"He had no energy, he was flat as a pancake": John McEnroe says Jannik Sinner got in Alexander Zverev's head during Australian Open Final
ATP
John McEnroe slammed Alexander Zverev's display in the Australian Open Final and said that he didn't produce anything back to battle the prowess of Jannik Sinner who won in three sets on Sunday.
Zverev was seen as potentially the physical aggressor as he had played less tennis in comparison to SInner who had struggled even with fatigue in the run-up. As well as cramping issues and physical problems. But it wasn't a game plan that Zverev stuck to as McEnroe said it was as 'flat as a pancake' and looked languid in the end.
"[Sinner] did get into Zverev’s head, I’m not denying that," said McEnroe.
"I thought he’d try and get into a war of attrition, try and test Sinner who cramped two days ago and got sick four days ago. He wasn’t able to do that, but you have to give credit to Jannik, who took him right out of the match.
"I was really surprised at the level Zverev came up with at the end of the second set and the third set, I don’t know what happened to him… He had no energy, he was flat as a pancake. He looked like the guy who got sick a couple of days ago, he looked weary and he played one set in five days. I don’t know what happened."
While Mats Wilander also offered the theory as his post match interview explained that he merely didn't have the self belief to tangle with Sinner.
"I’m starting to wonder if there is the self-belief," Wilander said. "When I see this performance, not in terms of how he hit the ball or tactics, but in terms of emotional input, I’m starting to wonder if…
"I’m sure he believes early in the match, but you have to believe in the third set, when you win the first point in the last game. You have to bluff your opponent and when he doesn’t do that, it worries me, to be honest."
Beautiful moment between Sinner and Zverev after the Australian Open final.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 26, 2025
Zverev has lost 3 Grand Slam finals… it’s painful to come that close but fall just short.
Jannik puts his arms on his shoulders and consoles him.
All class. ❤️
pic.twitter.com/rZE8iMUoVT
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