LONDON — Jannik Sinner has made it clear that he has left behind the painful loss to Carlos Alcaraz from their thrilling French Open final. He remains resolute that a single defeat wouldn’t linger in his mind, wouldn’t disrupt his focus, and certainly wouldn’t dictate his performance at the iconic All England Club.
And he was spot on about that.
Just five weeks following the heart-wrenching loss at Roland-Garros, Sinner flipped the script, clinching victory over the two-time defending Wimbledon champion Alcaraz with a score of 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday, marking his inaugural triumph at the prestigious grass-court major.
“Ultimately, it’s not about how you win or lose in significant tournaments. It’s essential to recognize where you went wrong. We focused on that — accepting the loss and consistently working toward improvement,” Sinner reflected on Sunday, proudly holding his well-deserved trophy. “This is undoubtedly why I stand here with this piece of silverware.”
The top-ranked Sinner secured his fourth Grand Slam title overall, inching closer to No. 2 Alcaraz, as both highly talented players distinguish themselves in the realm of men’s tennis.
At just 23, Sinner became the one to halt multiple winning streaks for Alcaraz, who is 22 and from Spain.
Alcaraz had triumphed in their last five encounters, the most memorable being a grueling five-set match over 5 1/2 hours at the French Open on June 8. Sinner found himself ahead with a two-set lead and even held three match points, but could not close it out.
When asked in the opening week of Wimbledon about any lingering doubts from that match, Sinner firmly retorted: “Why would I harbor negative feelings because of that final?”
He continued, “No. This is a fresh tournament, a new Grand Slam, and a different surface. I’m not worried about my capabilities. … I refuse to let one loss impact me for an extended period. This is a brand-new opportunity to do something remarkable.”
This time around, Sinner showcased unwavering resolve in a match filled with spectacular moments from both players, alongside some rare errors — including an unforgettable interruption just before a Sinner serve when a Champagne cork soared from the stands and landed on the grass.
With Prince William and Princess Kate present in the Royal Box, alongside King Felipe VI of Spain, Alcaraz stepped onto the sunlit Centre Court riding a remarkable 24-match winning streak, having claimed 20 consecutive wins at Wimbledon.
“Losing is always challenging,” Alcaraz admitted. “It’s tough to lose.”
The last player to defeat him at Wimbledon? Sinner, during the fourth round in 2022.
This clash served as a pivotal bookend victory for Sinner, who could easily have been haunted by the memory of his previous collapse — especially when faced with two break points while serving at 4-3, 15-40 in the crucial fourth set.
Yet he calmly rallied, winning the next four points to secure that game and soon found himself serving for the championship, despite the crowd chanting “Car-los! Car-los!”
“I’m thrilled that I maintained my composure,” Sinner expressed.
As the match concluded, he placed both hands atop his white hat. After a warm embrace with Alcaraz, Sinner knelt, bowed his head, and then struck his right palm against the grass in celebration.
“Thank you for being the player you are,” Sinner told Alcaraz. “It’s incredibly challenging to compete against you.”
Sinner has now reached four consecutive major finals, including victories at the U.S. Open — right after a doping case that led to a three-month suspension — and the Australian Open.
Wearing the same protective tape and white arm sleeve for his right elbow since bowing out in the fourth round, Sinner displayed no signs of injury, having previously eliminated Novak Djokovic on Friday.
In the final, Sinner and Alcaraz battled with breathtaking intensity, showcasing no shortage of thrill, as they sprinted and swung with mighty force, rarely yielding to each other’s dominance.
Coming back from a 4-2 deficit, Alcaraz won four games in a row, highlighting this run with a blistering 140 m.p.h. ace that conjured a cloud of white chalk dust and a dramatic backhand winner that curved at an impossibly acute angle.
As the crowd erupted in cheers, Alcaraz gestured to the audience and spun before pumping his fist in triumph.
Undeterred, Sinner swiftly broke Alcaraz to take the lead in the second set. His returning was exceptional, even as Alcaraz served aggressively, managing an impressive 15 aces but also a 53 percent first-serve rate with seven double-faults.
Much like their previous encounter at the French Open, this match maintained a relentless pace for over three hours, where any slight error could create mayhem. Alcaraz seemed to run into more of those errors, although Sinner had a few memorable moments himself, notably a blown overhead following a brilliant behind-the-back volley in the third set.
Together, these two stars displayed exactly why they have claimed the last seven Grand Slam trophies and nine of the latest twelve.
Remarkably, this contest marked the first occasion where the same two players faced off in both the French Open and Wimbledon finals within the same year since Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal did so in 2006, 2007, and 2008, a feat not seen for over 50 years prior.
“I’m genuinely thrilled about having this rivalry with him,” Alcaraz expressed regarding Sinner. “It’s fantastic for both of us and for tennis as a whole.”
