They last met in January in the Australian Open final when Jannik Sinner defeated Alexander Zverev in straight sets, a result the German looked to reverse on Sunday in Vienna at the Erste Bank Open.
I just tried to make the right choices at the right time. I think that was the key today. Serving well and saving energy in my service games was also important Jannik Sinner
Unfortunately, despite taking a set on Sinner and seeing the top-seeded world number 2 cramp in both the opening and deciding sets, Sinner once again emerged victorious after scoring a 3-6 6-3 7-5 win over the German for his 21st career title.
“It feels great;” said Sinner after the two-hour and 28-minute triumph for his second Vienna title (2023)
“It was such a tough start in this final for me. I broke down, had some chances in the first set but couldn’t take them. He served really well, but I just tried to mentally stay there and play my best tennis when the time came.”
“The third set was a bit of a rollercoaster, but I felt the ball very well at times, so I tried to push and I am of course very happy to have won another title. It is very special.”
Sinner certainly had to dig deep to fend off the German’s challenge and the first signs of cramp in the fourth game of the opener, which brought back memories of his retirement in Shanghai earlier this month.
Zverev, former champion in Vienna (2021), closed out the set, but in the second, after seemingly shaking off all problems, Sinner responded strongly to level the match.
But that problem in his left hamstring started to return in the decider during the seventh game, just as the final reached its grand final!
With the help of plenty of pickle juice and a more aggressive game plan to keep the points short, Sinner managed to keep the pressure on Zverev to cross the finish line first.
“It was obviously very difficult,” Sinner said of his physical struggle in the third set. “The most important thing was not to give up and try to stay there. Try to see what the situation was like. I just tried to make the right choices at the right time. I think that was the key today. Serving well and saving energy in my service games was also important.”
It capped an excellent week for Sinner, who dropped just one set in five matches and in some ways lays down a gauntlet for his main rival Carlos Alacaraz, against whom he has been placed in the final of the Rolex Paris Masters that starts on Monday.
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