Alexander Zverev names the five ATP players he thinks are in with a chance of winning the Australian Open this year

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The 2025 Australian Open is right around the corner, as the tennis world eagerly awaits the crowning of the year’s first Grand Slam champion.

After months of waiting, Grand Slam tennis is back, and the stars of the ATP Tour are ready to compete for this year’s Australian Open.

Jannik Sinner won the Australian Open in 2024, as he took down Russian world number five Daniil Medvedev in the final, having trailed by two sets to love.

Sinner had beaten ten-time champion Novak Djokovic in the last four, as he secured his first Grand Slam win over the Serbian star.

Four-time Major champion Carlos Alcaraz lost to Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals, as his Australian Open woes continued.

Zverev, who eventually lost in the 2024 Australian Open last four, has now picked his favorite for this year’s tournament.

Alexander Zverev says Jannik Sinner is the favorite for the 2025 Australian Open by a ‘big margin’

In his pre-tournament press conference, Zverev was asked who he thinks are the most likely candidates to bring home the Australian Open title.

“I think the usual names,” he said.

“Jannik [Sinner], [Carlos] Alcaraz, Novak [Djokovic] for sure is part of that list.

“Daniil [Medvedev], because he’s done it before, those guys, I think the usual.

“Alex de Minaur, for Australians, I think it’s always very exciting in Australia.”

Having named five players who he thinks have a shot of winning the title, Zverev honed in on the ‘big’ favorite for the tournament.

“But yeah, I think the biggest favorites are still Jannik is very far up that list,” he said.

“He’s still number one by a big margin I think on the favorite list.

“Then Carlos and Novak, obviously I see them as well very high up the list.”

Zverev was then asked whether he pays attention to his rivals in preparation for the tournament.

“Well, I played with Novak yesterday, but obviously it was an exhibition and it was for a good cause,” he said.

“But, yeah, once the tournament starts you pay a little bit more attention because for most of those guys, it’s the first tournament of the year.”

Zverev played Djokovic in an exhibition set on Thursday, narrowly losing out 6-8, in a light-hearted encounter on Rod Laver Arena.

Alexander Zverev doesn’t pick world number four Taylor Fritz as an Australian Open favorite

Zverev picked several players that he thinks may win the Australian Open, but left out one big name, who has impressed over the past few months.

Taylor Fritz reached the US Open final last September, before making the ATP Finals final just a few months later.

With those results, Fritz finished the year as world number four, the highest year-end ranking for an American since James Blake in 2006.

Many have tipped Fritz for big things this year, but Zverev doesn’t seem to think he’s quite at the level of the names he mentioned.

Perhaps a strange omission, considering the American’s head-to-head dominance over Zverev in recent years.

Fritz has now won the last four of their meetings, two of which came at the Grand Slam level.

The American’s win over Zverev to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals was perhaps the toughest of them all, as Fritz battled back from two sets down to win a five-set thriller.

Regardless of whether Zverev considers Fritz a favorite for the tournament, he’ll know that underestimating the 27-year-old could prove to be a costly mistake.

The pair are, however, on opposite sides of the draw, so Fritz and Zverev will both have to reach the final if they are to play for a 13th time on the ATP Tour.

They’ll have to win their first-round matches first before they can think about the final, however, with Zverev playing Lucas Pouille on January 12, before Fritz takes on Jenson Brooksby on January 13.