Alexander Zverev caught off guard and reacts as Jannik Sinner faces possible ban

Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner

Alexander Zverev compared unstoppable Jannik Sinner to “Novak at his best” after the world No.1 retained his Australian Open title. The Italian did not even allow the German world No.2 a break point as he was outclassed 6-3 7-6 6–3 in an anti-climactic final. Sinner, 23, is on a 21-match unbeaten run dating back to last October and has won an incredible 22 consecutive sets against top 10 players. The US Open champion has also won the last three hardcourt Grand Slams.

And Zverev said: “He's very, very similar to Novak when he was at his best. They barely miss, like barely miss. They make you think like you have to overhit all the time to have a chance in a rally against them. “It's very, very difficult to win a point from the back of the court against them, against Novak and him. Move obviously tremendous. They're constantly on the baseline. They don't give you any space. They don't give you any time. Yeah, I mean, just right now too good for me. “Again, I'll do everything I can to be able to compete with them and to lift the trophy, but today was nowhere near good enough.

Jannik Sinner could still be banned from tennis

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“Today he completely outplayed me. From the back of the court, completely outplayed me. As I said, I'm serving better than him, but that's it. He does everything else better than me. He moves better than me. He hits his forehand better than me. He hits his backhand better than me. He returns better than me. He volleys better than me. “At the end of the day, tennis has five or six massive shots, like massive factors, and he does four or five of them better than me. That's the reason why he won. He deserved to win today. The world No.1 could be banned for a doping offence last year after the World Anti-Doping Agency challenged his exoneration. Asked if this was creating uncertainty among the other players, Zverev said: “Wow, I didn't expect that question. “I don't know. I don't know anything about the situation that he's in. I know he's been cleared once. I know someone over the Tennis Integrity Unit is taking a look at it now.

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