Vienna: Sinner’s Title Defense
Italian star Jannik Sinner overcame muscle cramps to reaffirm his dominance on indoor courts on Sunday at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, a 500-point ATP event.
The top seed in the tournament, after a slow start, edged German star Alexander Zverev 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to reclaim the title he previously won in 2023.
Sinner battled through a tough start and later physical issues in the first and third sets, sealing his 21st tour‑level title after a match that lasted about two hours and 29 minutes.
Quotes and winning run
“The feeling is amazing,” Sinner said, noting that the final was a hard one, he lost his serve early and had opportunities in the first set, but Zverev served well and he just tried to stay mentally strong and play his best when the chance came.”
He added, “The third set was a bit volatile, but I felt the ball well at times, so I tried to apply pressure, and I’m very happy to win another title; it’s very special.”
Cramp battles
Zverev started strong, dictating exchange pace and earning the opening break in the fourth game, as Sinner moved cautiously and wobbled through points—a reminder of Sinner’s earlier Shanghai cramp scare this month.
Though Zverev, a former Vienna champion (2021), won the first set, No. 2 in the world Sinner looked to have wrestled the physical issue under control in the second set.
Still, the Italian again felt a cramp in his left hamstring during the seventh game of the third set, but mixed in energy drinks during changeovers and a more aggressive approach to shorten rallies, he kept the pressure on his opponent.
Title clinch and milestones
The Italian sealed the decisive break to take a 6-5 lead in the third set after a tense rally on the back line, and later closed it out when a Zverev backhand drifted long.
He sealed his fourth title this season, drew level with Zverev at 4-4 in their head-to-head, and joined Roger Federer and Andy Murray as one of the few two-title Vienna winners in the Open era.
Sinner spoke about his physical grind in the third set: “It was incredibly tough, obviously, but the key was not to give up, to stay there and see how things unfold.” He also highlighted the importance of serving well and conserving energy on his service games.
Sinner has now won 48 matches this season, with a 48-6 record in 2025, and heads into Paris and the Nitto Finals with strong confidence at age 24.
Basel: Fonseca’s Historic Basel Triumph
Youthful dynamo Joao Fonseca, the young Brazilian, continued his spectacular ascent in Basel, claiming his second tour title and first at the 500-point level, beating Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 6-4 in the final, which marked Fokina’s fifth Basel final loss.
The 19-year-old played with fearless authority in what was the biggest match of his young career, securing the win in 86 minutes.
Standout records
Fonseca became the first Brazilian to win a 500‑point title since Gustavo Kuerten captured Masters in Cincinnati in 2001. He is also the third youngest player to win a 500-event since the category began in 2009, and the second youngest Basel champion after Jim Courier in 1989.
A rising star’s ascent
The Basel victory adds to Fonseca’s rapidly expanding resume, which includes winning the Next Gen Finals in Jeddah last December, his first top-10 win at the Australian Open against Andrey Rublev, and a 250‑point title in Buenos Aires—making him the youngest South American champion in the modern era (since 1990).
Ranking jump and takeaway
Fonseca is set to peak at No. 28 in the world on Monday, up from No. 145 at the start of the year.
Match details
In a high‑quality display, Fonseca struck 15 winners in the first set, testing Davidovich Fokina with aggressive baseline play. He remained close to the baseline to control points and took advantage in the fourth game to move ahead.
Fonseca kept the pressure in the second set, sealing the match with a service winner after Fokina failed to convert a championship point at 5-3.
At 19 years old, Fonseca leads their head-to-head 2-0 in 86 minutes and looks well positioned to build on this breakthrough in the coming months.
