Grand Slam trophy eludes gloomy Alexander Zverev once more

Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 26, 2025 Germany’s Alexander Zverev appears dejected after dropping the ultimate in opposition to Italy’s Jannik Sinner REUTERS/Edgar Su

MELBOURNE–Wanting nothing greater than to hoist a Grand Slam trophy, Alexander Zverev discovered it robust to be inside touching distance of the Norman Brookes Problem Cup after his Australian Open 2025 closing defeat to Jannik Sinner on Sunday.

The German second seed suffered his third defeat in three grand slam finals as world primary Sinner retained his title with a dominant 6-3 7-6(4) 6-3 win in Rod Laver Enviornment.

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Although Sinner provided sort phrases and a hug, a red-eyed Zverev was inconsolable as he appeared upon one other trophy gone begging through the post-match presentation.

READ: Australian Open 2025: Jannik Sinner surges previous Alexander Zverev to retain title

“It was somewhat little bit of a tricky second for me as a result of I actually went within the closing and… actually thought I had an excellent likelihood as a result of I used to be feeling good,” Zverev informed reporters.

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“I used to be feeling the ball fairly nicely. I used to be feeling like I can compete.

“Now for the third time, seeing any person carry the trophy, me standing subsequent to that’s troublesome as a result of there’s nothing extra I would like than to have the ability to maintain a kind of trophies in my arms.”

Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 26, 2025 Italy’s Jannik Sinner with Germany’s Alexander Zverev through the trophy ceremony after profitable the ultimate REUTERS/Edgar Su

Zverev has had that sinking feeling twice earlier than, surrendering a two-set result in lose to Dominic Thiem on the 2020 U.S. Open and a two-sets-to-one result in fall to Carlos Alcaraz ultimately 12 months’s French Open.

Each these defeats had been galling of their manner however Sunday’s loss could sting much more on condition that he couldn’t lay a glove on Sinner.

READ: Alexander Zverev into US Open final 32 regardless of ‘so many doubts’

Even in straight units, the scoreline flattered Zverev who was nicely crushed across the court docket and couldn’t prise a single break level from the Italian.

“Yeah, I imply, at this time he fully outplayed me. From the again of the court docket, fully outplayed me,” stated Zverev, who had hoped to turn out to be Germany’s first males’s Grand Slam champion since Boris Becker gained the 1996 Australian Open.

“As I stated, I’m serving higher than him however that’s it. He does every part else higher than me. He strikes higher than me. He hits his forehand higher than me.

“He hits his backhand higher than me. He returns higher than me. He volleys higher than me.

“On the finish of the day, tennis has 5 or 6 huge pictures, like huge elements, and he does 4 or 5 of them higher than me. That’s the rationale why he gained.

“He deserved to win at this time.”

A 3-times Grand Slam champion on the age of 23, U.S. Open champion Sinner performed like “prime” Novak Djokovic and was by far the most effective hardcourt participant within the sport, stated Zverev.

At 27, Zverev has gained 23 ATP titles and boasts an Olympic gold medal in his trophy cupboard.

He’s usually described as probably the greatest gamers to haven’t gained a Grand Slam title — a backhanded praise that rankles him.

He stated dolefully in his runners-up speech that he may by no means carry the Australian Open trophy.

Later, he stated he would hold plugging away.

“I imply, I don’t need to finish my profession as the most effective participant of all time to by no means win a Grand Slam, that’s for positive,” stated Zverev.

“I’ll hold doing every part I can to carry a kind of trophies.”