Jannik Sinner delivered a stunning performance to defeat Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-1 in just 57 minutes and claim the Madrid Open title on Sunday. The Italian third seed was in imperious form, breaking Zverev's serve four times and facing only one break point himself in a one-sided final.
Dominant display from Sinner
Sinner, 22, raced through the first set in 26 minutes, dropping just three points on his serve. He broke Zverev in the fourth game and again in the eighth to seal the set. The second set was even more one-sided as Sinner won the first five games, with Zverev unable to cope with the pace and depth of his groundstrokes.
Zverev, a two-time Madrid champion, saved two match points before Sinner finally closed out the victory with a backhand winner down the line. The German world number five struggled with his first-serve percentage, landing only 48 percent, and committed 22 unforced errors.
Third title of 2024 for Sinner
This is Sinner's third title of the year, following victories at the Australian Open and Rotterdam. He becomes the first Italian to win the Madrid Open, which is played on clay at the Caja Magica. Sinner will rise to a career-high ranking of world number two on Monday, surpassing Carlos Alcaraz.
"It's an incredible feeling to win here in Madrid," Sinner said in his on-court interview. "I played some of my best tennis today. I was very focused from the start and I'm really happy with how I handled the pressure."
- Sinner hit 18 winners to Zverev's 10
- He won 82 percent of points on his first serve
- The match was the shortest Madrid Open final since 2012
Zverev, who was seeking his third Madrid title, acknowledged Sinner's superiority. "Jannik played an incredible match," Zverev said. "There wasn't much I could do. He was just too good today."
The victory continues Sinner's remarkable rise. He has now won 28 of his 31 matches in 2024 and looks a strong contender for the French Open later this month.
