Jannik Sinner has cemented his status as one of tennis's all-time greats, defeating Alexander Zverev 6-7(7-9) 7-6(7-2) 6-3 6-4 in a gripping Wimbledon final lasting three hours and 46 minutes to become only the tenth man in the Open era to retain the SW19 men's singles crown.
The victory felt all the sweeter given the turbulence Sinner endured in the weeks beforehand. Just a month ago, having arrived at Roland Garros on a 29-match winning streak, the Italian suffered a stunning collapse against Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round, surrendering a lead of two sets and 5-1. It was an eerie echo of his 2025 Roland Garros heartbreak, yet once again, Wimbledon became his stage for redemption.
Even during the fortnight itself, nerves were tested. Sinner was forced to battle through five gruelling sets against Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round, narrowly avoiding the ignominy of becoming only the third defending Wimbledon men's champion to fall at the opening hurdle.
Zverev, fresh from claiming his maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open, pushed Sinner to his absolute limits and received warm backing from a star-studded Centre Court crowd that included the Prince and Princess of Wales, Nicole Kidman, and Ben Stiller. The German second seed joked afterwards that he no longer liked Sinner, a playful nod to the Italian now holding a 10-match winning streak over him, but graciously acknowledged that Sinner remains the sport's benchmark.
For Sinner, Wimbledon holds a uniquely personal place. As a child in Italy, tennis ranked third behind skiing and football, except during Wimbledon fortnight, which first captured his imagination. Now he owns the title twice over.
TennisDraw users who backed Sinner for back-to-back glory will be celebrating a well-earned bracket win today.
