Jannik Sinner successfully defended his Wimbledon title on Sunday, defeating Alexander Zverev 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-4 in a tense final at the All England Club. The top-ranked Italian, known for his composure, dropped to his back on the grass after ripping a forehand winner on match point—an unusually dramatic celebration for the 24-year-old from San Candido.
“This one means a lot because it was a tough one after Paris again,” Sinner said. “I’m proud of myself and my team, which continues to push me in the right direction.”
A Tale of Two Grand Slams
The victory marked a remarkable turnaround for Sinner, who had seen his 30-match winning streak snapped in late May at Roland Garros. In stifling heat and humidity in Paris, he came within one game of a straight-set win over world No. 56 Juan Manuel Cerundolo before losing in five sets. Medical exams in Milan followed, and Sinner did not play an official match until arriving at Wimbledon.
His path to the final was far from smooth. In the first round, he twice came back from a set down to beat Miomir Kecmanovic in a five-set marathon. After that, he dropped no further sets, dominating Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. Sinner became the first man to win the Wimbledon singles title without conceding a service game in either the semifinal or final since Roger Federer in 2003.
For Zverev, the defeat was a bitter end to a breakthrough season. The 29-year-old from Hamburg had won his first Grand Slam title at the French Open just weeks earlier, but his previous best at Wimbledon was reaching the fourth round three times. “I’m 29 years old and this is the first time I actually believe I can win this trophy,” Zverev said after the match.
The Turning Point
The final was tightly contested for two and a half hours, with neither player earning a break point until the third set. At 3-3, Zverev finally created a chance, but as he chased a Sinner drop shot, he slipped on the grass and appeared to hyper-extend his right knee. Sinner immediately walked around the net to help his opponent up.
Zverev resumed playing but was visibly hampered. He slammed his racket in frustration after missing a forehand that handed Sinner the first break of the match and a 5-3 lead in the third set. Sinner served it out and never looked back, sealing his 10th consecutive victory over Zverev.
The win cements Sinner’s status as the dominant force in men’s tennis, with two Wimbledon titles and a growing reputation for resilience under pressure. For Zverev, the challenge now is to translate his newfound belief into consistent success on grass.
