Jannik Sinner is starting to make a habit of responding to adversity in Paris with titles at Wimbledon. The top-ranked Italian secured his second consecutive championship at the All England Club on Sunday, defeating Alexander Zverev 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-4. This victory marks Sinner’s fifth Grand Slam title and follows a difficult period of recovery after his early exit from the French Open, where he wilted during a severe heat wave.
The match was a clash between the top two seeds, who remained evenly matched for much of the contest. Zverev had previously lost 14 straight sets to Sinner, but he broke that streak when he claimed the opening set with a powerful forehand winner up the line. Following the tight tiebreaker, Zverev let out a loud roar toward his box, clearly energized by the prospect of securing his first Wimbledon title.
Throughout the match, the serving displays were formidable. Zverev continually cranked out serves at speeds up to 139 mph (224 kph), while Sinner countered with a series of well-placed, tactical aces at a slightly lower speed. Despite the power on display, the breezy conditions in southwest London—with temperatures reaching 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28 Celsius)—led to a series of shanked shots from both players as they struggled to control the ball.
The momentum shifted decisively at 3-3 in the third set, exactly 2 hours and 42 minutes into the match. Sinner executed a precise drop shot, forcing Zverev to sprint forward. As the German attempted to change directions behind the baseline, he slipped and appeared to hyper-extend his right knee. Sinner immediately crossed the net to help his opponent up from the grass.
Zverev quickly resumed playing, but he appeared slightly hampered by the injury. His frustration boiled over when he missed a forehand, handing Sinner the first break of the match and a 5-3 lead in the third set. Sinner capitalized on the opportunity, serving out the set to take control of the match. Zverev’s struggle was reflected in the final statistics, as Sinner produced 58 winners to Zverev’s 49 and maintained a superior consistency with only 25 unforced errors compared to Zverev’s 45.
Sinner’s path to this title was far from straightforward. After his 30-match winning streak ended in Paris in late May, he underwent medical exams in Milan and did not play an official match until arriving at Wimbledon. He faced an immediate test in the first round, where he twice had to come back from a set down in a five-set marathon against Miomir Kecmanovic. He did not drop another set until the final, having dominated Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
During the trophy ceremony, Sinner reflected on his success, stating, “There’s no better place to play tennis.” Meanwhile, Zverev, who was coming off his first Grand Slam title at the French Open, remained gracious in defeat. “I’m 29 years old and this is the first time I actually believe I can win this trophy,” Zverev said, adding, “He showed once again why he’s the best player in the world.”
The final was attended by a star-studded crowd in the Royal Box, including Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and actors Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman, and Ben Stiller. While Zverev fell short of the title, his performance ensures he will leapfrog Carlos Alcaraz into the No. 2 spot in the world rankings on Monday. Alcaraz, who lost to Sinner in last year’s final, missed both the French Open and Wimbledon this year due to a right wrist injury. The report also notes that amid stifling heat and humidity in Paris in late May, Sinner had his 30-match winning streak ended after coming within one game of a straight-set victory over Juan Manuel Cerundolo, who was ranked No. The report also notes that linda Noskova beat Karolina Muchova in an all-Czech women’s final on Saturday for her first Grand Slam title. The report also notes that this story has been updated with additional reporting.
