Jannik Sinner has claimed his second Wimbledon men’s singles title, recovering from a recent setback at the French Open. The Italian world number one defeated Alexander Zverev in a four-set comeback victory, becoming the tenth man in the Open era to retain the Wimbledon men’s singles title. This triumph marks his fifth Grand Slam success.
The final match against Zverev was a tight contest. Nearly three hours into the match, Sinner secured his first break of serve after falling mid-rally, recovering, and forcing an error from Zverev. This pivotal moment set the stage for his eventual win. The match concluded with Sinner celebrating on the ground, mirroring his earlier fall but this time in triumph.
Sinner’s journey to this title was not without its challenges. One month prior, he experienced a significant upset at the French Open. He arrived at Wimbledon without having competed since his collapse in the French Open second round, where he lost to Juan Manuel Cerundolo from a strong lead. Furthermore, he had to overcome Miomir Kecmanovic in a five-set match in the first round of Wimbledon to avoid becoming only the third defending champion to lose in the opening round.
Concerns about Sinner’s durability in extended matches have been noted, as he had lost a majority of his previous marathon encounters. However, his performance at Wimbledon demonstrated a renewed physical resilience. He described this victory as particularly meaningful due to the difficulties faced after Paris, highlighting the effort and sacrifice involved in preparing for the tournament.
Sinner’s coach, Darren Cahill, commented on his player’s ability to recover from tough losses, stating that such setbacks do not keep him down for long. Cahill emphasised Sinner’s attitude in tennis and life, noting his capacity to become stronger after difficult moments. This resilience was evident in his path to the final.
In the final against Zverev, Sinner had to recover from losing the first set. The match lasted three hours and 46 minutes, with Sinner landing his 58th winner. Former British number one Tim Henman praised Sinner’s performance, calling him a worthy champion who found a way to win, and described his matches against Novak Djokovic and Zverev as world-class.
Sinner’s dominance this season has been notable. He recorded a 30-match win streak between March and May and secured five consecutive Masters 1000 titles. Despite this, his early exit from the French Open was his earliest Slam exit in three years, making his Wimbledon comeback all the more significant.
After his challenging first-round match at Wimbledon, Sinner delivered dominant straight-set victories in his subsequent five matches leading up to the final. A particularly impressive performance was his two-hour and 20-minute semi-final win against Novak Djokovic, where he faced and dismissed only one break point with an ace.
Zverev, who will become world number two on Monday, had recently won his first major title. However, he has now lost his last ten matches against Sinner. Sinner has won 44 of his 47 matches this year and 77 of 83 matches since beginning his title-winning run at Wimbledon a year ago.
The match against Zverev saw a critical moment shortly before 7pm, 162 minutes into the game, when Zverev had his first break point on Sinner’s serve. Despite Sinner faulting, he responded with a perfect backhand and a drop shot that sent Zverev sprawling. Soon after, Zverev was broken for the first time in the match.
This year’s Wimbledon fortnight for Sinner has been described as uncharacteristically wasteful at times, with an edgy demeanour. Yet, his fundamental strengths remained, including his ability to deliver crucial serves under pressure and his problem-solving approach. His athleticism was also on display, notably with a no-look angled backhand glider while serving for the title.
The absence of Carlos Alcaraz due to injury has left a void in men’s tennis, with many hoping for his swift return to full health to reignite their burgeoning rivalry. Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli compared Sinner’s ability to weather storms and produce extraordinary shots to that of Novak Djokovic, suggesting he could be the next dominant force in tennis for years to come.
Sinner’s victory makes him the first player in 48 years to win the men’s singles title at Wimbledon after being taken to five sets in his opening match, a feat last achieved at any Slam by Rafael Nadal at the 2011 French Open.
Source: bbc.com
