Jannik Sinner has etched his name into tennis history, claiming his first Gentlemen`s Singles title at Wimbledon. The young Italian overcame a formidable challenge from Spanish rival Carlos Alcaraz in a captivating final, triumphing with a scoreline of 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 over just over three hours on the hallowed grass of Centre Court. In doing so, Sinner becomes the first Italian man to lift the prestigious Wimbledon trophy, a monumental achievement for himself and his nation.
Speaking after receiving the iconic gold cup from the Princess of Wales, Sinner admitted that finding the right words felt more difficult than executing the crucial shots during the match.
“When I was a kid, Wimbledon was the dream of dreams, because this tournament feels so far away from where I come from. Now I am living my dream,” he shared with the nearly 15,000 spectators who had just witnessed history unfold.
Sinner was gracious in victory, immediately paying tribute to his opponent.
“Starting with Carlos,” he addressed Alcaraz directly, “for another incredible tournament, but especially for the player you are. It`s always tough to face you. We have a great relationship off the court, we are trying to build something inside [the court] and for this you need great teams. Carlos, you will hold this trophy many times… even though you already have two,” he added with a smile, perhaps momentarily forgetting his rival`s existing Grand Slam tally – a small, charming stumble in the emotion of the moment.
Reflecting on his journey, Sinner acknowledged the role of recent setbacks, specifically mentioning a tough loss in Paris.
“I lost in a bad way in Paris,” he admitted openly. “But it doesn`t matter how you win or lose, in special tournaments you have to understand what you did wrong and work on it. We tried to accept the defeat, and that is one of the reasons why I won this trophy.”
He highlighted the importance of mental fortitude during the demanding five-set format inherent to Grand Slams.
“The whole last game I served very well. At the best of 5 sets every moment can change the match, and I`m happy to have kept my nerves calm.”
The unique charm of Wimbledon wasn`t lost on the champion, who recounted a slightly bizarre moment just before serving.
“It could only happen here at Wimbledon,” he joked, referring to a rogue champagne cork that landed on the court. “But that`s why I love playing here. It is a very expensive tournament,” he quipped, referencing the exclusive membership that comes with victory. “It sounds incredible to have become a member of this club. I hope my career is still long and to come back at the end. But it is incredible.”
Sinner concluded his address by expressing heartfelt gratitude to those who supported him.
“I want to thank my team and everyone who came here for this special day. You gave me so many emotions inside and outside the court. I tried to become a better player but especially a better person. I thank the ball boys: it`s fantastic to have you, you worked hard and made everything easier. Thank you for all the support, see you next year.”
Sinner`s victory marks a significant milestone in his burgeoning career and for Italian tennis. His composure, resilience, and humble demeanor in triumph underscore the qualities of a true champion, suggesting this may be just the beginning of his success on the sport`s biggest stages.