Australian Open final 2025

MELBOURNE: Can lightning strike Rod Laver Arena twice in one weekend?

Until Saturday night, Madison Keys was regarded as one of the finest women's players to have never won a grand slam title.

Alexander Zverev?

Advertisement

Watch the Australian Open live & free on the 9Network & 9Now. Stan Sport is the only place to watch every match ad-free, live & on demand with centre court in 4K

Definitely the best active men's player without a major in the bank.

The 27-year-old German giant has won a whopping 23 ATP Tour singles titles and is the world No.2 with more than $80m in career prizemoney.

But Zverev is 0-2 in previous major finals, losing both in five sets.

READ MORE: Keys' 'uncomfortable' journey from teen prodigy

READ MORE: Sabalenka smashes racquet after shock defeat

READ MORE: Spitting drama to all-time classic: '05 Open revisited

Alexander Zverev of Germany reacts against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain. Getty

The first was to Dominic Thiem at the 2020 US Open after taking the first two sets and holding match point.

The second was to Carlos Alcaraz at last year's French Open after leading two sets to one.

Zverev won his semi-final in Paris last June hours after an out-of-court settlement was announced that ended a trial stemming from an ex-girlfriend's accusation of assault during a 2020 argument.

Jim Courier, a four time grand slam champion who lost three times in major finals, said Zverev would undoubtedly be wearing scar tissue when he walks onto centre court at 7.30pm AEDT on Sunday.

It's just a matter of how well he can manage those mental demons.

"We're going to find out, if he's able to convince himself that this time it's going to be something special, that this time he's improved," Courier told Wide World of Sports' The Morning Serve.

"That he's made changes that are going to make the difference because a lot of players, when they get into that rut, it's hard for them to get out of it. If he gets in a winning position, that's when we're going to find out if he's able to overcome it or if those demons are right there for him."

Former Australian star John Millman said Zverev needed to be a "goldfish" with a short memory and "eliminate all those little bits of scar tissue that no doubt he has."

Zverev has been touted for greatness since he won the junior boys' title at the 2014 Australian Open.

"Now they're starting to change the narrative just a little bit," Millman said.

"Is this the guy that's going to go down as the best player not to win a grand slam? He really needs to turn those negative thoughts into some positive ones if he is to succeed."

Zverev got his spot in the final when 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic stopped playing because of a torn muscle in his left leg just one set into their semi-final.

Sunday's title match will be the first at Rod Laver Arena between the men seeded 1 and 2 since Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal in 2019.

"The US Open final, he pulled back on the throttle," Courier said.

"He got really tentative when he was trying to finish the match. He needs to play the ball, not the moment. If the shot is there to take, you've got to take it. It doesn't matter if it's match point for you or somebody else.

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Alexander Zverev of Germany with their trophies in Paris. Getty

"He lost control against Alcaraz at Roland Garros - his emotional state when he had the lead.

"He started to freak out and he became super agitated instead of confident and calm when he was closing in on the finish line."

From a tactical perspective, leading coach turned commentator Mark Petchey said Zverev needed to try to wear down Jannik Sinner.

The Italian world No.1 has battled illness and cramps throughout the tournament while Zverev is fresh as a daisy after the Djokovic drama.

Sinner got medical attention when he felt dizzy and had an upset stomach during his fourth round victory against No.13 Holger Rune, then cramped late in his semi-final win over No.21 Ben Shelton.

"That's what he (Zverev) has got to target," Petchey told Stan Sport's Grand Slam Daily.

"He's got to extend the points as much as he can. I feel as though Sascha (Zverev) playing deeper and making the rallies go to six shots, seven shots more often than four, is going to be his only way of winning this one because he can challenge him on a physical level.

"Zverev's got one of the best engines in the game in terms of lasting, and the first set is absolutely crucial. Because if he can win that and maybe even loses the next two - he can take something out of those (Sinner) legs.

"He did look like he was in trouble against Shelton and that's what I would be saying to Sascha. Even if you lose the opening set, push it to 60 minutes plus.

"The one unknown that you can't get away from is how Sascha's going to handle this occasion.

"He's got to get across the finish line, and that's the sort of armour that Jannik takes into this final."

Defending champion Sinner has also had off-court problems.

Jannik Sinner of Italy. Getty

He tested positive for a trace amount of an anabolic steroid twice last year, which didn't become public until his exoneration was announced shortly before the US Open - which he won.

There is a World Anti-Doping Agency appeal hearing scheduled for April.

"He finds playing tennis matches to be his safe place," Sinner's Australian coach Darren Cahill said.

"That's where he can go and do his thing and feel like this is what he knows, this is what he understands, what is what he's good at. It's become a home for him to step on to the court and play tennis.

"There's been a lot of pressure around him for the last nine months now, since April last year. He deals with it as well as anybody that I've ever seen deal with pressure.

"He's an amazing young man that's been able to put that to one side. He has a clear conscience."

Sinner is trying to become the youngest man to win consecutive championships at the Australian Open since Courier in 1992-93.

"There's a lot of things going on, on and off the court," he said.

"I try to isolate myself a little bit, trying to be myself on the court. Sometimes it's a bit easier. There are days where it's easier, days where I struggle a little bit more.

"I'm just happy to put myself in this position again, to play for a big trophy again."

Sinner went 73-6 in 2024 with eight titles, the most on the ATP Tour since 2016, and is currently on a 20 match winning streak that began last season.

But don't expect Sinner to proclaim that status or be willing to talk about himself in glowing terms.

Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts after a point against Daniil Medvedev of Russia. Getty

"Back of my head, I also know that I'm 23-years-old, and I am not perfect, no? I know that I have things still to improve. I have certain areas where I can get better. That's why we work," he said.

"Every day is a big challenge. Every day you have a different opponent. You try to understand what's happening.

"Sometimes you have some issues and then trying to understand that whatever works best for that day and trying to go for it."

- with AP

Click here to read article