Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev are set to meet in the Madrid Open final, marking their second consecutive clay-court showdown. The matchup comes just weeks after Sinner defeated Zverev decisively at Monte-Carlo, winning 6-1, 6-4.
Following that loss, Zverev described Sinner as "like a wall," according to Tennis Majors. The German attributed the Monte-Carlo defeat partly to a sluggish start on clay, noting it was his first tournament on the surface in 2026. Despite those early-season struggles, Zverev has since accumulated additional tournament wins and advanced through the Madrid draw.
The rematch raises a persistent question about Zverev's capacity to compete with Sinner on clay. Sinner's dominance on the surface has proven difficult for Zverev to counter, and the Italian enters the final as the clear favourite based on their recent head-to-head record on clay courts.
Sources
- Tennis Majors: Sinner vs Zverev (again!): The Madrid final that keeps asking the same question about Zverev. Published 2026-05-03.
Reported from public sources.