By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennisnow | Friday, January 24, 2025
Photo credit: Shi Tang/Getty
Novak Djokovic AND Alexander Zverev Share a rare gold standard.
Grand Slam King Djokovic says he will be rooting for Zverev to lift Grand Slam Silverware for the first time when the world No.2 takes on the world No. 1 Jannik the sinner in the Australian Open final on Sunday.
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After dropping a tight 81-minute first set to Zverev, 7-6 (5), Djokovic withdrew from their AO semifinal with a muscle tear.
In his post-match presser, Olympic gold medalist Djokovic said he will be rooting for 2020 gold medalist Zverev to destroy the defending champion’s sin-bin and capture his main maiden.
“I wish Sascha all the best,” Djokovic told the media in Melbourne. “You know, he deserves his first hit. I’ll be rooting for him.
“Hopefully he can get it here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH0VP8NVFXW
Twice, Zverev has put himself in position to win Grand Slam titles.
In the Roland Garros final last June, Zverev was a seed from the previous title Carlos Alcaraz fought off the German 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 in a four-hour, 19-minute marathon to capture his first Roland Garros championship with a fiery finish. Zverev held a 10-1 record at Roland Garros with five berths in the last set of the 2024 final, but could not close out.
Zverev endured the sharp pain of coming close to a maiden major only to lose a lead again. At the 2020 US Open, Zverev held two sets to love the lead Dominic Thiem Before you squeeze and bend in five sets.
The good news for Zverev is that he holds a 4-2 advantage over the sinner in their head-to-head series, including winning two of their three main meetings.
If Zverev needs more emotional fuel ahead of the final, consider that the Sinner appeared to be battling leg cramps in the final set of his semi-final win over Ben Shelton and was ill last week.
Now, Zverev will take the court bearing the endorsement of 10-time champion AO Djokovic—and he’s grateful for the support.
“It means a lot to me, especially from Novak, I think, who I admire and respect so much,” Zverev said. “Yeah, like I said, I’m looking forward to Sunday. I feel like I’ve done the work, and I feel like I’m ready for it. So we’ll see how it goes.
“I’m very grateful to Novak for congratulating me. Yes, let’s see what happens at the weekend.”
