Fresh and without a trace of fatigue - the two-week journey through the first Grand Slam of the season was easily passed by the two leading tennis players, the top seed Janik Siner and others on the ATP list Alexander Zverev. Clearly, they have won their respective parts of the skeleton for the big clash between them - the final at the "Rod Laver Arena", not before 9.30 am Central European Time. So there will be no doubt, the Australian Open will be won by the better tennis player at this moment.
The title is being defended by Italian Siner, who has two Grand Slam trophies, while the German, on the other hand, has lost two finals. Both in five sets - he lost to Dominic Tima at the 2020 US Open, leading 2-0. He then led 2-1 in the final of Roland Garros last year against Carlos Alcaraz.
Siner is the favorite, of course. Bookmakers are giving only 36 cents on the euro bet on his triumph, and over three on his rival. The first player has not lost for 23 matches (20 if you don't count the exhibition duels) - victories in Shanghai, then at the "Six Kings" slam, the final ATP tournament and the Davis Cup, and now the journey through the matches of the "Rod Laver Arena". Without resistance, since he was lucky that all the favorites in his part of the skeleton were eliminated early.
- We are expecting a tough duel, very tense and the nuances will decide. It has been like this in every match we have had so far, and there are no secrets there. I believe I have the advantage because I have won Grand Slam trophies, while he has lost in the finals, and that psychological moment will definitely be on my side - said the defending champion in Melbourne and current US Open champion, 23-year-old Siner.
Even four years older, Zverev is in great form, having lost only one match in his last 17, including a triumph over Alcaraz and an elimination. Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the Ozzie Open.
- I am very grateful to Novak for gritting his teeth and trying, so I played the 80 minutes of the match at a tremendous pace. If I hadn't, I would have been in trouble, because I would have been without a match for four days before the final. I have experience of losing finals, but also serious injuries from the semi-finals of Roland Garros with Rafael Nadal and I know how Novak felt. From all that, I realized that I need to be better prepared physically, because I had won both finals, especially against Alakars, and then I "ran out of fuel". And I hope that luck will be my ally this time. I will need it, and I feel that I am ready, so... We will see how it goes - Zverev emphasized.
He leads Siner 4:2 in head-to-head matches, but the Italian won the last one after three sets and a little over three hours of play in the semifinals of the Cincinnati Masters.
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