Sinner pushes through pain to reclaim Vienna title
In a final laced with physical strain and tactical shifts, Jannik Sinner outlasts Alexander Zverev on Vienna’s indoor courts, capping a resilient comeback that extends his dominance and sets the stage for the season’s endgame.
Under the glare of Vienna‘s Stadthalle lights, Jannik Sinner reclaimed his throne at the Erste Bank Open, turning physical adversity into a testament of mental fortitude. The world No. 1, top seed at this ATP 500 event, rallied from a shaky start to defeat Alexander Zverev 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 in two hours and 29 minutes, securing his second title here after 2023 and his 21st tour-level crown overall. This victory extends his indoor hard-court winning streak to 21 matches, underscoring a season record now at 48-6 for the 24-year-old Italian.
Zverev surges ahead on swift surfaces
Zverev ignited the final with explosive flat groundstrokes, breaking Sinner in the fourth game through deep crosscourt backhands that pinned his opponent deep. The German’s serve dominated, often landing heavy in the ad court to force short points on the low-bouncing indoor hard, evoking his 2021 triumph at the venue. As Sinner moved gingerly, limping between points in a nod to his recent Shanghai cramp retirement, Zverev’s one–two combinations—forehand inside-out followed by net rushes—built a 6-3 edge, the crowd’s murmurs amplifying the tension.
Sinner absorbed the pressure, his baseline steadiness redirecting topspin with flat backhands down-the-line to stay in contention. The Italian’s early chances slipped away against Zverev’s serving clinic, but mental resilience kept him composed, preserving energy amid the swelling physical discomfort.
“It feels amazing,” said Sinner. “It was such a difficult start in this final for me. I went a break down, had some chances in the first set but couldn’t use them. He was serving very well, but I just tried to stick there mentally and play my best tennis when it came.”
“The third set was a bit of a rollercoaster, but I was feeling the ball very well at times, so I tried to push and I’m very happy of course to win another title. It’s very special.”
Vienna Virtuoso @janniksin defeats Zverev 3-6 6-3 7-5 to claim his second @ErsteBankOpen crown.#ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/AJEtZ74M7l— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 26, 2025
Vienna Virtuoso @janniksin defeats Zverev 3-6 6-3 7-5 to claim his second @ErsteBankOpen crown.#ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/AJEtZ74M7l
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 26, 2025
Sinner sharpens rally control in response
Shaking off the first-set woes, Sinner elevated his game in the second, using precise inside-in forehands to break early and level the match at one set apiece. His shorter backswing accelerated returns, taking Zverev’s serves on the rise inside the baseline to flip defense into aggressive one–two patterns that clipped the service line. The surface’s pace favored his adjustments, as improved court coverage neutralized the German’s flat shots, drawing errors in extended exchanges.
This frame highlighted Sinner’s tactical growth, varying rally lengths to manage stamina while dropping zero sets en route to the final. Zverev, seeking his first top-5 win of 2025, pressed with inside-out forehands but couldn’t convert break points, his aggression met by Sinner’s down-the-line passes that sliced through the arena’s charged air.
Cramp tests resolve in tense decider
The third set turned grueling as Sinner’s left hamstring cramped in the seventh game, mirroring the physical toll of his packed schedule. Sipping pickle juice at changeovers, he shortened points with deeper returns and slice serves wide, jamming Zverev in the backcourt to conserve energy. The crowd’s roar built with every grimace, the echo chamber intensifying Sinner’s duel against both rival and body.
Zverev, who had qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals alongside Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic, sensed opportunity, unleashing crosscourt backhands to exploit the vulnerability. Yet at 5-5, Sinner forced a lung-busting 20-shot rally, his forehand pressure sending Zverev’s backhand long for the decisive break at 6-5. Serving out the match, the Italian mixed underspin seconds with powerful inside-out aces, clinching on a forehand error to even their head-to-head at 4-4 and claim his fourth title of the season.
This milestone places Sinner alongside Roger Federer and Andy Murray as former No. 1s with multiple Vienna victories, a nod to his indoor prowess. He reflected on the struggle, emphasizing choices under duress: “It was very difficult of course. The most important thing was to not give up and try to stay there. Try to see what the situation was. I just tried to make the right choices at the right time. I think that was the key today. Serving well and saving energy in my service games was important too.”
Zverev, now third in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin after surpassing Djokovic this week, departs motivated for the Paris Masters despite the loss. For Sinner, this gritty win fuels confidence into the season’s close, where the Paris Masters and Nitto ATP Finals loom as arenas to affirm his year of unyielding poise amid relentless demands.
