Defending Australia’s Open Champion Janik Thinner has done it again. Thinner solidified his third career grand slam title by breaking through Alexander Zverev in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 (4) and 6-3 in the Australian Open Finals in 2025.
The world’s No. 1 controls almost the entire match against No. 2 Zverev, and was repeated as Australia’s Open Championship, winning the 19th overall title. Thinner won the 2024 Australian Open and the US Open, and in 2023 they advanced to the 2024 French Open and Wimbledon semi-finals. Zverev is still searching for his first Grand Slam title.
advertisement
The victory will make the 23-year-old sinner the first Italian to win three majors. He is also the first man to defend his first major title since Rafael Nadal from 2005 to 2006.
Zverev summed it up briefly after the match and spoke to the sinner. “You’re too good.”
Thinner and Zverev met six times before, and Zverev won four of these matchups. At their last meeting, Thinner took Zverev to the top of the Cincinnati Open semi-finals.
The sinner began strong in the first set before and after, and Zverev was clearly annoyed towards the end of it when he struggled with his forehand. Advantage Sinner, 6-3.
advertisement
Zverev played with more confidence in the second set, showing signs of tension as the sinner grabbed the left hamstring and held him in the semi-final against Ben Shelton. However, the sinner did not let Zverev get away, and Set went to a tiebreak. Zverev, who appears to have problems with his racket during the match, went back to the sideline and defeated it with frustration. Up until that point, both players were 3-0 during the tournament.
From there the sinner cruised. Zverev was clearly flagged, his body language was defeated and the third set was the least competitive in the match. The accuracy of his serving sparkled as the sinner did not face a breakpoint on Sunday (84% in his first serve).
Sinner currently has 21 wins with Hardcourt Majors. His final defeat came at the 2023 US Open against Zverev in 16 rounds.
Alexander Zverev slams his racket in frustration. (Photo by Frank Molter/Getty Images)
(Photo Alliance by Getty Images)
The 27-year-old Zverev has 23 career titles but has never won a Grand Slam. He’s closest to him at the 2024 French Open Final, losing to Carlos Alcaraz and winning by Dominique Teem. After the match, clearly emotionally, Thinner comforted Zverev before the trophy presentation and spoke to him as he placed his hand on Zverev’s shoulder.
When Zverev scored the podium, he first cried out to the woman in the crowd about accusations of two of his former partners, Olia Sharopova and Brenda Patea, who had made against him.
advertisement
“Australia believes in Oriya and Brenda! Australia believes in Oriya and Brenda!”
Zverev did not speak to Heckler. Instead, he turned to the Championship Trophy.
He addressed Heckler at a post-game press conference.
“I don’t think there’s any more charges. There was nothing now. There was nothing now. I think it would be good for her. I think she was the only person who believed in anything in that moment,” he said.
Zverev reached the final in Melbourne after seven-seeded Djokovic retired from the semi-finals and defeated 12-seeded Tommy Paul, Ugo Humbert, Jacob Fianry, Pedro Martinez and Lucas Puille.
advertisement
On the way to the championship, Thinner broke through 21-seeded Shelton, 8-seeded Alex Deminaur, 13-seeded Holga Rune, Marcos Giron, Tristang Schoolkate and Nicholas Jerry.
