Jannik Sinner Comes Back to Win Vienna Title Over Alexander Zverev

Jannik Sinner came back from a set down in front of a packed crowd in Vienna to take home his second Erste Bank Open title over World No.3 Alexander Zverev.

In what was one of the matches of the season so far on the ATP Tour, the Italian found an extra gear when needed to take down an inspired Zverev and win his fourth title of the 2025 season, starting off his indoor swing in the perfect way.

Zverev Starts Strong with Aggressive Play

To the surprise of many, Zverev started better, playing aggressively off both his serve and his forehand. After saving a couple of early break points, the German took control of the first set, breaking Sinner’s serve in a game where he was down 40-0. From there, he never really looked back in the set, as he kept the pressure on the Italian, who at times looked to be laboring physically. A tense moment arose for Zverev while trying to serve the first set out, but he had all the answers, hitting clutch aces under pressure to close out the opener 6-3.

Sinner Strikes Back to Level the Match

The second set began with an early reversal of momentum as Sinner opened with a comfortable hold and then an even more dominant break of serve, getting back into the match instantly. The biggest shift came from Sinner’s serve, as he landed close to 75% of his first serves in, compared to around 60% in the first set. On the back of that, he cut down his errors, played solid tennis, and mixed in several drop shots, another tactical change he employed effectively in this match.

In a set largely decided by strong serving from both players after that early exchange, Sinner stayed aggressive and leveled the match, sending the Vienna final into a deciding set.

Sinner Holds Nerve in Deciding Set to Seal Victory

Both players started the third set cautiously, with the first service games from each being tense. A key moment came in the fifth game of the set, where Sinner earned multiple break point chances, all of which Zverev saved. In a game lasting almost ten minutes, the German held serve to keep the set finely balanced.

Sinner, however, refused to let the disappointment of missing those chances affect him, holding comfortably in the following game. The next few games were again decided by big serving, despite Sinner struggling physically due to apparent cramps.

Despite that, in the pivotal 11th game of the set, the Italian brought up a break point with a brutal backhand down-the-line winner. Just as he has done so often over the past two years, Sinner raised his level in the biggest moment, securing the decisive break. One service game later, he sealed the victory comfortably to complete yet another title week.

Dominance Indoors Continues

This was Sinner’s 21st indoor hard-court match win in a row, as he continues to be a dominant force on the surface. While Zverev will be disappointed not to win the final, he can take encouragement from his level; the match was arguably his best performance of the year despite the loss.

Both players will now have a short turnaround as they head to the Rolex Paris Masters.