Jannik Sinner wins Vienna Open with thrilling three-set victory over Alexander Zverev

Jannik Sinner staged a stirring comeback to defeat Alexander Zverev in a thrilling Vienna Open final on Sunday afternoon (26 October).

After losing the first set 3–6, the four-time men's tennis Grand Slam champion raised his level to edge the next two sets 6–3, 7–5, clinching the title with a timely break late in the decider. The result extends Sinner’s remarkable season, bringing him his fourth title of the year after success at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and ATP 500 tournament in Beijing.

Sinner, the world’s No. 2 men’s player, first captured the Vienna title in 2023, but he found himself under pressure early after dropping the opening set to Zverev — the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion. It was the first set Sinner had lost all week in Austria, yet it seemed to spark him into action.

The Italian broke early in the second and maintained control to level the match at one set apiece. His movement improved markedly from the first set — when he appeared to limp slightly between points, a reminder of the cramps that forced his retirement in Shanghai earlier this month — and he dictated more rallies from the baseline to take it 6–3.

As the deciding set reached its tense conclusion, Sinner again appeared troubled by cramp in his left leg midway through. Yet he adapted, shortening the points and taking greater initiative. A blend of smart aggression and composure under pressure earned him the decisive break at 6–5, when Zverev sent a backhand long after a gruelling exchange. Moments later, Sinner sealed victory with a crisp service hold to claim his 22nd career title.

Now 48–6 for the season, Sinner’s victory places him alongside Roger Federer and Andy Murray as the only ATP No. 1 Club members to have won twice in Vienna. His performance also ensures he enters the upcoming Rolex Paris Masters and Nitto ATP Finals full of confidence and momentum.

For Zverev, a former Vienna champion in 2021, the loss brought frustration but also reaffirmed his strong form in the final stretch of the season. Having secured qualification for the year-end finals alongside Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Sinner, the German will head to Paris ranked third in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin.

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