Jannik Sinner has been on fire since winning the 2023 Australian Open, claiming two Grand Slam titles and six other trophies, all while holding the world No. 1 ranking. His winning streak has been impressive, extending back to November 2024. However, his journey to the Australian Open finals in 2025 wasn’t without challenges. During a tough quarterfinal against Holger Rune, he faced health issues but still conquered the match. Now, he’s set to face Alexander Zverev, with many rooting for the German, but Justine Henin holds out hope for Sinner.

Speaking to Eurosport on January 25, Henin and Nicolas Mahut expressed doubts about Sinner’s physical abilities. However, after witnessing his resilience in recent matches, Henin remarked, “Sinner has been through things; he was sick, he had cramps in the semi-finals. There is a question about his ability when it will last even if he has already improved a lot on that level.”

Sinner had a challenging match against Rune, where he struggled with his health just before the game. He took an 11-minute medical timeout, followed by one for Rune, and then luck was on his side when a technical issue with the net led to a 20-minute delay. Despite these hurdles, Sinner won the four-set match 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, advancing to face Ben Shelton in the semifinals. He again dealt with cramps in the third set but managed to secure his spot in the finals.

Henin reminded everyone, “We must not forget that for his first Grand Slam final, here in Melbourne, he was down two sets to zero against a Medvedev who also collapsed physically.” Last year, Sinner staged an incredible comeback against Medvedev to clinch his first Grand Slam title with scores of 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. It wasn’t the last time he came up with a winner despite injury woes. One might recall his on-court wrist injury after taking a tumble at the SFs 2024 US Open against Jack Draper. The incident occurred when he fell while retrieving a shot, using his left hand to cushion the fall. Despite the scare, he continued playing and won the match in straight sets, 7-5, 7-6(3), 6-2.

Now he faces Zverev, who is hungry for his first Grand Slam title. Henin noted, “There are arguments that can suggest that Zverev has a lot of possibilities to go for his first Grand Slam but between having everything to be able to do it and doing it, there is still a margin.” The two have met six times before, with Zverev leading their head-to-head at 4-2. However, Sinner has won their last two encounters, giving him an edge as Henin stated, “Sinner remains the favorite for me.”

It’s yet to be seen if Sinner can outlast Zverev after facing physical challenges throughout the tournament. Still, the Italian seems ready to take on this challenge head-on!

Sinner is happy to be back in the finals once again

On January 24, the Italian faced Ben Shelton in the Australian Open semifinals, looking to extend his record against the left-hander. After a rocky start, Sinner found his rhythm, winning the second set and battling through discomfort in his left leg. He ultimately secured a spot in back-to-back major finals with a 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2 victory. “There was a lot of tension today; I was slightly cramping,” he explained in the post-match press conference. “He was suffering on his legs too so I tried to move him around. These matches can go long. Playing three sets for 2-1/2 hours is a long time, so I’m happy to finish it in three.”

Going ahead, he spoke about his next match against Sascha: “It’s going to be mental, no? It’s going to be a tough match for both of us. It’ll be physical, for sure.” Having rallied from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in last year’s final, Sinner knows the pressure of a big match. He’s learned from his six losses in nine five-set affairs, saying, “I try to put a lot of work in the days off, trying to understand my body.” After overcoming physical discomfort in earlier rounds, he’s focused on isolating himself and staying true to his game.

As the defending champion and World No. 1, he faces Zverev, who is hungry for his first Grand Slam title. This final promises to be an exciting clash between two top players, with Sinner looking to defend his title while Zverev aims to claim his first major trophy. Who do you think will come out on top?