Jannik Sinner overcame some stern resistance from a spirited Alexander Zverev in a two-and-a-half-hour battle to win the Vienna Open.
The world No.2 headed into the final having not dropped a set in the tournament, but was troubled early on by a determined Zverev, who he dismissed 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, in a roller-coaster encounter. Hitting a total of 46 winners against 21 unforced errors. Sinner, who also won the tournament in 2023, joins Pete Sampras and Andy Murray as the only players to have clinched the title while being currently ranked in the top two.
“It feels amazing,” Sinner said of winning his fourth title of the year.
“It was such a difficult start in this final for me, going a break down. I had some chances in the first set, couldn’t use them, and he was serving very well.
“I just tried to stick there mentally and try to play my best tennis when it’s when it counted.
“The third set was a bit of a roller coaster, but I was feeling the ball very well at times.
“I tried to push and I’m very happy to win another title. It’s very special.”
Sunday’s dramatic encounter had plenty of twists and turns, especially in the deciding set. At 2-2, Sinner failed to convert a pair of break point chances. Then two games later, he started walking gingerly around the court with cramping in his left hamstring, which prompted flashbacks to Shanghai, where he was forced to retire from a match due to cramping. However, the Italian overcame the scare to edge out Zverev, who at one stage was a single point away from taking a 6-5 lead. Sinner broke his rival for a chance to serve the match out by coming out on top in a 17-shot baseline rally. Closing in on victory, he sealed the trophy on his first championship point following a backhand shot from Zverev crashing into the net.
“It was very difficult, of course, but the most important (thing) is to try not to give up, stay there and try to see what the situation is. I just tried to make the right choices at the right time,” Sinner said of dealing with his physicality during the decider.
“That was the key today and serving. Saving energy in my service games was important too.
“It was a very good performance from me, from both sides (including Zverev).”
Sinner has now won 21 consecutive indoor hard court matches on the Tour, excluding tournaments played on carpet. In the Open Era, only Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and John McEnroe have had longer streaks. McEnroe hold the record at 47 straight wins between 1978 and 1987.
As for runner-up Zverev, he is yet to beat a top-five player this season heading into his final two singles tournaments of the year – the Paris Masters and ATP Finals.
“I’d like to congratulate Jannik, whose level has been off the charts these last two years,” Zverev said during the trophy ceremony.
“For me, you’re (currently) the best player in the world. What an amazing year. Four Grand Slam finals and two Grand Slam titles. Simply the best player here in Vienna.”
At the age of 24, Sinner has already won 22nd Tour-level trophies and is now 22-9 in finals.
