The Australian Open final was shrouded in controversy involving both finalists, despite being acquitted by the courts

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Sinner and Zverev talk about their respective accusations after Australian Open final

On Sunday 26 January, the Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner won the Australian Open title. A final in which two of the most controversial tennis players in tennis in the last year faced each other. However, after being asked about the alleged crimes of which they have been accused, both were calm and confident of their innocence. ‘I keep playing like this because my mind is clear about what happened. If I was guilty, I wouldn't play like this,’ said the Italian.

In March 2024, Sinner, the world number one, tested double positive for Clostebol in a doping control at the Indian Wells Masters 1000. A steroid that appears on the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of banned substances. However, the latter did not lodge an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which ultimately acquitted the Italian tennis player.

His opponent in the Australian final, Alexander Zverev, is also embroiled in controversy after being charged in 2023 with domestic violence against his ex-partner and mother of his child. Although he was acquitted in July 2024, following his ex-wife's complaint, more testimonies came to light from other women claiming to have suffered violence at the hands of the German tennis player, including his other ex-wife, Olga Sharypova.

His speech after his defeat in the Australian Open final was interrupted by shouts from a fan in the audience denouncing his innocence in the alleged domestic violence case. After this tense moment, Zverev said: ‘I think there are no more accusations, it's been nine months with nothing. She was the only one who thought to say that at the time, well, good for her. I'm not going to open that up any more.

He was also asked about Sinner's positive test at Indian Wells, to which he replied: ‘I don't know anything about the situation he's in. I know he came out as not guilty in the first verdict. I know they're still looking at it. He's a great guy, I have nothing against him. I don't know what's going to happen. I didn't really expect this question, I don't know what to answer’.