The Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry is one for the ages

Jul 13, 2025, 03:30 PM ET

WIMBLEDON, England — World No. 1 Jannik Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday to win his first Wimbledon title and fourth Grand Slam crown.

The Italian gained revenge over Alcaraz after his agonizing defeat in final month’s French Open closing, when Sinner held three match factors earlier than happening in 5 units.

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Alcaraz was attempting to turn out to be solely the fifth man within the Open period to win Wimbledon three years in a row. However after taking the primary set, he was outplayed by Sinner, who’s the primary Italian to win the title.

It’s the primary time Sinner has crushed Alcaraz of their previous six conferences, reducing the deficit of their head-to-head battles to 8-5. The pair are actually 1-1 in Slam finals towards one another and have separated themselves from the pack.

We break down what makes their rivalry particular.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have now mixed to win the final seven majors. Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Photographs

They convey out the most effective in one another

Like all nice rivalries, these two appear to pressure one another to new ranges. At occasions, once they’re going toe-to-toe from the baseline, it’s like watching Pong, the classic pc sport, the place the ball quickens at each flip.

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The shot-making is unimaginable, as Sinner confirmed with a between-the-legs half-volley within the closing on Sunday, or as Alcaraz demonstrated with an outrageous stretch earlier than hitting a sliced backhand go. Three of their 4 Grand Slam battles have gone the gap, and their Roland Garros closing this yr is already being talked up as one of many all-time nice matches.

Every says the opposite has made him a greater participant, and that the opposite evokes him to work tougher, figuring out that in the event that they don’t, the opposite one will likely be.

“I’m really happy to be able to build a great relationship off the court but also a great rivalry on the court that makes me improve every day,” Alcaraz stated on Sunday.

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Alcaraz makes scrumptious drop volley vs. Sinner

Carlos Alcaraz hits a spectacular drop volley to win a degree towards Jannik Sinner within the Wimbledon closing.

They’ve received the previous seven majors between them

When Djokovic, Federer and Rafael Nadal have been dominating the sport, they monopolized the majors, too. From the beginning of 2004 to the top of Roland Garros, the Large Three received 65 of the 77 Grand Slams to be performed — an exceptional period.

Alcaraz and Sinner are of their infancy, by comparability, however they’ve now received the previous seven majors between them: Sinner profitable 4 and Alcaraz profitable three. Issues can change shortly in tennis, and the kids like Joao Fonseca could problem them within the years to return. However proper now, it’s arduous to see anybody else profitable any of the 4 Slams, if this duo stays match.

Their contrasting kinds make for dramatic battles

We’re not fairly speaking about John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl, the last word distinction in kinds or personalities; Sinner and Alcaraz genuinely like one another and respect one another, on and off the court docket. However they’re additionally totally different sufficient, when it comes to the best way they play, to make sure that at any time when they meet, drama is sort of assured.

Each are unimaginable athletes. Alcaraz has the aptitude — the contact, the groundstrokes, the charisma — whereas Sinner has the ability, the poise, the unflappable nature. One rises, the opposite responds; when Alcaraz rushes the online, Sinner passes; when Sinner strikes again, Alcaraz makes use of the drop shot. Neither offers an inch, every all the time believes they will dig themselves out of a gap, and the smile of Alcaraz is matched by the metal within the eyes of Sinner.

Sinner received his first Wimbledon title on Sunday; Alcaraz has received the final two. Adam Davy/PA Photographs through Getty Photographs

Sinner’s win is sweet for the rivalry

The place does their rivalry sit when it comes to tennis historical past? Properly, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert’s file of 80 matches towards one another — an unimaginable 60 in finals — will in all probability by no means be crushed, however the best way these two are dominating the game, equally adept on each floor, suggests they’re more likely to be enjoying one another for the largest titles for a few years to return.

A rivalry is just a rivalry if each gamers preserve profitable, and so in that sense, Sinner’s victory was vital, ending a run of 5 straight losses to Alcaraz, who now leads 8-5. Nearly each time they play one another it appears to be a basic, and in the event that they get anyplace close to the likes of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal (60); Djokovic and Roger Federer (50) and Federer and Nadal (40), then we’re in for a deal with.