Sinner Advances to Vienna Final, Echoing Djokovic’s Double- Final Feat
25 October 2025
Match highlights and Vienna final setup
Italian world No.2 Jannik Sinner moved to the Vienna final at the Erste Bank Open 500 after dispatching Australian Alex de Minaur in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, on Saturday.
With eight finals reached this year, Sinner became the first player to reach that many finals in two consecutive seasons since Novak Djokovic did it in 2015-2016.
Match details and performance
Vienna has been a fortress for Sinner; he had not faced a break point in his three previous rounds but was broken twice by De Minaur, though he steadied and fought back quickly.
De Minaur entered the match with a 0-11 head-to-head record against Sinner, and when he broke Sinner's serve in the opening game of the first set, the task looked daunting for the Australian. Yet Sinner's poise carried him through the straight-sets win.
De Minaur displayed spectacular shotmaking and blistering speed, but his serving was only successful on about 52% of first serves, limiting his pressure despite the pace and defense on display.
Under pressure, Sinner stayed composed and turned the tide when needed, sealing the result in two tight sets and advancing to a Sunday final against Zverev.
“I came to the tournament a bit late and tried to make the most of every day,” Sinner said after the match. “I’m happy to be in the final, it wasn’t easy to reach here, but I’m here and I’m excited.” He added that De Minaur had changed a few things, and that he prepared well for them.
“I tried to play well and serve well; when I didn’t serve well, I had to fight for every ball and every point. It was physically demanding, but I’m happy with the way I handled it.”
Final and rankings: Sinner has reached the final in eight of ten events this year, with Halle and Shanghai as the only exceptions. He will meet German Alexander Zverev in the final, who defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 7-5.
Sinner owns a 16-4 record in Vienna and is chasing another title to add to his 2023 triumph in this event. He also remains in the hunt for the year-end world No.1, a race currently led by Carlos Alcaraz.
Basel breakthrough and rankings
In Basel, 19-year-old Joao Fonseca delivered a breakout performance on the tournament’s 500-point tier, beating Spaniard Jaume Munar 7-6, 7-5 to reach his first final at this level.
Fonseca came from 2-4 down in the second set, firing 39 winners to turn the match around and becoming the first Brazilian to reach a Basel 500 final since the inception of this category in 2009.
Fonseca said: “I knew it would be a tough match; Munar plays well on this surface and puts a lot of pressure. I’m happy with how I stayed mentally strong after the early break in the second set.” He added that he was excited for the final and what it could bring.
Fonseca’s next challenge is Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the final, after Fokina defeated Ugo Humbert 7-6, 3-1 before Humbert retired due to injury. Fonseca also noted that he is on track for a milestone ranking: a 12-spot jump to No. 34 in the world, his best to date.
“It’s been an incredible year,” Fonseca said. “I started the year around 130, and now I’m into the 30s with a chance to reach a first title at this level.”
Punchline 1: If confidence had a crosshair, tonight Sinner would have a whole arsenal aimed at the trophy shelf.
Punchline 2: And if Basel had a final for every rising star, we’d need a bigger trophy room for the street-smart dreamers who still smile after a long season.
