Alexander Zverev makes shocking revelation after Australian Open loss

It is easy to make excuses when one loses. Maybe an illness caused poor play, or a couple of accidental mistakes changed the outcome, or something else a player cannot truly control. Rarely do we hear a player simply say, "That person is just better than I am at this sport." This is what makes Alexander Zverev's comments after his loss to Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open final so surprising.

Zverev said he never gave up believing in himself, even in the third set of a match he had to know he was going to lose. His best chance came deep in the second set that Sinner won in a tie-break. The Italian won the other two sets 6-3 apiece. The German even said that Sinner played even better in the final set.

In the trophy ceremony after the match, Sinner put his hand on Zverev's shoulder in an obvious move to console the German. In the post-match press conference, the fact that Zverev has not yet won a Grand Slam clearly weighed on him. He said he did not want to be remembered as the greatest player ever to win a major.

Alexander Zverev's comments after Australian Open loss to Jannik Sinner were refreshing

He also acknowledged that Sinner was simply better than he was on hard courts. Zverev said the difference between the Italian and the rest of the ATP tour on hard courts was vast. The issue for the field is that Sinner is only 23 years old, and he has a lot of tennis left to play. He could be even better in a couple of years.

What Zverev said specifically that was so refreshing from a player that loses is that he acknowledged Sinner wasn't just a fortunate winner at the Australian Open, but that of the five things that are maybe most important in tennis (serve, volley, ability to return, backhand, forehand), Sinner was better than Zverev in everything but serve.

He emphasized his point at the beginning of the press conference by saying, "Sinner is me."

He should not feel too badly, though. Sinner is better than everyone currently. His next challenges will be winning on the clay of the French Open and the grass of Wimbledon. Should he master those, he could finish with a number well into the teens as far as Grand Slam titles.

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