Sinner-Alcaraz Match History Rhymes, But Doesn’t Repeat at Wimbledon

Jannik Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz in a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 Wimbledon tennis finals match on Sunday, July 13.

Sinner’s win meant the tournament’s No. 1 seed prevailed over the No. 2 seed in the tight match. One ultimately decided by two stunning set points, according to Charlie Eccleshare and Matthew Futterman at The Athletic. As well as Alcaraz’s malfunctioning grass tools and Sinner’s steadiness behind and against second serves.

It was Sinner’s first Wimbledon title, and his fourth Grand Slam title. The win Sunday also snapped Sinner’s streak of five successive defeats against Alcaraz. Taking their head-to-head in ATP matches to 8-5, still in the Spaniard’s favor.

Earlier in Paris, Sinner had suffered the ultimate heartbreak of having three championship points and not winning the French Open, said Eccleshare. No one had ever missed that many in a Grand Slam final. He also had a chance to serve out the match, but faltered there, too.

Which is why when Sinner’s first serve deserted him at 4-3 up in the fourth set, flashbacks started coming thick and fast, Eccleshare said. Alcaraz went on to earn two break points, and the chance to level the set at 4-4.

But in response, Sinner locked in, saving one break point with a powerful second serve and the other with a 134-mile-per-hour rocket out wide. Alcaraz returned the latter brilliantly. But then he went for too much with a forehand.

Sinner eked out the hold. But then he had to do what he couldn’t manage at Roland Garros: serving it out at 5-4 in the fourth set.

As the players got off their chairs, the crowd cheered, “Carlos, Carlos,” desperate to will this into a fifth set like five weeks before. They did so again when Sinner went up 15-0, forcing him to wait to hit a serve. And ramping the tension up even further.

A big serve and backhand winner down the line later and it was 30-0. Then even Alcaraz couldn’t chase down a backhand volley from Sinner, and the Italian had three championship points. Just like in Paris, Eccleshare said.

Alcaraz saved the serve. But finally, with one last heave of his right arm, Sinner slammed a shot down that Alcaraz could barely get a racket to.

Just over a month later, Sinner had found redemption.