MELBOURNE, Australia — Jannik Sinner’s recent victory at the Australian Open, marking his second consecutive championship and third Grand Slam title overall, has drawn widespread admiration. Among the notable tributes was a powerful comparison from Alexander Zverev, the runner-up in the final.
Zverev expressed that competing against Sinner, particularly on hard surfaces, reminded him of facing the legendary Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam winner. “He’s very, very similar to Novak when he was at his best,” Zverev stated after losing to Sinner with scores of 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 at Melbourne Park on Sunday night. “They barely miss. Like, barely miss. They make you feel like you constantly have to overhit to prevail in a rally against them.”
He elaborated on the difficulties faced when trying to score points, highlighting the tight competition both Sinner and Djokovic bring. “Trying to win points from the baseline against them is extremely challenging—both of them move incredibly well and take away your space and time,” said Zverev, who ranks No. 2 but felt a significant gap between himself and top-ranked Sinner.
At just 23 years old, Sinner is still a long way from achieving the remarkable milestones that Djokovic has reached at 37. However, just as Djokovic had to contend with rivals like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Sinner too faces competition from a new generation of tennis elites. His top contemporary is Carlos Alcaraz, who, at age 21, has clinched four Grand Slam titles—winning all three matchups they had in 2024.
Despite the distance in accomplishments between Sinner and Djokovic, fans couldn’t help but draw parallels while witnessing Sinner’s impressive record in Grand Slam finals, which now stands at 3-0, including a U.S. Open victory last September.
So, what aspects of Sinner’s game have drawn comparisons to Djokovic? Key factors include his exceptional court coverage, characterized by the distinctive sound of his sneakers as he moves, his remarkable agility to make shots that others might miss, and his capacity to shift from defense to offensive play in an instant. He possesses the quick reflexes needed to handle the hardest serves effectively. Sinner’s serve was pivotal in his victory against Zverev, as he managed to avoid any break points throughout the match.
These Djokovic-like traits in Sinner’s game are not just incidental. The Italian player has openly acknowledged that he looks up to Djokovic as a model for his playstyle. “Game style-wise I looked up to him, trying to understand what he’s doing, how he handles the pressure moments,” Sinner remarked. He also noted, “I believe we are different as players, but we share similarities in our clean ball-striking and movement.”
Since last season, the improvement in Sinner’s performance is apparent. This success has helped him rise to the top of the rankings since June and maintain his position without faltering. With an impressive record of 80 wins and just 6 losses, as well as nine titles accrued, few players are eager to face him on the court today.
Zverev previously held a winning record of 4-2 against Sinner before their recent match, which raised questions about Sinner’s evolution as a player. Zverev commented on Sinner’s progress, saying, “He serves better. He returns better. He hits his forehand better. He hits his backhand better. He moves better. He volleys better. I mean, there’s nothing that he doesn’t do better right now.” Reflecting on their past encounters, he noted that Sinner now resembles a prime Novak, making it incredibly difficult to get past him in rallies.
Looking ahead, Sinner aims to enhance his performance on clay and grass surfaces, particularly in preparation for the French Open and Wimbledon. Before competing at Roland Garros in May, he has a hearing scheduled for April related to a doping case ruling that favored him. “At the moment, I’m not thinking about this,” Sinner stated, adding that while he has moments of frustration, he tries to keep focused on his game.
Sinner, along with his coaches Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill, emphasizes the importance of hard work and continuous improvement. “He’s still young… you never know what’s going to happen in the future, but for sure, he is a guy that tries to improve every day,” Vagnozzi remarked. “When we speak about top level, we think about Novak, Roger, or Rafa,” he added, suggesting that Sinner has the potential to join that elite group.
