cincinnati. This can go either way, but how do you go against a player who has 20 straight hard court wins at Grand Slam level? You can’t until he gives you a reason. Sinful in five sets, but Zverev will push him to the brink.
Connelly: Zverev is good enough in the struggle routine that, if Sinner doesn’t connect, or if there’s uncertainty in his legs, Zverev can take advantage. But we have no evidence that Sinner will not be called up. He has won 13 straight in Melbourne, and has won 20 straight hard court titles. He’s the best player in the world, and I’m not against a winning streak. Sinful in four.
who: Sinful in four. Zverev will come into the match a bit more active having played just one set against Djokovic in the semi-finals, and has significant major finals experience, but it’s hard to believe anyone can stop Sinner. He plays almost flawless tennis, and a third major title seems inevitable on Sunday.
Michaels: Yes, it’s early days, but Sinner’s record on hard courts is beginning to resemble that of Novak Djokovic. He seems to be raising his game in the big moments, and I expect more of the same against Zverev. It will be difficult and exhausting, but Sinner will prevail in four entertaining sets.
Betting on the men’s final
Pamela Maldonado: It’s a battle of contrasting styles with Sinner bringing his aggressive base game against Zverev’s big-serving style. Both players have had an outstanding start to get to this stage, but their paths have highlighted some key strengths and exposed weaknesses that will shape the outcome. Let’s break it down and get to my predictions for how this conflict will develop.
This final has all the makings of a false statement. The Italian is a huge talent, riding a 20-match winning streak on Grand Slam hard courts with two major titles as of 2024. Ainer isn’t just showing up to win, he’s showing up to dominate. Thanks to his lethal groundstrokes and attacking play from the back line, he has the arsenal needed to exploit Zverev’s passive defensive style. If Sinner can dictate the terms, this match will be his.
Zverev has reached the Australian Open final for the first time in 10 attempts, but this year’s journey has not been without bumps. against Tommy PaulHe had a disaster in the first two sets, even admitting that he “should have lost two sets to like them.” Add mental breakdowns – eg He loses his temper because a point is returned due to a shuttlecock on the court -You are left with a weak player under pressure. Then there is his semi-final against Djokovic, where he failed to capitalize on an injured opponent, only progressing after Djokovic retired after losing the first set 7-6. That marathon first set lasted 85 minutes, and despite winning the tiebreak, Zverev looked like the one playing catch-up. If he struggles in those situations, how will he deal with the relentless sinner who brings strength and precision?
Sinner thrives on consistent, rhythmic play, and Zverev’s conservative approach is not the way to disrupt that. Allowing a sinner to settle into his groove is a recipe for disaster. To have a chance, opponents need to keep him off balance using a variety of tactics, but that’s not Zverev’s style.
Sinner’s game is perfectly designed to exploit all of Zverev’s weaknesses while simultaneously countering his strengths. Zverev’s big serve? Sinner’s aggressive comeback game neutralizes her easily. His distinctive movement allows him to move seamlessly from defense to attack, covering the field effortlessly. Sinner’s ability to chase down powerful shots could take the sting out of Zverev’s power, stripping him of one of his biggest weapons. And those long rallies combined with Zverev’s negative baseline play? This is where Sinner fits in, as he takes charge by setting the tempo.
Selection: Sinner vs. Zverev Under 40.5 match (-120)
This matchup is setting up well for the bottom. Whether Sinner takes the lead during the early sets or takes advantage of Zverev’s inevitable lapses, it looks like Sinner will control the pace of the match and finish this match quickly. Winning in straight sets? A lot on the table. Four groups? Even then, it’s hard to see this matchup lasting more than 40.5 games, even with a tiebreaker. Zverev may have his moments, but Sinner should wrap up this one without too much drama. Expect another Sinner showing, as he covers the -4.5 game range and wins his third Slam title in four sets.
