Jannik Sinner defeated two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday to win his first Wimbledon championship and reverse the result of their epic French Open final five weeks ago. The No. 1-ranked Sinner earned his fourth Grand Slam title overall, moving him one away from No. 2 Alcaraz's total as the two young rivals separate themselves from the rest of the pack in men's tennis. This victory also allowed Sinner, a 23-year-old Italian, to put an end to several streaks for Alcaraz, a 22-year-old Spaniard. After the sport's new "Big Two" played out one of the greatest matches of all time in the final of Roland Garros five weeks ago, Sunday's rematch did not disappoint — there was some terrific tennis on display throughout. Sinner looked to have taken control in the first set when he broke his opponent's serve in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead, only for Alcaraz to break back twice — the second time thanks in part to a suddenly nervous looking Sinner, who double-faulted to give the Spaniard an advantage, which he wasted no time in taking. With the memory of that French Open final — which Sinner somehow lost despite going two sets up and having three championship points — still fresh on everyone's minds, it would have been easy for the Italian to wonder whether he had once again passed up an opportunity for a grand slam title. But the world No. 1 steeled himself and played a magnificent second set, breaking Alcaraz in the first game and holding from then onward. In particular, his final game of the set was so impressive, hitting two stunning forehands to tie the match. Indeed, the Italian's forehand shot quality in the second set was 9.4, compared with the draw average of 7.3. After a short lull in the third set, with both players holding relatively comfortably, Sinner struck another decisive blow to go 5-4 up, leaving Alcaraz furious after he slipped on the crucial break point. The Italian had the momentum now and kept at it, producing two brilliant winners in the third game of the fourth set to break Alcaraz again. The Spaniard had one last chance to get back into the match when he found himself up 15-40 in one game, but could not convert either break point, leaving Sinner to wrap up the win on his next service game. The world No. 1 now adds a Wimbledon title to the two he has won at the Australian Open and the one he claimed at the US Open. Despite only having won five of his 13 matches against Alcaraz, he is now 2-0 against the Spaniard at Wimbledon. Alcaraz, having lost a grand slam final for the first time in his six appearances, missed out on the chance to join Björn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men in the Open Era to win three Wimbledon titles in a row. — Agencies
