Wimbledon: Jannik Sinner breaks the Carlos Alcaraz barrier with lessons from the past

India Today

a day ago

What doesn't kill you makes you strongerJannik Sinner may be the World No. 1, but heading into the Wimbledon 2025 final, few genuinely believed he could topple Carlos Alcaraz.The odds were stacked high against the Italian. Alcaraz had won 20 straight matches at Wimbledon, a streak that included two consecutive titles. He arrived at the final on the back of a 24-match unbeaten run since returning from injury at the Italian Open. Most daunting of all, he had beaten Sinner five times in a row, dating back to their 2023 Beijing semifinal.advertisement
Fans hadn't forgotten how Alcaraz had dismantled Novak Djokovic - a 24-time Grand Slam winner - in straight sets in last year's final. Every stat, every memory, every narrative pointed to another Alcaraz coronation.Wimbledon 2025 men's singles final HighlightsBut sport has a way of defying expectations - and on this occasion, it delivered something truly unforgettable.Just over three hours later, it was Sinner who stood triumphantly on Centre Court, clutching the Wimbledon trophy, while Alcaraz settled for the runner-up plate. Under suffocating pressure, and up against a rival who had seemed untouchable, Sinner delivered a performance for the ages - a commanding 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win that carved his name into Wimbledon history.Not a French Open repeatJust over a month ago, Sinner stood on the brink of his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros. He had taken the first two sets against Alcaraz and looked destined to lift the trophy. The finish line was in sight - he could almost taste it. But what he didn't see coming was destiny's twist.Alcaraz, ever the fighter, thrives when his back is to the wall. On that Paris evening, he clawed his way back, saving multiple championship points in the fourth set before winning in five - in what became the second-longest Grand Slam final in history.Fast forward to Sunday at Wimbledon. The script felt eerily familiar. Sinner was two sets to one up, and Alcaraz again stood in a position where he'd have to win the fourth and fifth to retain his crown. Given his scorching form - unbeaten in 24 matches since returning from injury - no one would've been surprised if the Spaniard forced a decider. Many expected it. But this time, Sinner had other plans.The Italian had already let one slip - he earned an early break in the opening set but faltered, dropping serve twice to hand it over. From that point on, though, he was unshakeable. Sinner locked in.He didn't allow Alcaraz a single break across the next three sets - even when he faced break points deep in the fourth. When he held firm in that tense game, you could sense the shift. There would be no miracle comeback, no fifth-set drama. Sinner wasn't letting this one go.advertisementThis time, it was Sinner's turn to let destiny unfold - on his terms.Learn, work harderNeedless to say, the French Open loss was a bitter pill to swallow for Sinner. Coming so close to his maiden Grand Slam title on clay, only to see it slip away, could have broken his spirit. But instead of retreating into his shell, Sinner rose - like a phoenix from the ashes.He took the pain, the lessons, and the heartbreak from Roland Garros and transformed them into fuel. With renewed purpose and steely determination, he arrived at Wimbledon not just to compete, but to conquer."Honestly, mostly emotionally. I had a very tough loss in Paris, and at the end of the day, whether you win or lose - especially at the big tournaments - what really matters is how you respond," Sinner said in the on-court interview after the match."We tried to accept that loss, to learn from it, and to work harder. That's exactly what we did. And it's one of the reasons I'm holding this trophy now. I'm just so grateful to be healthy, to have great people around me - that's the most important thing. Holding this trophy means so much," Sinner added.advertisementBefore Sunday's final, it was Sinner who had stunned Alcaraz at Wimbledon back in 2022 - a statement win that hinted at what was to come. Three years later, he did it again, reinforcing his edge over the Spaniard on the grass of SW19. Interestingly, Sinner now holds a 2-0 record against Alcaraz at the grass-court major.Until this triumph, Sinner was seen as a hard-court specialist - his three Grand Slam titles coming at the Australian Open and the US Open. But with this latest victory at Wimbledon, he has added another surface to his growing legacy.Now, only one piece is missing: clay. With fire in his belly and four majors already in the bag, Sinner will no doubt turn his eyes to Roland Garros next year, chasing the final jewel in his Grand Slam crown.- Ends