Novak Djokovic Shares Heartfelt Message to Alexander Zverev After Australian Open Final Loss to Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner clinched his third Grand Slam title by defeating Alexander Zverev in straight sets in the Australian Open final on Sunday.

Sinner’s dominant performance at the Rod Laver Arena saw him secure a 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory in just 2 hours and 42 minutes. His win not only earned him the prestigious Australian Open trophy but also made him the first Italian to win three Grand Slam titles.

Djokovic’s Support for Zverev

Novak Djokovic, who had retired from his semifinal match against Zverev, had expressed his support for the German player ahead of the final.

Djokovic made it clear during the press conference that he was rooting for Zverev to win his maiden Grand Slam. He stated, “I wish Sascha all the best. You know, he deserves his first slam. I’ll be cheering for him. Hopefully he can get it here.”

Further showing his backing, Djokovic tweeted his encouragement for Zverev ahead of the final.

However, after Sinner’s commanding victory, Djokovic shared an uplifting message for Zverev on his Instagram story: “Sasha, keep believing my friend! You have IT in you.” Along with his message, Djokovic shared a photo of the two finalists on the podium, capturing the moment after the final.

Despite his support for Zverev, Djokovic did not forget to acknowledge Sinner’s remarkable achievement. He also posted: “Auguri Jannik,” which is an Italian congratulatory message.

Nadal Also Celebrates Sinner’s Victory

Rafael Nadal, a two-time Australian Open champion, was also quick to celebrate Sinner’s triumph. In a post on his Instagram story, Nadal wrote: “Congratulazioni Jan @janniksin Impressionante!” which translates to “Congratulations Jan, impressive!”

The Rare Encounter of the Top Two Players

The Australian Open final was a matchup between the world’s top two players, Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner.

A final between the top two seeds is an event rarely seen in tennis and is often expected to produce an intense, competitive match.

The previous meeting between the two had gone to a final-set tiebreak, suggesting a closely contested final. However, this time, Sinner’s performance was nothing short of dominant.

Sinner’s Comprehensive Performance

Sinner’s 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Zverev highlighted just how much the 2025 season is shaping up to be his year.

The statistics tell the story of Sinner’s superiority: he hit 32 winners and made just 27 errors, while Zverev managed only 25 winners but committed 46 errors.

Additionally, Sinner was able to break Zverev’s serve 10 times, while Zverev did not earn a single break point.

However, the statistics alone don’t capture the full extent of Sinner’s dominance. Zverev himself acknowledged that he was thoroughly outplayed.

“Today he completely outplayed me,” Zverev admitted. “From the back of the court, he completely outplayed me. I’m serving better than him, but that’s it. He does everything else better than me.”

Zverev’s Struggles Against Sinner

Zverev pointed out several aspects of Sinner’s game where the Italian excelled, such as his movement, forehand, backhand, return game, and volleys.

While Zverev served better with more aces and a higher first-serve percentage, Sinner neutralized Zverev’s best shots by standing further behind the baseline, making it more challenging for the German to dominate with his serve.

In total points, Sinner won 107, while Zverev managed just 83. Despite the numerical gap, it was the crucial moments that defined the match.

In the second set, Zverev was on the verge of leveling the match at 1-1 but was thwarted by Sinner’s persistence in a 21-ball rally. Sinner then served exceptionally in the tiebreaker, where a lucky net-cord forehand winner at 4-4 swung the momentum in his favor.

Sinner Reflects on His Victory

Sinner, pleased with his performance, stated: “It was an amazing performance from my side,” acknowledging his aggressive approach that helped him gain confidence early in the match.

However, it was Zverev’s praise for Sinner that truly underscored the Italian’s quality. “He’s very, very similar to Novak when he was at his best,” Zverev said.

“They barely miss. They make you think like you have to overhit all the time to have a chance in a rally against them. It’s very, very difficult to win a point from the back of the court against them.” Zverev admitted that Sinner was simply “too good” for him that day.

Sinner’s Rise to the Top

Sinner’s performance in this final was nothing short of clinical. The comparison to Djokovic at his best is a strong endorsement of the Italian’s current level of play.

Whether playing the big points or the smaller ones, Sinner’s consistency and tactical intelligence put him a step ahead of everyone else as 2025 gets underway.