It’s an unfortunate end to Alexander Zverev’s Australian Open run. The World No. 1 was “just too good” for him. Sinner took down the German star in a three-set victory of 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, marking another heartbreak for Zverev in his quest for that elusive first Grand Slam title. Watching Sascha admit that he was “not good enough” this time around was tough. But Mardy Fish is here to remind him he’s not alone in this struggle.

It goes without saying that Sinner has insane skills. This showcased perfectly during the match with those tricky wide backhand corners. At 6-3, 3-4, Sinner and Zverev into a wild 15-shot rally, with Sinner expertly escaping the back corner. Zverev was trying to attack but just didn’t have his usual sharpness. Then, out of nowhere, Sinner blasted a shot past him from way behind the baseline, leaving Zverev watching helplessly as it sailed into the empty space. What a way to seal the deal leaving Zverev in tears as he watched his chance at a major title fly right by him.

After the loss, Zverev understandably felt down. Mardy Fish took to X to share his thoughts on great male players who’ve never snagged a Grand Slam title. He asked, “Besides me (obvi), who is the greatest player to never win a major on the men’s side? Talent wise, I’ll go with Rios. Zverev slide into that spot now? Guy has been so damn good. Ferrer? Mecir? #fishytennisthoughts.” For context, Fish never snagged a Grand Slam title despite reaching the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, US Open, and Wimbledon. Perhaps that’s why he’s empathetic to Zverev.

Fish highlighted legends like Marcelo Rios, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 1 with 18 titles but lost in the 1998 Australian Open final to Petr Korda. He also mentioned David Ferrer, who peaked at No. 3 with 27 titles and fell to Rafael Nadal in the 2013 French Open final. Additionally, Miloslav Mecir Sr. achieved a career-high ranking of No. 4 with 11 titles, losing to Mats Wilander in the 1989 Australian Open final. Now, with Zverev currently ranked World No. 2, Fish wonders if he might soon join this elite group.

Jannik Sinner echoed this sentiment in his trophy acceptance speech, saying, “Keep believing in yourself as all the players and coaches know how strong you are as a player and person. Keep it up and keep working hard as we all believe you can lift one of these very soon.” While Zverev isn’t giving up hope for his first Grand Slam, he clearly faced a tough opponent in Sinner, who according to him, played like the Serbian GOAT, Novak Djokovic.

Alexander Zverev compares Sinner’s playing style to Djokovic’s

The stage was set for Alexander Zverev to claim his first Grand Slam title finally, but Jannik Sinner had other plans. Sinner showcased his dominance with a straight-set victory, winning 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 at the Australian Open 2025. This match brought their head-to-head record to 4-3 in favor of Zverev. It was clear that Sinner was the better player this time around.

In the post-match press conference, Zverev reflected on Sinner’s performance and shared an insightful comparison. Having battled against all the Big Four throughout his career, he said, “He’s very, very similar to Novak when he is at his best. They barely miss. They make you think you have to overhit all the time to have a chance in a rally against them.”

While Sascha did manage to beat Novak Djokovic in their last meeting under unfortunate circumstances—when Djokovic had to retire due to injury—Djokovic still holds a significant edge in their rivalry, with their H2H at 8-5. The last time they faced off was at the Cincinnati Open in 2023, where Djokovic triumphed in straight sets.

Despite the loss, Zverev remains determined. He stated, “I’ll do everything I can to be able to compete with them and to lift that trophy, but today was nowhere near good enough.” With the French Open coming up in May 2025, Zverev has time to regroup and refine his skills. Will the World No. 2 surprise everyone with a breakthrough performance? Only time will tell!