Jannik Sinner defended his Wimbledon title by defeating Alexander Zverev 6:7 (7:9), 7:6 (7:2), 6:3, 6:4 in Sunday’s final, which lasted three hours and 46 minutes, reports the BBC. The world number one’s victory marks his fifth Grand Slam title in his career.
Sinner became only the tenth player in the Open era to defend a singles title at Wimbledon. He is also the first player in 48 years to win the tournament after playing five sets in the opening round — no one has achieved this feat at a Grand Slam since Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros in 2011.
It took nearly three hours for the first break of the final to occur. Sinner fell to the grass during a point, got back up, and secured a service break, from which he never relinquished the advantage. He hit a total of 58 winners in the match.
"This title means a lot to me because, after Paris, it was tough again," Sinner said, as quoted by the BBC after the final. The Italian arrived at Wimbledon following a shocking second-round exit at Roland Garros to Juan Manuel Cerundola, whom he handed the match despite leading by two sets and 5-1.
After saving his tournament in five sets against Miomir Kecmanović in the first round, Sinner recorded five convincing victories without dropping a set to reach the final. The most impressive was the semi-final: he defeated Novak Djokovic, the record holder with 24 Grand Slam titles, in two hours and 20 minutes, facing only one break point against him.
Zverev, who won his first Grand Slam title last month, will become the world number two from Monday, replacing the injured Carlos Alcaraz. Against Sinner, however, he suffered his tenth consecutive defeat. Sinner has won 44 of his 47 matches this season, and 77 of 83 since his winning run at Wimbledon began last year.
