Sinner ‘living dream' as he claims first Wimbledon crown from young rival
In a fine final which never quite hit the extraordinary heights of their Roland-Garros thriller five weeks earlier, Sinner proved too icily consistent for the slightly under-par champion on a stiflingly warm afternoon on Centre Court on Sunday, prevailing 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 for his fourth grand slam title.
The 23-year-old world No.1 recovered from losing the first set, which Alcaraz wrapped up with the sensational shot of the match, to then largely control proceedings with the relentless ferocity and accuracy of his hitting to seal victory in four minutes over three hours.
'This was only a dream, it was far away where I'm from,' Sinner told the crowd after collecting the trophy from Kate, Princess of Wales. 'I'm just living my dream, it's amazing.'
The first ever champion from Italy, he'd delivered a masterclass of control and composure after the disappointment of losing a fairly flat first set when Alcaraz suddenly came up with some familiar magic to conjure up the set-winning break.
Sinner thought he'd saved the set point when he powered what seemed an unstoppable forehand deep into the corner only for the Spaniard to stretch and produce an unfeasibly brilliant backhand winner.
But Alcaraz threw in a sloppy service game straight afterwards - something he'd been guilty of more than once during his fortnight's defence - as Sinner greedily grasped the chance to hit back.
There were moments of sublime brilliance from the pair but just as many mistakes, with Sinner hitting 40 winners and the same number of unforced errors while Alcaraz's tally was 38 and 36.
But the real champagne stuff came early in the second set when Sinner had to delay his serve at a critical moment when a cork flew out from the crowd and nearly hit him.
It prompted the memorable rebuke from British umpire Alison Hughes: 'Ladies and gentlemen, please don't pop your champagne corks as the players are about to serve.'
'Only here at Wimbledon,' Sinner later observed dryly. 'But that's exactly why we love playing here. It's a very expensive tournament!'
At 5-4 up in the set, Sinner delivered his own champagne game, chasing down an Alcaraz drop shot and cracking a forehand winner down the line to bring up set point before slapping another winner cross-court.
From there, Alcaraz always looked in trouble, and it felt unsurprising when the relentless Italian struck again at 4-4, another huge forehand earning him the key break.
Another one came at 2-1 in the fourth, but Alcaraz, who had pulled off an incredible escape in Paris when he saved three championship points in a five-set, five-hour 29-minute epic, had no answers this time with his serve not functioning at its best.
And neither was there any sign of frailty from Sinner, who just wouldn't let him off the hook this time as he was able to savour a momentous triumph, his first victory over Alcaraz in his last six attempts as he handed the 22-year-old Spaniard his first defeat in a grand slam final.
Alcaraz had also been on a career-best 24-match unbeaten run, and had won 20 matches in a row at the All England Club, including victories against Novak Djokovic in the 2023 and 2024 finals, yet he missed out on joining the elite group to have won three in a row.
Sinner's early season misery when he had to serve a doping ban seemed like ancient history as he added the Wimbledon crown to his Australian Open and US Open titles. If he had converted one of those match points at Roland Garros, he would now be holding all four titles.
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Damson Idris was trying to tune out the noise, but that's a little difficult at a Formula One race. The British-Nigerian actor was in the zone, in character, filming the high-octane movie F1 with Brad Pitt at some of the world's most famous racetracks. While Idris' profile has been rising in recent years, after six seasons starring in the FX series Snowfall, there's nothing like being next to globally famous Formula One drivers and a Hollywood megastar to put things into perspective. He was pretty sure he was going to coast under the radar. Then he started hearing not just his own name from fans in the crowd but "Franklin Saint," too, the name of his drug kingpin character on Snowfall. "It's funny, because I see myself as a young actor who nobody knows," Idris, 33, said in a recent interview. Anonymity may already be a thing of the past for Idris, though. In May, he made a splash at the Met Gala, arriving in a full racing suit (branded with F1's fictional team name APXGP) and a Swarovski crystal-studded helmet that he and two ushers removed to reveal a second look underneath. The boldness and theatricality of the stunt made it one of the most talked about moments at an event where everyone is trying to stand out. And things have revved up even more since F1 opened in cinemas globally. With a wave of great reviews for the Top Gun: Maverick-style spectacle, filmmaker Joseph Kosinski is pretty sure Idris is going to start hearing people shout "Joshua Pearce" at him too. That's the name of Idris' character, the hotshot rookie driver of the worst team on the circuit who's desperate to prove himself and hang on to one of the coveted seats. "I'm very excited for people to see him own this character and go toe to toe with a giant movie star," Kosinski said. "I think he can do anything. He's just super talented, and I feel like I'm lucky to see him at the beginning of what's going to be a pretty stratospheric launch." Idris tries to seek out projects that challenge him and characters who are as different as possible - from each other and, especially, from him. Joshua Pearce fit the bill in a moment when he was preparing to say goodbye to Franklin Saint. After he read the F1 script, the character even infiltrated his dreams. "I said to myself, 'Man, no one's going to be able to play this part like I will.' I remember writing Joe (Kosinski) a letter and telling him that," Idris said. "When we finally jumped in the cars for the first time, I was hooked. I was like, 'Yep this movie's mine. It's no one else's and I can't wait to give my all to it.' And that's exactly what I did." F1 wouldn't just require playing a part. Both he and Pitt had to learn how to drive the cars at speeds of up to 300 kmh. It took months of training behind the wheel the supervision of stunt drivers Luciano Bacheta and Craig Dolby, as well as physical training to adapt to the G-forces they'd feel in the car. When it came time to film, which they did with special cameras attached to the cars, sometimes they were driving during breaks at real races with hundreds of thousands of spectators around. Every time you see Idris' or Pitt's face in the car, Kosinski said, they're really driving that car. "It's so insane. It's actually quicker in real life and it looks really fast on the screen," Idris said. "In a split second, a decision could be really detrimental. But I couldn't imagine doing this movie any other way. If it was on green screen, you'd be able to tell." There's a bit of art-meets-life symmetry wrapped up in F1, in which an up-and-comer teams up with a veteran. In the film, it's a reluctant pairing of two alphas. The mentorship is fraught, the lessons are hard-earned and the competition is not exactly friendly. Unlike Joshua, Idris is more than willing to get advice from those around him, whether it's producers like Jerry Bruckheimer and Jeremy Kleiner, his director Kosinski, or his co-stars, from Pitt to Javier Bardem. "I speak to them every day and I ask for advice," he said. "The main focus is on stories, playing characters that I can be proud of and range. That's everything I'm setting out to do in this career." Acting was not always the goal for Idris. Like many kids in South London, he once dreamed of being a soccer player. Sure, the idea of being a renowned athlete held some appeal, but he also loved the sheer discipline it required. Then, at age 18, he realised he'd never be as great as Lionel Messi. "When I see him one day, hopefully I'm blessed to meet him, I'm going to tell him that he's the reason why I quit football, because he was so good," he said. "Wonderfully, acting is a subjective industry, so I can at least cheat my way into working with Brad Pitt." Cheating is, of course, a bit of cheeky hyperbole for an actor who studied drama at university and continued training at London's Identity School of Acting afterward. Since he made his stage debut in Ade Solanke's Pandora's Box more than 10 years ago, Idris has been hitting the pavement like the rest of his peers. And he's just getting started. Idris recently wrapped filming the Tomi Adeyemi adaptation Children of Bone and Blood in Cape Town, South Africa. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Idris plays Prince Inan in the African fantasy that co-stars Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Idris' idol and real-life mentor Idris Elba. "It's not just a namesake," Idris said. "I feel so blessed to be able to say that I'm like his little brother and I can call him and get advice." Next up, Idris will prepare to portray Miles Davis in Bill Pohlad's Miles & Juliette, about the jazz legend's romance with French singer Juliette Gréco. He's also founded a fine jewelry line, named Didris, inspired by his mother, and is getting into producing as well - his production company has a deal with FX Networks and wants to make opportunities for emerging talents. And like his character in F1, Idris is learning to block out the noise. He knows that a film career is a long journey and there will be ups and downs. "It's a huge moment, but I'm fortunate to have so many people in my life that keep me grounded," Idris said. "I've soaked in information from people I admire who say the same thing during these higher moments: Pinch yourself, stay grounded, remember where you came from. "That's exactly how I'm walking through this portal and into these next couple of years. I'm excited, I'm humbled, I am blessed and I can't wait to see what the future brings." AP/AAP Damson Idris was trying to tune out the noise, but that's a little difficult at a Formula One race. The British-Nigerian actor was in the zone, in character, filming the high-octane movie F1 with Brad Pitt at some of the world's most famous racetracks. While Idris' profile has been rising in recent years, after six seasons starring in the FX series Snowfall, there's nothing like being next to globally famous Formula One drivers and a Hollywood megastar to put things into perspective. He was pretty sure he was going to coast under the radar. Then he started hearing not just his own name from fans in the crowd but "Franklin Saint," too, the name of his drug kingpin character on Snowfall. "It's funny, because I see myself as a young actor who nobody knows," Idris, 33, said in a recent interview. Anonymity may already be a thing of the past for Idris, though. In May, he made a splash at the Met Gala, arriving in a full racing suit (branded with F1's fictional team name APXGP) and a Swarovski crystal-studded helmet that he and two ushers removed to reveal a second look underneath. The boldness and theatricality of the stunt made it one of the most talked about moments at an event where everyone is trying to stand out. And things have revved up even more since F1 opened in cinemas globally. With a wave of great reviews for the Top Gun: Maverick-style spectacle, filmmaker Joseph Kosinski is pretty sure Idris is going to start hearing people shout "Joshua Pearce" at him too. That's the name of Idris' character, the hotshot rookie driver of the worst team on the circuit who's desperate to prove himself and hang on to one of the coveted seats. "I'm very excited for people to see him own this character and go toe to toe with a giant movie star," Kosinski said. "I think he can do anything. He's just super talented, and I feel like I'm lucky to see him at the beginning of what's going to be a pretty stratospheric launch." Idris tries to seek out projects that challenge him and characters who are as different as possible - from each other and, especially, from him. Joshua Pearce fit the bill in a moment when he was preparing to say goodbye to Franklin Saint. After he read the F1 script, the character even infiltrated his dreams. "I said to myself, 'Man, no one's going to be able to play this part like I will.' I remember writing Joe (Kosinski) a letter and telling him that," Idris said. "When we finally jumped in the cars for the first time, I was hooked. I was like, 'Yep this movie's mine. It's no one else's and I can't wait to give my all to it.' And that's exactly what I did." F1 wouldn't just require playing a part. Both he and Pitt had to learn how to drive the cars at speeds of up to 300 kmh. It took months of training behind the wheel the supervision of stunt drivers Luciano Bacheta and Craig Dolby, as well as physical training to adapt to the G-forces they'd feel in the car. When it came time to film, which they did with special cameras attached to the cars, sometimes they were driving during breaks at real races with hundreds of thousands of spectators around. Every time you see Idris' or Pitt's face in the car, Kosinski said, they're really driving that car. "It's so insane. It's actually quicker in real life and it looks really fast on the screen," Idris said. "In a split second, a decision could be really detrimental. But I couldn't imagine doing this movie any other way. If it was on green screen, you'd be able to tell." There's a bit of art-meets-life symmetry wrapped up in F1, in which an up-and-comer teams up with a veteran. In the film, it's a reluctant pairing of two alphas. The mentorship is fraught, the lessons are hard-earned and the competition is not exactly friendly. Unlike Joshua, Idris is more than willing to get advice from those around him, whether it's producers like Jerry Bruckheimer and Jeremy Kleiner, his director Kosinski, or his co-stars, from Pitt to Javier Bardem. "I speak to them every day and I ask for advice," he said. "The main focus is on stories, playing characters that I can be proud of and range. That's everything I'm setting out to do in this career." Acting was not always the goal for Idris. Like many kids in South London, he once dreamed of being a soccer player. Sure, the idea of being a renowned athlete held some appeal, but he also loved the sheer discipline it required. Then, at age 18, he realised he'd never be as great as Lionel Messi. "When I see him one day, hopefully I'm blessed to meet him, I'm going to tell him that he's the reason why I quit football, because he was so good," he said. "Wonderfully, acting is a subjective industry, so I can at least cheat my way into working with Brad Pitt." Cheating is, of course, a bit of cheeky hyperbole for an actor who studied drama at university and continued training at London's Identity School of Acting afterward. Since he made his stage debut in Ade Solanke's Pandora's Box more than 10 years ago, Idris has been hitting the pavement like the rest of his peers. And he's just getting started. Idris recently wrapped filming the Tomi Adeyemi adaptation Children of Bone and Blood in Cape Town, South Africa. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Idris plays Prince Inan in the African fantasy that co-stars Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Idris' idol and real-life mentor Idris Elba. "It's not just a namesake," Idris said. "I feel so blessed to be able to say that I'm like his little brother and I can call him and get advice." Next up, Idris will prepare to portray Miles Davis in Bill Pohlad's Miles & Juliette, about the jazz legend's romance with French singer Juliette Gréco. He's also founded a fine jewelry line, named Didris, inspired by his mother, and is getting into producing as well - his production company has a deal with FX Networks and wants to make opportunities for emerging talents. And like his character in F1, Idris is learning to block out the noise. He knows that a film career is a long journey and there will be ups and downs. "It's a huge moment, but I'm fortunate to have so many people in my life that keep me grounded," Idris said. "I've soaked in information from people I admire who say the same thing during these higher moments: Pinch yourself, stay grounded, remember where you came from. "That's exactly how I'm walking through this portal and into these next couple of years. I'm excited, I'm humbled, I am blessed and I can't wait to see what the future brings." AP/AAP Damson Idris was trying to tune out the noise, but that's a little difficult at a Formula One race. The British-Nigerian actor was in the zone, in character, filming the high-octane movie F1 with Brad Pitt at some of the world's most famous racetracks. While Idris' profile has been rising in recent years, after six seasons starring in the FX series Snowfall, there's nothing like being next to globally famous Formula One drivers and a Hollywood megastar to put things into perspective. He was pretty sure he was going to coast under the radar. Then he started hearing not just his own name from fans in the crowd but "Franklin Saint," too, the name of his drug kingpin character on Snowfall. "It's funny, because I see myself as a young actor who nobody knows," Idris, 33, said in a recent interview. Anonymity may already be a thing of the past for Idris, though. In May, he made a splash at the Met Gala, arriving in a full racing suit (branded with F1's fictional team name APXGP) and a Swarovski crystal-studded helmet that he and two ushers removed to reveal a second look underneath. The boldness and theatricality of the stunt made it one of the most talked about moments at an event where everyone is trying to stand out. And things have revved up even more since F1 opened in cinemas globally. With a wave of great reviews for the Top Gun: Maverick-style spectacle, filmmaker Joseph Kosinski is pretty sure Idris is going to start hearing people shout "Joshua Pearce" at him too. That's the name of Idris' character, the hotshot rookie driver of the worst team on the circuit who's desperate to prove himself and hang on to one of the coveted seats. "I'm very excited for people to see him own this character and go toe to toe with a giant movie star," Kosinski said. "I think he can do anything. He's just super talented, and I feel like I'm lucky to see him at the beginning of what's going to be a pretty stratospheric launch." Idris tries to seek out projects that challenge him and characters who are as different as possible - from each other and, especially, from him. Joshua Pearce fit the bill in a moment when he was preparing to say goodbye to Franklin Saint. After he read the F1 script, the character even infiltrated his dreams. "I said to myself, 'Man, no one's going to be able to play this part like I will.' I remember writing Joe (Kosinski) a letter and telling him that," Idris said. "When we finally jumped in the cars for the first time, I was hooked. I was like, 'Yep this movie's mine. It's no one else's and I can't wait to give my all to it.' And that's exactly what I did." F1 wouldn't just require playing a part. Both he and Pitt had to learn how to drive the cars at speeds of up to 300 kmh. It took months of training behind the wheel the supervision of stunt drivers Luciano Bacheta and Craig Dolby, as well as physical training to adapt to the G-forces they'd feel in the car. When it came time to film, which they did with special cameras attached to the cars, sometimes they were driving during breaks at real races with hundreds of thousands of spectators around. Every time you see Idris' or Pitt's face in the car, Kosinski said, they're really driving that car. "It's so insane. It's actually quicker in real life and it looks really fast on the screen," Idris said. "In a split second, a decision could be really detrimental. But I couldn't imagine doing this movie any other way. If it was on green screen, you'd be able to tell." There's a bit of art-meets-life symmetry wrapped up in F1, in which an up-and-comer teams up with a veteran. In the film, it's a reluctant pairing of two alphas. The mentorship is fraught, the lessons are hard-earned and the competition is not exactly friendly. Unlike Joshua, Idris is more than willing to get advice from those around him, whether it's producers like Jerry Bruckheimer and Jeremy Kleiner, his director Kosinski, or his co-stars, from Pitt to Javier Bardem. "I speak to them every day and I ask for advice," he said. "The main focus is on stories, playing characters that I can be proud of and range. That's everything I'm setting out to do in this career." Acting was not always the goal for Idris. Like many kids in South London, he once dreamed of being a soccer player. Sure, the idea of being a renowned athlete held some appeal, but he also loved the sheer discipline it required. Then, at age 18, he realised he'd never be as great as Lionel Messi. "When I see him one day, hopefully I'm blessed to meet him, I'm going to tell him that he's the reason why I quit football, because he was so good," he said. "Wonderfully, acting is a subjective industry, so I can at least cheat my way into working with Brad Pitt." Cheating is, of course, a bit of cheeky hyperbole for an actor who studied drama at university and continued training at London's Identity School of Acting afterward. Since he made his stage debut in Ade Solanke's Pandora's Box more than 10 years ago, Idris has been hitting the pavement like the rest of his peers. And he's just getting started. Idris recently wrapped filming the Tomi Adeyemi adaptation Children of Bone and Blood in Cape Town, South Africa. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Idris plays Prince Inan in the African fantasy that co-stars Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Idris' idol and real-life mentor Idris Elba. "It's not just a namesake," Idris said. "I feel so blessed to be able to say that I'm like his little brother and I can call him and get advice." Next up, Idris will prepare to portray Miles Davis in Bill Pohlad's Miles & Juliette, about the jazz legend's romance with French singer Juliette Gréco. He's also founded a fine jewelry line, named Didris, inspired by his mother, and is getting into producing as well - his production company has a deal with FX Networks and wants to make opportunities for emerging talents. And like his character in F1, Idris is learning to block out the noise. He knows that a film career is a long journey and there will be ups and downs. "It's a huge moment, but I'm fortunate to have so many people in my life that keep me grounded," Idris said. "I've soaked in information from people I admire who say the same thing during these higher moments: Pinch yourself, stay grounded, remember where you came from. "That's exactly how I'm walking through this portal and into these next couple of years. I'm excited, I'm humbled, I am blessed and I can't wait to see what the future brings." AP/AAP Damson Idris was trying to tune out the noise, but that's a little difficult at a Formula One race. The British-Nigerian actor was in the zone, in character, filming the high-octane movie F1 with Brad Pitt at some of the world's most famous racetracks. While Idris' profile has been rising in recent years, after six seasons starring in the FX series Snowfall, there's nothing like being next to globally famous Formula One drivers and a Hollywood megastar to put things into perspective. He was pretty sure he was going to coast under the radar. Then he started hearing not just his own name from fans in the crowd but "Franklin Saint," too, the name of his drug kingpin character on Snowfall. "It's funny, because I see myself as a young actor who nobody knows," Idris, 33, said in a recent interview. Anonymity may already be a thing of the past for Idris, though. In May, he made a splash at the Met Gala, arriving in a full racing suit (branded with F1's fictional team name APXGP) and a Swarovski crystal-studded helmet that he and two ushers removed to reveal a second look underneath. The boldness and theatricality of the stunt made it one of the most talked about moments at an event where everyone is trying to stand out. And things have revved up even more since F1 opened in cinemas globally. With a wave of great reviews for the Top Gun: Maverick-style spectacle, filmmaker Joseph Kosinski is pretty sure Idris is going to start hearing people shout "Joshua Pearce" at him too. That's the name of Idris' character, the hotshot rookie driver of the worst team on the circuit who's desperate to prove himself and hang on to one of the coveted seats. "I'm very excited for people to see him own this character and go toe to toe with a giant movie star," Kosinski said. "I think he can do anything. He's just super talented, and I feel like I'm lucky to see him at the beginning of what's going to be a pretty stratospheric launch." Idris tries to seek out projects that challenge him and characters who are as different as possible - from each other and, especially, from him. Joshua Pearce fit the bill in a moment when he was preparing to say goodbye to Franklin Saint. After he read the F1 script, the character even infiltrated his dreams. "I said to myself, 'Man, no one's going to be able to play this part like I will.' I remember writing Joe (Kosinski) a letter and telling him that," Idris said. "When we finally jumped in the cars for the first time, I was hooked. I was like, 'Yep this movie's mine. It's no one else's and I can't wait to give my all to it.' And that's exactly what I did." F1 wouldn't just require playing a part. Both he and Pitt had to learn how to drive the cars at speeds of up to 300 kmh. It took months of training behind the wheel the supervision of stunt drivers Luciano Bacheta and Craig Dolby, as well as physical training to adapt to the G-forces they'd feel in the car. When it came time to film, which they did with special cameras attached to the cars, sometimes they were driving during breaks at real races with hundreds of thousands of spectators around. Every time you see Idris' or Pitt's face in the car, Kosinski said, they're really driving that car. "It's so insane. It's actually quicker in real life and it looks really fast on the screen," Idris said. "In a split second, a decision could be really detrimental. But I couldn't imagine doing this movie any other way. If it was on green screen, you'd be able to tell." There's a bit of art-meets-life symmetry wrapped up in F1, in which an up-and-comer teams up with a veteran. In the film, it's a reluctant pairing of two alphas. The mentorship is fraught, the lessons are hard-earned and the competition is not exactly friendly. Unlike Joshua, Idris is more than willing to get advice from those around him, whether it's producers like Jerry Bruckheimer and Jeremy Kleiner, his director Kosinski, or his co-stars, from Pitt to Javier Bardem. "I speak to them every day and I ask for advice," he said. "The main focus is on stories, playing characters that I can be proud of and range. That's everything I'm setting out to do in this career." Acting was not always the goal for Idris. Like many kids in South London, he once dreamed of being a soccer player. Sure, the idea of being a renowned athlete held some appeal, but he also loved the sheer discipline it required. Then, at age 18, he realised he'd never be as great as Lionel Messi. "When I see him one day, hopefully I'm blessed to meet him, I'm going to tell him that he's the reason why I quit football, because he was so good," he said. "Wonderfully, acting is a subjective industry, so I can at least cheat my way into working with Brad Pitt." Cheating is, of course, a bit of cheeky hyperbole for an actor who studied drama at university and continued training at London's Identity School of Acting afterward. Since he made his stage debut in Ade Solanke's Pandora's Box more than 10 years ago, Idris has been hitting the pavement like the rest of his peers. And he's just getting started. Idris recently wrapped filming the Tomi Adeyemi adaptation Children of Bone and Blood in Cape Town, South Africa. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Idris plays Prince Inan in the African fantasy that co-stars Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Idris' idol and real-life mentor Idris Elba. "It's not just a namesake," Idris said. "I feel so blessed to be able to say that I'm like his little brother and I can call him and get advice." Next up, Idris will prepare to portray Miles Davis in Bill Pohlad's Miles & Juliette, about the jazz legend's romance with French singer Juliette Gréco. He's also founded a fine jewelry line, named Didris, inspired by his mother, and is getting into producing as well - his production company has a deal with FX Networks and wants to make opportunities for emerging talents. And like his character in F1, Idris is learning to block out the noise. He knows that a film career is a long journey and there will be ups and downs. "It's a huge moment, but I'm fortunate to have so many people in my life that keep me grounded," Idris said. "I've soaked in information from people I admire who say the same thing during these higher moments: Pinch yourself, stay grounded, remember where you came from. "That's exactly how I'm walking through this portal and into these next couple of years. I'm excited, I'm humbled, I am blessed and I can't wait to see what the future brings." AP/AAP
Sky News AU
6 hours ago
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Near-capacity crowd expected at Sydney's Allianz Stadium as Wrexham's fairytale rise continues and Hollywood backing draw huge interest
Welsh football club Wrexham is set to play in front of a near-capacity crowd in Sydney on Tuesday night as the team continues its Australian tour, with the highly anticipated friendly against Sydney FC expected to attract around 38,000 fans. The attendance at Allianz Stadium is shaping up to rival that of the British and Irish Lions' recent clash with the NSW Waratahs, which drew approximately 40,000 spectators earlier this month. Wrexham, still riding a wave of global interest thanks to its dramatic rise through the English football leagues and the high-profile ownership of Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, has seen its popularity soar beyond the pitch. Wrexham club's manager, Phil Parkinson, said the squad was still coming to terms with the scale of their journey. 'Where the club's come from, there've been tough periods over the last 20 years. To imagine that we'd be touring Australia and having all these great experiences, sometimes you've got to pinch yourself,' he said during a media appearance on Monday. The team held a training session at Sydney Olympic Park before visiting Taronga Zoo. Wrexham has enjoyed three successive promotions and now sits within striking distance of the English Premier League, a remarkable turnaround for a club that was once struggling in non-league football. New signing Ryan Hardie has joined the squad after spells at Rangers and Plymouth Argyle. His arrival in North Wales came with a touch of Hollywood sparkle. 'They're involved in this club as much as anyone,' Hardie said, referring to the messages of support he received from Deadpool star Reynolds and fellow Hollywood A-lister McElhenney after his signing was announced. Wrexham's revival, chronicled in the Disney+ docuseries Welcome to Wrexham, has turned the team into an unlikely global phenomenon and drawn new audiences to lower-tier English football. The club's most recent appearance in Australia saw them cruise to a 3-0 victory over Melbourne Victory on Friday night, with Reynolds and McElhenney watching the match remotely. 'I'm sure they'll be watching this one in Sydney as well,' Parkinson added. In a cross-sport exchange, Bulldogs NRL coach Cameron Ciraldo also paid a visit to Wrexham's training session in Homebush, exchanging ideas with Parkinson on coaching and team culture. 'It was interesting to speak to Cam about how he's created his team and is coaching his team,' Parkinson said. 'There's a lot of similarities in terms of mentality and team building, getting your squad right, the culture right. So, much of that is transferable between the two sports.'
