As Alexander Zverev gears up for the Australian Open final against Jannik Sinner, tennis legend Boris Becker has shared some words of wisdom, urging the German to seize this golden opportunity.
Zverev, who reached his third Grand Slam final and his first at Melbourne Park, benefitted from an unexpected twist in the semi-finals. With world No. 1 Novak Djokovic forced to retire mid-match due to a hamstring injury after Zverev had claimed the opening set, the German found himself advancing to the title match.
This marks a significant moment in Zverev’s career, as he has twice before reached the final stage of major tournaments but fell short. In 2020, he lost a thrilling five-set battle to Dominic Thiem at the US Open, and again, in another five-set marathon, he was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz at last year’s French Open.
However, Zverev faces a formidable task in the final against Sinner, who is the defending Australian Open champion. The Italian has been nearly untouchable on hard courts, boasting an impressive record at major tournaments. His last loss on this surface came at the 2023 US Open, where Zverev handed him a fourth-round defeat.
Their head-to-head is currently in Zverev’s favor, 4-2. Still, Sinner comes off a recent victory at the 2024 Cincinnati Open, while Zverev has bested him on two occasions at hard-court Grand Slam events, including a win at the 2021 US Open.
Though many consider Sinner the favorite heading into the final, Becker believes Zverev’s success depends on his mindset. “Sascha needs to approach this final with courage and determination,” the six-time Grand Slam champion advised in an interview with Eurosport Germany. “He has to believe that this is his moment to claim victory.”
Becker emphasized the importance of mental fortitude in Zverev’s approach. “Tactically and athletically, Sascha’s father and brother have always been instrumental in preparing him,” Becker continued. “He’s been striving for this triumph for so long—he’s already made two Grand Slam finals, and now it’s time to push forward.”
Sinner, meanwhile, is no slouch. He won the 2024 US Open and has claimed 16 of his 18 titles on hard courts. The 23-year-old has been in exceptional form, winning 34 of his last 35 matches, with his sole loss during that stretch coming in the China Open final against Alcaraz in October.
While Sinner is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with, Zverev’s career is not without its own accolades. The 26-year-old is a former ATP World Champion and an Olympic gold medalist. What remains elusive for him, however, is the coveted Grand Slam victory.
Becker, who himself triumphed at the Australian Open in 1991 and 1996, believes Zverev has what it takes. “He’s already accomplished a lot, but the Grand Slam victory is the ultimate prize he’s missing. And I genuinely think he has the ability to achieve it,” Becker remarked.
As one of only two German men’s Grand Slam champions alongside Michael Stich, who won Wimbledon in 1991, Becker knows the significance of this achievement. “Sascha has a real shot to make history,” he said. “He has the chance to become the third German man to win a Grand Slam title. That would be monumental, and I’m sure it would mean the world to him—let’s see how it plays out.”
Becker also reflected on the broader impact a German Grand Slam winner would have on the sport in Germany. “There’s already a tennis resurgence in Germany, but if we had another German player winning a Grand Slam, it would elevate the sport to a whole new level,” Becker concluded.
With the final looming, all eyes will be on Zverev and Sinner as they battle it out for glory at the Australian Open. Will Zverev make history and claim his first Grand Slam title, or will Sinner’s dominance continue? Only time will tell.