For most tennis players in history, a defeat as excruciating as Jannik Sinner’s brutal loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open final would have taken years to recover from. In Sinner’s case, the pain he endured simply made him stronger.
One month on from the toughest night of his life on a tennis court, Sinner turned the tables at the earliest possible opportunity, demonstrating his resilience by recovering from a set down to win his first Wimbledon title with a phenomenal performance, toppling the two-time defending champion, Alcaraz, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 6-4.
Sinner is the first Italian player to win a Wimbledon singles title and he now stands as a four-time grand slam champion. He breaks his overall tie with an assortment of famous names, including Arthur Ashe, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka. Perhaps most important, he ends his great rival’s run of five consecutive wins against him, adding a new dimension to a rivalry that seems set to decide the majority of major tournaments in the near future.
In their own personal grand slam race, which still feels like it has only just begun, Sinner’s victory ensures that Alcaraz, who owns five major titles, remains within touching distance. This is also Sinner’s first slam title away from hard courts, after two victories at the Australian Open and last year’s US Open title.
A month ago, Sinner stared blankly into space from his seat on Court Philippe-Chatrier while Alcaraz celebrated his triumph in their French Open final with his family in the stands. Sinner held three championship points, the match on his racket, in the fourth set before losing one of the greatest grand slam finals in history. It is a reflection of the Italian’s tenacity and mental strength that the 23 year-old has found his path again so quickly.
This is also Sinner’s first grand slam victory and overall title since his three-month doping ban between February and May. Sinner had tested positive for the banned substance clostebol last year before successfully arguing during his initial tribunal in August that the positive test had been a result of contamination, receiving no suspension. After the World Anti-Doping Agency chose to appeal the case, Sinner’s team and Wada eventually entered a case resolution agreement, essentially a settlement, agreeing on the three-month suspension.
Quick Guide
Hewett dethroned by Oda in men’s wheelchair final
Show
Britain’s Alfie Hewett lost his Wimbledon title to the world No 1, Tokito Oda, after an absorbing men’s wheelchair final. The 27-year-old from Norwich, who won his first Wimbledon crown last year, was beaten 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 on a packed No 1 Court.
Hewett was four from four on break points as he took the first set in 33 minutes. The defending champion broke Oda again as the 19-year-old from Japan, who beat Hewett in the 2023 final, served for the second set at 5-4. But Oda broke back before holding to level the match, and then went a double break up in the decider.
Hewett saved two championship points on serve and another in the next game, but Oda converted his fourth to secure his second Wimbledon title after two hours and 16 minutes.
“Last year was obviously such a special moment for me, but I don’t think trophies compare to this atmosphere and this kind of support,” said Hewett. “Congratulations to Tokito, it was a good battle out there and it’s well deserved.” PA Sport
Their three hours on Centre Court also showcased Sinner’s toughness. Despite how he frustratingly ended the first set, he kept on moving forward. Unlike a month earlier, Sinner played his best tennis in the decisive moments, serving brilliantly under pressure in the third set and maintaining his relentless aggression until the end, smothering the Spaniard with his constant pressure. Deep in the fourth set, as he faltered, this time Sinner held on.
Aside from his bizarre fourth-round match, where Sinner hurt his elbow and trailed by two sets to Grigor Dimitrov before the Bulgarian was forced to retire, Sinner had undoubtedly performed at a higher, more consistent level than Alcaraz throughout the tournament. For once, Alcaraz could not find a way back in through the sheer force of his competitive spirit.
Things had not started so well for Sinner. After establishing a 4-2 lead in the first set, the Italian watched his lead evaporate as Alcaraz reeled off four consecutive games, closing it off with an angled backhand slice winner at the very end of his range.
after newsletter promotion
Minutes after demonstrating the stratospheric heights his game can reach, however, Alcaraz showed how quickly his level can fall. An unfocused start to the second set immediately left him trailing 0-40 and he eventually lost his serve. While his opponent’s level wavered, Sinner regained his rhythm on serve, which had faltered at the end of the first set, then he calmly continued to put Alcaraz under pressure on every point with his relentless aggression off both wings.
The essential third set was ultimately decided by their serving under pressure. While Sinner saved some of his best serving for key moments, following up a searing 117mph second-serve ace at 3-4, 30-30 with another service winner to hold, Alcaraz faltered. The Spaniard lost rhythm on his first serve at the end of the subsequent game as Sinner fearlessly connected with two brilliant second-serve returns, snatching the set’s decisive break.
The last time Sinner led two sets to one, all hell broke loose. He found himself at a similar crossroads while leading 4-3 in the fourth set as a series of nervous unforced errors sent him down 15-40. This time, he refused to let Alcaraz back in, digging himself out of a difficult hole and into the history books with the brand of bold, destructive shot-making that reinforced his status as the best player in the world.
