How Jannik Sinner caused Alexander Zverev to run out of ammunition in the Australian Open final
26 days ago | 5 Views
In the semifinal encounter with Novak Djokovic, a commentator noted the dual aspects of Alexander Zverev's forehand. This stroke has served as a formidable asset for the German throughout his career, during which he has reached two Grand Slam finals. However, it was observed that when Zverev struggles to control his forehand, it adversely impacts his mental state.
In the solitary set against Djokovic on Friday, Zverev appeared uncomfortable with his forehand, committing 21 errors, yet he managed to secure a 7-6 victory against the injured Serbian, who subsequently withdrew from the match, propelling Zverev into his third Grand Slam final. However, he could not find a similar reprieve on Sunday.
Amid the pressure of competing in his first final in Melbourne, and having faced defeats in his previous two major final attempts, Zverev's forehand faltered on three occasions during the opening game. By the conclusion of the first set, he had accumulated 15 errors, having been broken at 3-4, and finished the match with a total of 36 errors in a straight-set defeat, managing only three forehand winners.
While discussions prior to the final emphasized the significance of Zverev's serve, Jannik Sinner excelled in this area, winning 85 percent of points on his first serve. He did not encounter a single break point, becoming only the third player in this century to achieve this feat in a Grand Slam final, following Roger Federer at the 2003 Wimbledon and Rafael Nadal at the 2017 US Open. In contrast, Zverev found himself under pressure on his serve; although he achieved a higher first serve percentage (68 percent compared to Sinner's 60), he won only 69 percent of points on his first serve.
Zverev's closest opportunity to secure a breakpoint occurred when he was ahead 6-5 on Sinner's serve. At 30-all, he appeared to be gaining momentum until Sinner electrified the Melbourne audience by concluding a 21-shot rally, which enabled him to push the match into a tie-break. In this critical moment, Zverev had another chance to capitalize, but an unfortunate net cord allowed Sinner to level the score at 4-4, after which he did not relinquish control, ultimately securing victory as a three-time Grand Slam champion.
For Zverev, another pivotal aspect that could have influenced the match in his favor was his ability to engage Sinner in extended rallies. However, it was the 23-year-old who triumphed in exchanges of nine or more shots, amassing 15 more points (29-14) in those situations. The point differential was narrower in mid-length rallies (4-5 shots), with Sinner leading by four points (27-23), and he also outperformed Zverev in shorter exchanges, winning by five points (51-46).
Sinner skillfully curtailed Zverev's capacity to launch attacks from the baseline. As reported by the ATP website, a total of 220 points were contested from the baseline, with Sinner claiming 59 percent of those points. This compelled Zverev to approach the net more frequently than Sinner and more than in any of his previous matches in Melbourne this tournament. However, he struggled to find his rhythm, losing 13 of the 27 net approaches. In contrast, Sinner was successful in 10 of those 13 points.
Read Also: Sajid Khan Channels John Cena's Spirit with Intimidating Stare at West Indies Batter
"Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!"