By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, October 26, 2025Photo credit: Erste Bank Open Facebook
In a clash of former champions, Jannik Sinner elevated his game to raise the roof in Vienna again.
The top-seeded Sinner surged through the last seven points in a row rallying past second-seeded Alexander Zverev 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to capture his second Vienna championship in the last three years.
The 2023 champion Sinner registered his 21st consecutive victory on an indoor hard-court claiming his 22nd career championship.
It is Sinner’s fourth title of 2025, including his Grand Slam crowns at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and third on hard court. Sinner joins world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and US Open semifinalist Felix Auger-Aliassime as the third man to collect three hard-court championships this season.
“It was such a difficult start in this final for me,” said Sinner.
“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.”
Contesting his eighth final in 10 tournaments, Sinner broke in the penultimate game then stamped his sixth love hold of the day to close a hard-fought final in two hours, 28 minutes.
Stand and Deliver ⚜️
Jannik Sinner defeats Zverev 3-6 6-3 7-5 in Vienna to notch his 22nd career title!#ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/oEpXvKMsrt
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 26, 2025
There was drama, too. Sinner seemed to strain his left leg midway through the final set. After one lunging return, the Italian clutched at his left hamstring, but did not call the trainer and went on to win 12 of his final 13 service points defeating Zverev for the third time in a row to level their head-to-head series at 4-4.
The 2021 champion Zverev saved a break point in the opening game holding with one of his 11 aces.
Building a 40-love lead in the fourth game, Sinner lost the range on his first serve and Zverev exploited that lapse. Sinner sailed a forehand long then shanked a forehand as Zverev earned first-break blood with a 3-1 lead.
The lanky German saved break points in two of his first three service games. Down 15-40 in the fifth game, Zverev fired an ace down the T to save the first break point then asserted his aggression knocking off a volley to draw even at deuce. When Sinner missed a backhand wide, Zverev earned a hard-fought hold for 4-1.
Serving for the set, Zverev zapped three aces, including two sliders wide on the deuce court, then cracked a backhand winner for a one-set lead after 47 minutes.
Zverev saved all three break points he faced and thumped his forehand, often his weaker wing, with conviction when he needed it.
Because the Wimbledon winner drives the ball so deep and hits so heavy, it’s understandable why Zverev, who prefers playing well behind the baseline, would drop back even deeper at times.
Throughout this Vienna run, Sinner deployed the drop shot, primarily off the forehand, effectively. Sinner carved out a forehand drop shot for double break point in the second game of set two.
Surprising the German with the backhand drop shot, Sinner spun a backhand pass crosscourt breaking for 2-0.
Sinner confirmed the break at love stretching his lead to 3-0.
The top-seeded Italian won eight of his last 10 service points of the second set.
Smacking an inside-out forehand brought Sinner double set point. Sinner slid his fourth ace out wide to seize the second set and force a decider after 90 minutes.
Credit Zverev for denying a couple of break points in the fifth game of the final set. Zverev, who saved six of eight break points in the final, cracked an ace holding for 3-2.
In the seventh game, Sinner was hobbled lunging for a wide ball and clutched at his left hamstring and hip after missing a forehand return. Zverev held firm for 4-3 and Sinner regrouped on the changeover.
Sinner came back strong slashing two aces in a love hold for 4-all.
As tension escalated, Sinner was hitting the ball even bigger at times. Dabbing a drop shot to draw even at deuce, Sinner stung a backhand winner down the line and did not even celebrate earning break point in the 11th game. When Zverev ended a 17-shot rally with a backhand error, Sinner had the break for 6-5.
Hoist it up, champ 🏆@janniksin 🙌 @ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/zCPFsCOdZl
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 26, 2025
Serving for his second Vienna crown, Sinner softened his hands in a sweet backhand drop volley for 30-0 and closed his 10th straight Vienna victory on a netted return.
Sinner, who is chasing rival Carlos Alcaraz for the year-end No. 1 ranking, raised his 2025 record to 48-6 and will head to Paris playing for his maiden Rolex Paris Masters championship.
