Wimbledon: Number 1 Jannik Sinner wins the tournament against his rival Carlos Alcaraz
Revenge is a dish best served hot for Jannik Sinner: just five weeks after his crushing defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in the Roland Garros final, the world number one beat his great rival to win his first Wimbledon title, a victory he "needed" .
In a less spectacular match than in Paris and played in humid heat, the Italian this time won 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 against the 22-year-old Spaniard. "Holding this trophy in my hands means a lot to me," said an emotional Sinner during the post-match ceremony, before addressing his rival, defeated for the first time in a Grand Slam final after five titles.
"Today's match was important for so many reasons," said one of Sinner's two coaches, Australian Darren Cahill. "He needed this victory." Winner of the Australian Open in January, Sinner won his second Grand Slam tournament of the season on the London grass and took his revenge on Alcaraz , who had managed to defend his title in Paris in the nick of time after saving three match points.
The first Italian winner of Wimbledon, men's and women's combined, he also broke Alcaraz's unbeaten run, having won 24 matches in a row since April, the longest winning streak of his career.
The "growing" rivalry between the two champions is "a gift to our sport," Australian legend Rod Laver said on X. "Whether they win or lose, they compete with joy, class and fair play, that's what makes them champions," he added on the social network, which Billie Jean King also chose to congratulate Sinner. "Congratulations on your first Wimbledon!" Rafael Nadal applauded in Italian on X, before addressing Alcaraz in Spanish.
Congratulations @janniksin for your first @Wimbledon 🏆! Special moment!
Sé que no será an easy day, but… ¡Enhorabuena @carlosalcaraz for another new final of Grand Slam and for the long time that is haciendo! 👏🏻 https://t.co/rib2ntsws7
This content is blocked because you have not accepted cookies and other trackers.
"I know it's not an easy day, but congratulations on another Grand Slam final and the great season you're having," the 22-time Grand Slam winner tried to comfort him. Sinner's Wimbledon victory is his second grass-court title, after the ATP 500 in Halle, Germany, in 2024, and his first since returning from suspension in early May.
Having tested positive for an anabolic steroid in March 2024, the world number 1 negotiated a three-month ban from the circuit with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), given the recognised accidental nature of his contamination.
"I'm very emotional, even though I'm not crying. Only my loved ones know exactly what we went through on and off the court, and it was anything but easy," Sinner said at a press conference.
With Alcaraz, he has won every Grand Slam title since the Australian Open won by the Italian in January 2024. For Alcaraz, "a champion learns from his defeats. I knew from the start (...) that he was not going to make the same mistakes as at Roland-Garros," he assured in reference to his executioner of the day.
On a London turf that he had made his home since 2023, Alcaraz was the first to be broken, watched by the King of Spain, Felipe, and Prince of Wales, William, his wife, Kate, and their two eldest children, George and Charlotte. Trailing 4-2, the Spaniard turned the tables to win the set 6-4 with a backhand late in the race that left Sinner standing and delighted the champagne-hungry stands at the Central Stadium.
A few games later, a cork landed at Sinner's feet, but it didn't stop him from winning the second set 6-4. The intensity of the tussle escalated in the third set, which Sinner won again 6-4 with yet another service winner. With his back to the wall, a situation in which he usually excels, Alcaraz was unable to turn the match around this time and lost with a final 6-4 after 3 hours and 4 minutes of play.
In the duel between the new masters of the circuit, the beauty already promises to be exciting. From the US Open (August 24-September 7)? He is "the son or son-in-law that everyone would like to have," according to the president of the Italian Federation, Angelo Binaghi.
La Croıx
