Carlos Alcaraz winning Wimbledon three times in a row would have been a great story for tennis, but it might have ruined the immediate future of the men’s circuit.
Jannik Sinner, Wimbledon champion for the first time, on the other hand, relaunches and strengthens a rivalry that had been under observation since the historic Roland Garros final won a month ago by the Spaniard.
‘I think the biggest effort was emotional, because I had a very tough defeat against Carlos in Paris,’ said the Italian as he hugged tennis’ most coveted trophy and joked with his great rival. ‘Well, you already have two!’
Alcaraz and Sinner are the Nadal-Federer of the third decade of the 21st century. For the rivalry to continue, it was important for Sinner to show that he was worthy of it. He had lost five consecutive matches to the Spaniard, whom he had not beaten since October 2024 in Beijing.
Another defeat in another Grand Slam final would have been too much for Sinner, after losing at Roland Garros despite having match points to win it.
Tennis is played on a rectangle of grass, clay or concrete, but it is played above all in the head. Sinner needed a victory over Alcaraz in a Grand Slam final to believe again.
‘I’m very happy to be able to build this great rivalry,’ was one of the first things Alcaraz said after the defeat. And he’s right: the great rivalry is in good health. Sinner did tennis a big favour.
