Australian Open Men's Final Preview
Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev face off in the Australian Open final. Our experts weigh in on who will win.
Australian Open Men's Final Preview
Jannik Sinner is the world No. 1 and the defending Australian Open champion. Can Alexander Zverev upset him? Our experts weigh in.
What can Sinner do to defeat Zverev?
- Jarryd Barca: Stock up on pickle juice. Sinner needs to ensure his body is fully recovered against Zverev.
- Bill Connelly: Be ready to grind. Sinner has the most effective serve in the world, but Zverev always lands his first serve and holds almost as much.
- D'Arcy Maine: Exactly what he's done all tournament. Sinner has been almost textbook. He said it will be a mental battle Sunday and, as he has shown no signs of nerves or fear throughout, if he can stay the course, this is his title to win again.
- Jake Michaels: If Sinner continues playing as he has played over the past 12 months, he will give Zverev little chance to win.
What can Zverev do to defeat Sinner?
- Jarryd Barca: Be more decisive. Zverev must strike the right balance between consistency and aggression.
- Bill Connelly: Take your shots when you have them. Zverev has proven he can grind and play sufferball as well as anyone and outlast all but the best opponents.
- D'Arcy Maine: After Zverev lost to Alcaraz in five sets in the French Open final in June, he admitted he felt fatigued after the match and knew he needed to make changes to compete with the best in the world for the biggest titles.
- Jake Michaels: Zverev has beaten Sinner four times in his career, so he'll know he has the tools to prevail over the world No. 1. But you would have to think if Zverev is to capture his maiden Grand Slam title Sunday, his serve will need to be strong.
Who will win?
- Jarryd Barca: This has marathon written all over it. Sinner in five sets, but Zverev will push him to the brink.
- Bill Connelly: Zverev is good enough at the sufferball routine that if Sinner isn't dialed in, or if there's uncertainty in his legs, Zverev could take advantage. Sinner in four.
- D'Arcy Maine: Sinner in four. Zverev will enter the match slightly fresher after playing just one set against Djokovic in the semis, and has ample major final experience, but it's hard to think anyone can stop Sinner.
- Jake Michaels: Yes, it's early days, but Sinner's record on hard courts is becoming Novak Djokovic-esque. Sinner will prevail in four entertaining sets.
Betting the men's final
- Pamela Maldonado: It's a battle of contrasting styles as Sinner brings his aggressive baseline game against Zverev's big-serve approach.
- The Pick: Sinner vs. Zverev UNDER 40.5 games (-120)
This matchup sets up nicely for the under. Whether Sinner bulldozes through the early sets or capitalizes on Zverev's inevitable lapses, it seems like Sinner will control the pace and end this match quickly. A straight-sets win? Very much on the table. Four sets? Even then, it's hard to see this match going over 40.5 games, even with a tiebreak. Zverev might have his moments, but Sinner should seal this one without much drama. Expect another Sinner showcase, where he covers the -4.5-game spread and wins his third Slam title in four sets.
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