Human beings are not just shaped by their actions, but they are also creatures of circumstance. This is especially true in the sporting world, where athletes’ performance not only depends on their quality but also on who the rivals are, their prevailing standards of excellence and the setting in which the competition is being held.

It is like playing blackjack at a casino, a game of skill and strategy no doubt but one where luck is a big determinant of the two cards the dealer deals to each player at the beginning.

Constantly thwarted

In the decade or so that he has been playing tennis at the elite level, Alexander Zverev has been experiencing this first hand. The German has been in the top-10 for a good part of these 10 years, won 24 ATP Tour titles including seven Masters 1000s and two year-ending Finals, and clinched the singles gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

However, he is yet to taste success at the Grand Slams, having lost thrice in the finals. And he has been thwarted by not one or two but three generations of players.

When he first broke through, the stranglehold established by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic was still intact. In 2020, in his maiden Major final at the US Open, he was beaten by his peer Dominic Thiem despite leading two sets to love and serving for the trophy in the fifth.

Of late, he has been ambushed by the irresistible duo of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who have swept the last nine Slams and beaten Zverev in 13 of their last 14 meetings combined.

The latest of these came at the Madrid Masters earlier this month, Sinner winning 6-1, 6-2 in just an hour and 13 minutes. Three weeks shy of Roland-Garros, the reverse would have been chastening, for it was his ninth straight defeat to the Italian World No. 1.

Zverev, 29, followed it up by combusting spectacularly at the Rome Masters, losing early to the unheralded Luciano Darderi, including 6-0 in the final set after fluffing four match-points in the second stanza. But there is little doubt as to which of the two defeats would have left a lasting scar. 

Zverev’s current state is a paradox. He has been secure in the ATP top-four starting French Open 2024, made two of his three Major finals in this period and exhibited a much-improved level of play that is deserving of the sport’s most important prizes.

A big-serving counter-puncher with an imposing on-court presence, Zverev, from a height of 6’6”, possesses one of the best serves on the circuit. His backhand is ruthless, he is solid on the return and moves extremely well despite his towering build.

At the Australian Open, he hit with new-found depth and spin, and also added significant amounts of aggression. “I’ve worked on my first shots after the serve, my first forehand after the serve… if those things work for me, then I think success will come,” he had said.

In the semifinal in Melbourne, he came up with a first-rate performance, battling Alcaraz for five hours and 27 minutes before losing the riveting fixture narrowly. If he had served out the contest at 5-4 in the fifth, an even-odds final against a 38-year-old Djokovic would have been his reward.

Yet, he is currently in a peculiar position, placed a creditable third behind Sinner and Alcaraz, though a distant one at that. In the four Masters 1000 tournaments after the Australian Open, Zverev finished a semifinalist or better, but lost in all four to Sinner. The difference in points between him and Alcaraz in second spot is more than double his own tally of 5,705.

Monopoly? Duopoly?

Interestingly, Zverev believes that men’s tennis is a monopoly and not a duopoly. “There’s a big gap between Sinner and everybody else,” he opined after his Madrid surrender. “There’s a big gap between Alcaraz, myself, maybe Novak, and everybody else,” he added.

The attempt to bracket himself with Alcaraz rests on the evidence of the close encounter Down Under and the fact that they had split the six previous matches equally. In the 2024 French Open final, Zverev even led the Spaniard two sets to one before falling apart.

With Alcaraz pulling out of Paris and Wimbledon with a wrist injury, Zverev will have to wait longer to prove his proximity to the seven-time Major champion. But if he recovers sufficiently from his own back injury that put him out of Hamburg this week, he will have his clearest shot at Sinner on the Grand Slam stage.

“I do have to believe that I’m capable of beating him [Sinner],” Zverev, who is seeded second at the second Major of the year, said after Rome. “I do have to believe it, otherwise we can just give him the trophy without playing the tournament.”

Though Sinner is on a mesmerising 29-match winning streak, Zverev can draw confidence from his own affinity for clay. Roland-Garros has been the gangly German’s most rewarding Slam — three quarterfinals, three semifinals and a final in his last eight visits.

Four of his seven Masters crowns have come on the dirt, and he boasts of a better win-loss percentage on the surface (73%, 182-66) than both his overall career number (70%, 548-232) 70%) and figure on hard courts (69%, 321-143).

However, his past record at capitalising on the absence of one of his two great rivals is a giant red flag. In February 2025, when Sinner accepted a three-month doping ban, Zverev had a golden chance to be Alcaraz’s biggest challenger.

When the expulsion kicked in, Sinner’s lead over Zverev was 3,695 points. Despite missing four Masters 1000s and a couple of ATP 500s, the Italian returned to action at Rome still ahead by 1,645 points.

Zverev played eight tournaments in the time Sinner was away, but won more than two matches at just one event — Munich 500, where he hoisted the trophy.

Presently, though his game is better rounded than earlier, he still has the propensity to be passive at crucial junctures. And despite his vast wingspan, his skills at the net and his transitions to the forecourt leave much to be desired.

There are also seeming temperamental flaws. Last October, he extrapolated Federer’s observation that surfaces were being slowed down and said, “they [authorities] want Jannik and Carlos to do well every tournament, and that’s what they prefer”.

Off-court drama

After the recent exit from Rome, he called the courts — where he has two titles and a runner-up finish — the worst he had ever played on. Two days after that, he went after Tennis Channel, accusing it of “wasting his time” and loving to “hate on him” after the American network, allegedly, dropped promotional videos involving him.

For someone who is at the peak of his career, these are distractions he could do without. It will be in his — and men’s tennis’ — best interests if he can marry his upgraded style with a better mental disposition, and let the headlines write themselves from within the four corners of the court.

Alexander Zverev refused to be drawn after a spectator shouted the names of two women, one of whom had settled assault accusations against him, during the Australian Open 2025 trophy presentation on Sunday. While addressing the crowd at Melbourne Park following his final defeat to World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Zverev’s speech was interrupted after a spectator shouted the names of two women who had put domestic abuse allegations on Zverev in recent years, leading to boos and whistles from the crowd.

The German World No. 2 was well beaten in three sets by defending champion Jannik Sinner in the men’s singles final in Melbourne. Zverev was outclasseed 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-4 by Sinner, who won his second straight Australian Open title and third straight hard court Grand Slam.

Following the game, a woman began shouting out as the 27-year-old Zverev stepped up to give his speech afterwards at Rod Laver Arena. There were a few boos and whistles, but eventually the spectator’s voice was shut out by cheers and claps from the rest of the crowd.

“Australia believes in Olya and Brenda,” shouted the spectator, interrupted Zverev’s speech.

It was a reference to Olya Sharypova and Brenda Patea, two of Zverev’s ex-girlfriends. Patea, who also has a daughter with Zverev, had brought a criminal case against Zverev. However, it was settled off court.

Sharypova, who is also a former tennis player, had alleged domestic abuse against Zverev, but never went to police over it.

A German court in June dropped a case against the player over allegations he assaulted his ex-girlfriend, after a settlement was agreed hours before he was due to play in the semi-final of the French Open.

Zverev, who has denied wrongdoing, was asked in a post-match news conference to comment about what he heard.

He said: “I believe there are no more accusations. There haven’t been for, what, nine months now?

He added: “I think I’ve done everything I can, and I’m not about to open that subject again.”

With AFP inputs

Alexander Zverev refused to be drawn after a spectator shouted the names of two women, one of whom had settled assault accusations against him, during the Australian Open 2025 trophy presentation on Sunday. While addressing the crowd at Melbourne Park following his final defeat to World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Zverev’s speech was interrupted after a spectator shouted the names of two women who had put domestic abuse allegations on Zverev in recent years, leading to boos and whistles from the crowd.

The German World No. 2 was well beaten in three sets by defending champion Jannik Sinner in the men’s singles final in Melbourne. Zverev was outclasseed 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-4 by Sinner, who won his second straight Australian Open title and third straight hard court Grand Slam.

Following the game, a woman began shouting out as the 27-year-old Zverev stepped up to give his speech afterwards at Rod Laver Arena. There were a few boos and whistles, but eventually the spectator’s voice was shut out by cheers and claps from the rest of the crowd.

“Australia believes in Olya and Brenda,” shouted the spectator, interrupted Zverev’s speech.

It was a reference to Olya Sharypova and Brenda Patea, two of Zverev’s ex-girlfriends. Patea, who also has a daughter with Zverev, had brought a criminal case against Zverev. However, it was settled off court.

‘Australia believes Olya & Brenda’ pic.twitter.com/A7zowZo812

— Adam (@AdamJoseph____) January 26, 2025

Sharypova, who is also a former tennis player, had alleged domestic abuse against Zverev, but never went to police over it.

A German court in June dropped a case against the player over allegations he assaulted his ex-girlfriend, after a settlement was agreed hours before he was due to play in the semi-final of the French Open.

Zverev, who has denied wrongdoing, was asked in a post-match news conference to comment about what he heard.

He said: “I believe there are no more accusations. There haven’t been for, what, nine months now?

He added: “I think I’ve done everything I can, and I’m not about to open that subject again.”

With AFP inputs

Jannik Sinner won his second successive Australian Open title in emphatic fashion, crushing opponent Alexander Zverev in straight sets 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3. While Zverev was largely overpowered by a relentless Sinner, his slightest hope came when he forced a tie-breaker in the second set. However, the tie-breaker did not go to plan. Tied at 4-4, Zverev lost a crucial point off his own serve, as the ball took a deflection off the net and bounced before he could reach. As Zverev ended up losing, his frustration was evident and the German could be seen smashing his racquet.

Having been beaten in the first set of the Australian Open 2025 final, Zverev kept himself alive in the second set right down to the tie-breaker. In the tie-breaker, Zverev took the lead as well a couple of times, and had the chance to maintain that with the tie-breaker score tied at 4-4.

However, Sinner’s return for the next point deflected off the net and fell before Zverev could reach it. It was a decisive point, meaning that Sinner took a 5-4 lead with two serves to follow.

As it turned out, Sinner closed out the tie-breaker 7-4, and took a two-set lead in the Australian Open 2025 final.

Zverev did not look pleased. The World No. 2 angrily smashed his racquet repeatedly against his seat, and then on top of other racquets that had been kept near it.

Photos: Alexander Zverev smashes his racquet

The fury was evident. Zverev did not manage a single break point against Sinner in the entire final, and this was a big opportunity lost to clinch a set.

World No. 1 Sinner dominantly closed out the third set 6-3 to win the final in straight sets, and secure a second consecutive Australian Open title.

He now joins Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only players to win consecutive Australian Open titles in the 21st century.

A clinical Jannik Sinner swept past Alexander Zverev to retain his Australian Open title Sunday and cement his status as the world’s dominant player, becoming the first Italian to win three Grand Slams. The 23-year-old came through a tense battle between the world’s top two players 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena, raising his arms in the air and looking to the sky in celebration. In doing so he became the first Italian, man or woman, to win three Grand Slams, surpassing Nicola Pietrangeli’s two.

The victory also thrust him alongside Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to successfully defend their Melbourne Park titles this century.

But it proved more misery for Germany’s Zverev, who remains one of the world’s best players never to taste Grand Slam glory, falling short once again in his third big final.

Ice-cool Sinner proved to be a tower of mental strength in Australia, with his defence coming against the backdrop of an ongoing doping case after he twice tested positive for traces of the steroid clostebol last year.

Hanging over his head has been a World Anti-Doping Agency appeal against his exoneration, with the global body seeking a long ban.

A hearing is scheduled at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for April.

But he cast all the worries aside to notch a 19th career title and extend his incredible win streak to 21 matches.

Last year, Sinner needed five sets to tame Daniil Medvedev and win his first Grand Slam, but it never looked like going the distance this time.

He opened with a statement ace and won his first two service games to love, with Zverev struggling to get himself into the contest.

The German fought back to save two break points and hold for 2-2, serving his way out of trouble.

He began to find his radar, taking four points off the next Sinner serve in a game that went to deuce twice as the rallies built.

Racing clear

But the dam finally burst in the eighth game.

Zverev saved three break points but had no answer to a fourth when he was beaten by a blazing passing shot to slump 5-3 behind.

Sinner took the set in 46 minutes and kept the pressure on in the second as cracks began to appear in his opponent’s game.

The Italian has a phenomenal ability to turn recovery shots into momentum-changing ones and he raced 15-40 clear on the Zverev serve at 1-1.

Once more, the second seed dug deep to cling on.

From then on they couldn’t be separated and it went to a tiebreak where Sinner got a lucky net cord that dribbled over to break for 5-4 and he streaked to a two-set lead.

Sinner has won all four tiebreaks he’s played in Melbourne and 16 from his last 18.

Zverev smashed his racquet in frustration at the changeover, and it didn’t get any better in the third set, worn down by the relentless Italian.

Sinner broke for 4-2 when Zverev sent a forehand long and there was no way back for the increasingly disillusioned 27-year-old.

Zverev came into the clash with a 4-2 record over Sinner, but all of those wins came before the Italian won a Grand Slam or rose to world number one.

Sinner won eight titles last year, including the US Open and season-ending ATP Finals, and was the first player since Federer in 2005 to go through a season without a defeat in straight sets.

Alexander Zverev has been trying for a decade to win a Grand Slam and has overcome an array of challenges to put himself on the brink of a breakthrough at the Australian Open. The 6ft 6ins (1.98m) German has been destined for the top from a young age, hailing from a tennis family where his mother and father both played the sport to a high level in the former Soviet Union. “For me, my family is everything and I owe them a lot for helping me to become the tennis player that I am today,” the 27-year-old, often seen as the sport’s most unfulfilled talent, said.

“They both worked extremely hard and taught my brother and me everything we know,” added Zverev, who faces Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s final in Melbourne.

He has been through the grinder on his way to the top, living with diabetes, dealing with a serious ankle injury and having allegations that he assaulted an ex-girlfriend splashed across the world’s newspapers.

The court case was dropped last year after a settlement was agreed hours before he was due to play in the French Open semi-finals.

He strenuously denied the allegations.

Known by his nickname “Sascha”, Zverev’s greatest achievement so far was winning gold at the Covid-hit Tokyo Olympics.

It was the first time a German had clinched the men’s singles title, stunning heavy favourite Novak Djokovic before taking down Karen Khachanov in the final.

“There is nothing better than this,” he said at the time — except perhaps winning a Grand Slam crown.

Born in Hamburg in 1997 to Russian parents, Zverev was exposed to tennis from an early age through his mother Irina and father Alexander, who remains his coach.

They moved to Germany after the collapse of the Soviet Union, where they began training their son.

His talent quickly became evident, winning the boys’ singles tournament at the 2014 Australian Open and becoming junior world number one.

He broke into the senior ranks and was named the 2015 ATP Newcomer of the Year. By the time he was 20, he was in the world’s top three.

Highs and lows

Zverev, who idolised Roger Federer growing up, made his first Grand Slam final in 2020 at the US Open, agonisingly losing in five sets to Dominic Thiem after being 2-0 up.

But his seemingly unstoppable rise was temporarily halted when he tore ankle ligaments while playing Rafael Nadal in the Roland Garros semis two years later and he underwent surgery.

Returning in January 2023, Zverev captured a 20th career title in Hamburg before the best season of his career in 2024, powering into the French Open final and surging to world number two, dispelling concerns that he was mentally frail.

“In the life of a professional athlete you will have the highest highs and the lowest lows,” said Zverev.

“Getting caught up in the lows is the biggest mistake that you can make.

“You shouldn’t try to evaluate everything when times are tough, you should try to find ways to get better when you’re on a high.”

Zverev has suffered from diabetes since he was four and created the Alexander Zverev Foundation in 2022 to support children with the condition and provide medication for those in developing countries.

An avid football and basketball fan, his older brother Mischa also played on the ATP Tour.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner blew past Ben Shelton 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-2 in the Australian Open semi-finals on Friday to set up a showdown with Alexander Zverev for the title. The top-ranked Italian will face the German second seed, who went through to Sunday’s final when Novak Djokovic retired injured from their last-four clash. Sinner had to save two set points in a tight opening act, but once he took it on a tiebreak he raced past the 22-year-old in 2hr 36min on Rod Laver Arena, despite cramping late in the match.

The centre court crowd had been disappointed earlier when Djokovic called it a day after losing a gruelling first set against Zverev, leaving his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam crown in tatters.

The 37-year-old Serbian great’s upper left leg was heavily taped and, after he shook hands, he departed to some boos after going down 7-6 (7/5).

Djokovic hinted that he may have played his last Australian Open. 

“There is a chance. Who knows?” Djokovic said when asked if he may have graced the Melbourne Park courts for a last time.

“I normally like to come to Australia to play. I’ve had the biggest success in my career here. So if I’m fit, healthy, motivated, I don’t see a reason why I wouldn’t come,” he added.

Djokovic has now gone five Grand Slams without winning the title he needs to surpass Margaret Court’s 24 and become the all-time leader.

“I actually thought I played really well, as well as I played the last 12 months,” he said of his Melbourne run. 

“I liked my chances if I was physically fit and ready to battle.”

Sinner is on the cusp of a first successful Grand Slam title defence after winning his maiden major crown in Melbourne last year.

He had won the last four of his five career meetings with the explosive young American.

The Italian was not at his best in the opening set, dropping his serve twice and having to dig deep to save two set points with Shelton serving at 6-5.

But the 23-year-old easily took control of the tiebreak to move a set ahead after 71 minutes.

He broke Shelton right at the start of the second and ran away with it in 42 minutes.

The all-action Shelton raised himself for one last effort in the third, lashing running forehand winners in an attempt to turn the tide. 

Sinner was not moving freely, seemingly troubled by either cramp or his groin, but he saved two break points and when Shelton then dropped his serve to go 3-2 down, the Italian sprinted to the finish line.

The final will be a battle of the top two seeds with Zverev in his first Australian Open final.

The German has been a Grand Slam runner-up twice before, at last year’s French Open and the 2020 US Open, but has never lifted one of the big four majors.

Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev Australian Open 2025 Live Streaming: World No.7 Novak Djokovic is all set to square off against Alexander Zverev in the highly anticipated men’s single semi-final match of the Australia Open 2025 on Friday. Djokovic rolled back the years to defeat Carlos Alcaraz, aged 21, in four sets in the quarter-finals in Melbourne. But his upper left leg was taped after a medical timeout and he needed painkillers to battle through. The 27-year-old Zverev is into the semi-finals for a second straight year and is laser focused on finally winning a Grand Slam after a decade of trying.

Last year at the same stage he crashed to Daniil Medvedev in five sets after holding a 2-0 lead and is understandably wary of Djokovic, even if he is carrying an injury.

When will the Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev, Australian Open men’s singles semifinals match take place?

The Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev, Australian Open men’s singles semifinals match will take place on Friday, January 24, 2025.

Where will the Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev, Australian Open men’s singles semifinals match be held?

The Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev, Australian Open men’s singles semifinals match will be held at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

What time will the Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev, Australian Open men’s singles semifinals match start?

The Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev, Australian Open men’s singles semifinals match will start at 9:00 AM (IST).

Which TV channels will show the live telecast of the Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev, Australian Open men’s singles semifinals match?

The Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev, Australian Open men’s singles semifinals match will telecasted live on the Sony Sports network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev, Australian Open men’s singles semifinals match?

The Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev, Australian Open men’s singles semifinals match will be live streamed on the SonyLiv and JioTV App and Website.

(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)

Novak Djokovic feels as mentally and emotionally motivated as he’s ever been, but the Serbian great admits to be being worried about his creaking body ahead of an Australian Open semi-final with “super dangerous” Alexander Zverev. The irrepressible 37-year-old put to bed any doubts about his ability to add to his 24 Grand Slam titles with a scintillating four-set takedown of Carlos Alcaraz in the Melbourne last eight on Tuesday.

But while the 10-time Australian champion was able to pull out every trick in the book to get past a man 16 years his junior, it took its toll.

He had to leave court for a medical timeout at 4-5 in the first set, returning with his upper left leg taped and on painkillers to battle through.

Asked whether it was a hamstring or groin problem, he did not want to elaborate, but said: “It’s very similar to what I had few years ago, 2023, to be exact.”

Djokovic famously won the 2023 Australian Open while managing an injury in the same area.

“I’ll take it day by day. Now it’s really about recovery,” he added.

“I’m concerned. I am, to be honest, physically. But if I manage somehow to be physically good enough, I think mentally, emotionally I’m as motivated as I can be.”

Zverev is into the semi-finals for a second straight year and is laser focused on finally winning a maiden Slam title after a decade of trying.

Last year at the same stage he crashed to Daniil Medvedev in five sets after holding a 2-0 lead and is understandably wary of Djokovic, even if he is carrying an injury.

“I’m going to prepare myself for a tough battle,” he said. “I’m going to prepare myself for a very intense and high-level match.”

Djokovic is equally cautious about the German, who is at a career-high world number two.

“I mean, I’m playing Zverev, who is in a great form, and he is going for his first Grand Slam. He’s been close. I mean, I’ve seen him play. I practised with him as well here,” he said.

“I think he loves the conditions. He’s got big serve. He’s super dangerous opponent on this surface against anyone.”

Grateful to Murray

Djokovic holds an 8-4 record over the 27-year-old and will be looking to new coach Andy Murray, who himself won three of his four meetings with Zverev, to establish a game plan.

The Scot has been a calm and collected presence in Djokovic’s courtside box during the tournament after the former rivals unexpectedly joined forces late last year.

The Serbian, who is into a record 50th Grand Slam semi-final, headed straight over to embrace him after beating Alcaraz.

“I feel more and more connected with Andy every day. We face challenges every single day. People don’t see that obviously,” said Djokovic.

“We try to make the most out of every day and grow together. He’s been as committed to my career and this tournament as he can be.

“So it was kind of a gesture of appreciation, respect for him, and the fact that he’s out there, and he doesn’t need to be. He accepted to work with me.

“He’s giving all his support to me, to the whole team, and trying to make it work.

“This (against Alcaraz) was a huge win for all of us, including Andy and myself, you know, for the relationship. That’s why I went to him, because I just felt very grateful that he’s there.”