Shelton needed to serve out that first set to stand any chance. What followed tiebreaker onwards was rather expected. I expect Sinner to fairly comfortably beat Zverev in the final as well. It's funny that a lot of people thought Carlos would be the clear star from the two of these but since Wimbledon, Sinner has elevated himself to a level above Carlos even though he struggles a bit in the 1v1 matchups.
Tennis 2025
- Thread starter saivet
- Start date
If he's fit. I can't think of anything worse for tennis than Zverev winning a grand slam, so I hope Sinner can see it through.
I find Zverev way too mentally weak and passive in the big matches so I'm honestly not worried at all about him beating Sinner. I feel like the RG Semifinal in 2022 vs Nadal where Zverev rolled his ankle is the only time he's actually played to his very best in a big Slam match.
Sinner ended this match with a niggle...hopefully it's nothing serious and he's 100% for Sunday
Zverev winning a GS would be the sign that apocalypse is starting
Zverev winning a GS would be the sign that apocalypse is starting
He seems to pick up a lot of niggles but I don't think this will affect him.
Sinner is head and shoulders above any other player on the tour, it takes so much to win points against him.
On a hard court, definitely.
Most consistent for sure but I would favour Alcaraz in their match up even on the hard courts
Historically perhaps, but not on current form.
Why did they boo Djokovic?? As if he retires for fun in what may be his last Australian Open.
Sinner will comfortably beat Zverev.
Sinner will comfortably beat Zverev.
People tend not to think and I suspect a lot of people paid big money for their tickets, probably skipped the doubles and only got one set worth of tennis and won't be entitled to any type of refund. I think some would have booed any other player given those cicumstances.
So basically, people are idiots.
Pretty much
Still lame. Boo the organization. Or dont buy a ticket if you can barely afford it.
Dude's been entertaining the tennis world for 20 years.
On his form in the last half year, Carlos wouldn't even go deep enough in tournaments to face Sinner too often. His record since Wimbledon is:
Cincinnati : R1 exit to Monfils
US Open: R2 exit to Zandschlup
China Open: Beat Sinner in the final
Shanghai: QF exit to Machac
Paris: R2 exit to Humbert
ATP Finals: Group state exit
USO: QF loss to an injured Novak
He's a great match-up vs Sinner in 1v1 matches but he's just not been good enough off late to go deep in tournaments.
Alcaraz is top 10 player on fast playing HC, but not a top 3-4 player. He's still great, but comparatively he's more on the level of a Fritz, or even a Rublev - great player who can still occasionally lose to the Machacs, Humberts, etc. That's his limit right now. If you can speed him up, rush him, he can tilt
This in part also explains why his HC H2H with Sinner looks so good - most of the matches came on medium to slow playing HC(Indian Wells x2, Beijing x2, USO '22), where he tends to do much better. This AO he lost to Djokovic, otherwise I reckon he beats Zverev. He also just gets an emotional boost against Sinner because he's his benchmark. The one he measures himself against, so he tends to play freer, looser. Djokovic is just too huge a figure instead, Carlos tends to let Nole get into his head
I really like Shelton, and I mean really like. I like his talent, I like his attitude, I like the clear improvements he's already made on return, I like his spirit, I like his personality, and I like his tennis. Should probably work on getting to the net more often - like all the time actually - but he's potentially one of the guys who could disrupt the Sincaraz duopoly in the coming years
This in part also explains why his HC H2H with Sinner looks so good - most of the matches came on medium to slow playing HC(Indian Wells x2, Beijing x2, USO '22), where he tends to do much better. This AO he lost to Djokovic, otherwise I reckon he beats Zverev. He also just gets an emotional boost against Sinner because he's his benchmark. The one he measures himself against, so he tends to play freer, looser. Djokovic is just too huge a figure instead, Carlos tends to let Nole get into his head
I really like Shelton, and I mean really like. I like his talent, I like his attitude, I like the clear improvements he's already made on return, I like his spirit, I like his personality, and I like his tennis. Should probably work on getting to the net more often - like all the time actually - but he's potentially one of the guys who could disrupt the Sincaraz duopoly in the coming years
Reminds me a bit of early years Nadal in that respect, tbh. Doing well on grass and clay but struggling a bit on the faster HCs. I'm sure Carlos will eventually figure it out but I feel there's a lot about his game he needs to figure out right now.
What a win by Keys!! Beating the world no.1 and 2 back to back. Both in close final sets too, fantastic achievement and a great tournament.
She also beat Rybakina on course to the title too!
She also beat Rybakina on course to the title too!
fantastic match, amazing and such a deserved win for Keys
Go on Keysssss!
Epic run. Was just more clutch in those big moments.
I wonder about Novak's future from here.
He's had a muscle tear in more than one of the last few AO competitions, hasn't he? His age may be starting to factor in, and time off is going to make it harder.
He's had a muscle tear in more than one of the last few AO competitions, hasn't he? His age may be starting to factor in, and time off is going to make it harder.
So far, similar feelings to the US Open final vs Fritz.
I don't think Zverev has been particularly bad, he's had a good first serve percentage but the quality of Sinner has just shone through. A pretty comfortable opening set.
I don't think Zverev has been particularly bad, he's had a good first serve percentage but the quality of Sinner has just shone through. A pretty comfortable opening set.
RInse and repeat for Zverev.Man has no mental fortitude to win a grand slam.
I think today is more of a tennis problem for him.
At first, I'd agree, but when he's started putting in second serves at 100km/h, you can see his normal trends. On top of that, I may not want him to win, but for a man in a GS final, he's sure not doing much to try and win.
I don't think Sinner has been that good today, he's been solid, but Zverev hasn't even tried to take him on. He looks like he's just content letting Sinner dictate the game and just putting the ball back in play.
I thought Sinner was very good in the first set, although not spectacular.
Zverev fecked this second set. Sinner's level dropped and he didn't threaten his service games enough. In the tie break, it was messy and he wasn't able to capitalise. He was unlucky with the net cord but had opportunities before that.
I'd agree. If I'm being objective though, I think Zverev's game is one of the best there is when his mentality is not an issue. If this is an earlier round Zverev is a lot more aggressive and makes it a bit closer. A bit like that second set.
Sinner's level dropped slightly, but Zverev in key moments, not good enough. He was the better player for the entirety of the second set, but he squanders every key moment.
Zverev's grunt is rather interesting atm.
This match is going exactly as expected. Sinner is way too good on hard courts to be challenged by anyone apart from Carlos, who himself is not likely to make it deep enough to in the tournament to play him.
Simply too good.
Sinner surgically deconstructed Zverev's FH
I don't see how Zverev is ever beating Sinner at HC slams from here, not with that FH
I don't see how Zverev is ever beating Sinner at HC slams from here, not with that FH
At this rate, Sinner is going to win 3 GS a year without fail. He's good enough to win Wimbledon. Roland Garros is the only weak point.
Might be dominance for a couple years unless Alcaraz steps up, or Djokovic prolongs his immortality. Outside of Wimbledon, I don't see how even Djokovic beats Sinner right now.
Credit to Zverev. He didn't mentally self-destruct when I thought he would and tried to bring it back. He absolutely had to win that second, though.
Might be dominance for a couple years unless Alcaraz steps up, or Djokovic prolongs his immortality. Outside of Wimbledon, I don't see how even Djokovic beats Sinner right now.
Credit to Zverev. He didn't mentally self-destruct when I thought he would and tried to bring it back. He absolutely had to win that second, though.
I assume you mean, 2 GS a year. I think for Sinner, if Alcaraz can reach the match against him at the HC slams, I'd give him the best chance to beat him.
I actually think he can win RG as well, I just think the playing field is more level when it comes to clay. The likes of Zverev and even Tsitsipas or Ruud (if they pick up form) can be a tough match for anyone.
Zverev's best chance will be at RG, unconvinced he will be able to pull it off but the right draw and it's possible.
I actually don't think Sinner is that bad at RG tbh. Even though he was physically struggling last year, he still played a 5 setter vs Carlos. I feel it's Wimbledon where he's clearly a level or two below Carlos.
I think Sinner on grass will become a bigger challenge as time progresses and he continues to improve and stays fit.
Alcaraz is better at Wimbledon at the moment, but unless he improves, I have a feeling Sinner might start competing across all fronts going forward. His game looks even better and more refined than it was last year, and I imagine he'll try to adapt to the grass more.
Body permitting, I think Novak would actually be the bigger challenge. Obviously, this is all assuming Alcaraz continues in his current form, which hasn't been great.
Modern day tennis is incredible (and IMO excessively) hard-court centric - for both the men and women, the overall field is far stronger on hard courts compared to clay and even more so grass (the modern day grass court field is surely the worst in history).
So Sinner's run of hard court dominance starting with the 2023 Davis Cup finals has been incredible. His dominance over the field at the ATP Finals at the end of last year was stark.
Zverev is an excellent player that does the fundamentals well, especially his backhand, his excellent movement for his height etc. He seems like a 'academy produced player'. But his serve which can be booming can crumble under pressure, he can be overly passive with his forehand in big matches, and those factors are tied to his suspect mental strength. Sinner is in a different league to him technically and mentally.
It's incredible just show strong his CV is without winning a grand slam title; 2020 US Open finalist losing in 5 sets (though that was a horrendously low quality match), 2024 RG finalist losing in 5 sets, 2025 Australian Open finalist, 2021 Olympic gold medalist beating Djokovic in the semis, 2018 (beating Federer and Djokovic back to back) and 2021 (beating Djokovic and Medevedev back to back) ATP Finals, winning 5 out of the 9 masters series events and 7 titles in total (beating each of the big 3 en-route at least once) etc.
So Sinner's run of hard court dominance starting with the 2023 Davis Cup finals has been incredible. His dominance over the field at the ATP Finals at the end of last year was stark.
Zverev is an excellent player that does the fundamentals well, especially his backhand, his excellent movement for his height etc. He seems like a 'academy produced player'. But his serve which can be booming can crumble under pressure, he can be overly passive with his forehand in big matches, and those factors are tied to his suspect mental strength. Sinner is in a different league to him technically and mentally.
It's incredible just show strong his CV is without winning a grand slam title; 2020 US Open finalist losing in 5 sets (though that was a horrendously low quality match), 2024 RG finalist losing in 5 sets, 2025 Australian Open finalist, 2021 Olympic gold medalist beating Djokovic in the semis, 2018 (beating Federer and Djokovic back to back) and 2021 (beating Djokovic and Medevedev back to back) ATP Finals, winning 5 out of the 9 masters series events and 7 titles in total (beating each of the big 3 en-route at least once) etc.
Last edited:
I think there are actually a lot of very good clay court players, particularly on the men's side.
On grass it's certainly an issue for both the men and women, too many players aren't very good on the surface for some reason.
Have to agree on Zverev, I know Roddick has spoken how he thinks Zverev is the best men's player never to have won a grand slam.
I agree that the men’s field is very good on clay. I just think that it’s far stronger on hard courts, as the players typically play much more on that surface compared to clay - 6 out of the 9 masters series events are on hard courts, alongside the Davis Cup finals, ATP finals, other strong tournaments like Dubai and Beijing etc. There are far fewer players around that are uncomfortable on hard courts than clay, for example a lot of players from English speaking countries can struggle moving and sliding on it. Players that grow up playing mostly on clay as kids can adapt far more easily to hard courts, than vice versa.
Most players in current times probably barely set foot on grass as juniors, and of course only play a couple of events on it per year, a warm-up event plus Wimbledon (with some only playing Wimbledon). In previous eras like the 80s and 90s, players grew up when then were at least 2 grand slams on grass. So it’s understandable that the current men’s and women’s grass court fields are so weak, given how so few events on held on the surface.