Jannik Sinner won Wimbledon battle but war with Carlos Alcaraz is far from over
The Spanish tennis superstar was aiming for a three-peat at this year's Championships but fell at the final hurdle to his biggest rival in the sport.
But while Jannik Sinner may've won the battle – the war between the best two players on the planet is only just beginning.
'I take away many things to improve on,' Alcaraz said after his defeat. 'You have to accept that you can't always win, that your opponent can outplay you. The good thing about tennis is you have more tournaments ahead.'
'He (Alcaraz) is going to come for us again,' Sinner added after his triumph on Centre Court. 'We have a big target on us, so we have to be prepared.'
The race to complete the career Grand Slam is now on, with both men now needing to win just one specific trophy each to secure the bragging rights.
The French Open is the last major tournament Italian world No.1 Sinner hasn't won. For world No.2 Alcaraz, it's the Australian Open. The Spaniard will have the first opportunity at the start of 2026 – but there's still one last Grand Slam up for grabs this year at the US Open in New York… Australian Open 2024 – Jannik Sinner
– Jannik Sinner French Open 2024 – Carlos Alcaraz
– Carlos Alcaraz Wimbledon 2024 – Carlos Alcaraz
– Carlos Alcaraz US Open 2024 – Jannik Sinner
– Jannik Sinner Australian Open 2025 – Jannik Sinner
– Jannik Sinner French Open 2025 – Carlos Alcaraz
– Carlos Alcaraz Wimbledon 2025 – Jannik Sinner
One of the most exciting aspects of this new sporting war is that both men are still so early into their careers. Alcaraz is only 22. Sinner is just 23.
'I don't think I'm at my best [yet] because [at the age of] 23, I don't think you can be in your best shape ever,' Sinner explained.
'Hopefully I can keep improving. But it's important to have these kind of players (Alcaraz) because you have to always think.'
The duo have now played each other 13 times on the ATP Tour.
Alcaraz still leads the head-to-head 8-5 – but his run of five successive wins over Sinner is over.
If both players keep up their incredible level of tennis – and avoid any significant injuries – they could continue to dominate the sport for the next decade and a half.
Everyone knows it too.
'Alcaraz and Sinner are going to be carrying the torch for the next 10 to 15 years,' Nick Kyrgios, who covered the final for TNT Sports, told iNews.
'I am really happy about having this rivalry with him,' Alcaraz continued. 'I think it's great for us, and it is great for tennis.
'Every time we playing against each other, I think our level is really high. I think we don't watch a level like this, if I'm honest with you.
'I don't see any player playing against each other, you know, having the level that we are playing when we face each other.
'I think this rivalry, it's becoming better and better. We're building a really great rivalry because we're playing the finals of a Grand Slam, finals of Masters, the best tournaments in the world. It's going to be better and better.
'I'm just really grateful for that because it gives me the opportunity to give 100 per cent every practice, every day.
'Just to be better, thanks to that. The level that I have to maintain and I have to raise if I want to beat Jannik is really high.'
Should Sinner defend his title at the US Open, he'll match Alcaraz's tally of five major trophies. If Alcaraz wins, he'll have six to Sinner's four. More Trending
Ahead of what could be a third successive Grand Slam final between the pair at Flushing Meadows, Sinner has fired a little warning to his rival.
'My favourite surface is hard court.'
It only seems like yesterday that we were talking about Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer – but tennis never stops – and all eyes are now on this enthralling rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner.
They're the new John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg. Fire and ice. Two players who approach the sport differently, but when the play one another, it's a truly must-watch spectacle. Long may it continue, because tennis needs it.
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