World number one Jannik Sinner has seized control of the men’s singles final at Wimbledon, leading defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 after three captivating sets on Centre Court at the All England Club on Sunday afternoon.
The Italian, playing in his first Wimbledon final and fourth consecutive Grand Slam championship match, broke Alcaraz’s serve in the crucial ninth game of the third set before holding to love to establish a two-sets-to-one advantage. The match, which began at 4pm local time under the new later start time for finals, has seen both players showcase the exceptional tennis that has made them the sport’s dominant force.
“Sinner has definitely played confidently so far today,” according to match observers, with the 23-year-old Italian displaying the form that has seen him lose just three matches all year. The world number one struck a spectacular between-the-legs shot during the sixth game of the third set, underlining his growing confidence as the match progresses.
Rivalry Renewed After French Open Epic
The highly anticipated rematch comes just five weeks after their marathon French Open final, where Alcaraz saved three championship points to defeat Sinner in five hours and 29 minutes – the longest final in Roland Garros history. Sunday’s encounter marks their third meeting in a Grand Slam final this season, an unprecedented occurrence since the ATP rankings were first published in 1973.
Alcaraz, seeking his third consecutive Wimbledon title and sixth Grand Slam trophy, took the opening set 6-4 after breaking Sinner’s serve late. The 22-year-old Spaniard arrived at SW19 on a 24-match winning streak and had not lost at Wimbledon since falling to Sinner in the fourth round in 2022.
I just hope not to be 5 1/2 hours on court again,” Alcaraz said earlier this week, referencing their French Open epic. “If I have to, I will. But I think it’s going to be great.”
Sinner responded emphatically in the second set, breaking Alcaraz’s serve in the opening game and maintaining his advantage throughout to level the match. The Italian’s aggressive baseline play and improved movement, following concerns about a shoulder injury sustained earlier in the tournament, have been key factors in his performance.
Stakes Beyond the Trophy
The championship carries significant implications beyond the prestigious Venus Rosewater Dish. The winner will impact the battle for year-end world number one honours, with Sinner currently holding a 2,730-point advantage in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. A victory for the Italian would extend his lead to 3,430 points, whilst an Alcaraz triumph would narrow the gap to 2,030 points.
The things we are doing right now are great for tennis,” Alcaraz said after his semi-final victory over American Taylor Fritz. The Spaniard leads their head-to-head series 8-4, having won their last five encounters before Sunday’s final.
Sinner’s path to the final included a commanding straight-sets victory over seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in Friday’s semi-finals. The Serbian, who was clearly hampered by an injury sustained in his quarter-final, managed just 17 per cent of points on his second serve as Sinner completed a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 victory.
“I can’t believe it,” Sinner said after reaching his maiden Wimbledon final. “It’s a tournament I always watched when I was young on television. I would never have imagined that I could play here in the final, so it’s amazing.”
New Era Confirmed
The final marks the continuation of tennis’s new “Big Two” era, with Sinner and Alcaraz having shared the last six Grand Slam titles between them. At 23 years and 318 days old, Sinner became the second-youngest player after Jim Courier to reach all four major finals and the youngest to reach four consecutive finals in the Open Era.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, joined an elite group as just the tenth man in the Open Era to reach three consecutive Wimbledon finals and the first player born in 1990 or later to achieve the feat. The pair also became only the second duo after Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to contest both the French Open and Wimbledon finals in the same season.
The match has proceeded at a notably different pace from their French Open encounter, with both players holding serve more comfortably on the faster grass surface. Unlike their marathon rallies in Paris, points have been shorter and more decisive, with both men utilising their powerful serves effectively.
Tennis legends and celebrities have packed the Royal Box for the showpiece final, including actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Rami Malek, alongside five-time Wimbledon champion Björn Borg and Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.
Historic Tournament Changes
This year’s championships have witnessed significant changes, including the introduction of automated electronic line judges for the first time in Wimbledon’s 148-year history. The men’s and women’s singles finals were also moved to a 4pm start time, aimed at enhancing viewership in North and South America.
The tournament saw several notable early exits, with 13 of the 32 seeds falling in the first round – the most in Wimbledon Open Era history. Former world number nine Fabio Fognini made his final professional appearance, losing to Alcaraz in the opening round.
As the fourth set begins, Sinner stands just one set away from his first Wimbledon title and fourth Grand Slam trophy. The Italian has shown remarkable resilience after slipping during his fourth-round match against Grigor Dimitrov, who was forced to retire whilst leading by two sets.
“We saw the last final. You never know,” Sinner said when asked about facing Alcaraz again. “Hopefully it’s going to be a good match, like the last one. I don’t know if it’ll get better, because I don’t think it’s possible.”
The winner will join an illustrious list of champions at the All England Club and further cement the changing of the guard in men’s tennis, with Djokovic’s absence from the final for the first time since 2017 symbolising the sport’s evolution.
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