After almost an entire year, Jannik Sinner is finally a Slam champion once again, having defeated Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final in a hard-fought four-set match.
Entering the tournament under pressure after failing to win a Major so far this season, the Italian dug deep after dropping the opening set in the final. He gradually grew into the match and ultimately defended the Wimbledon title he won last year.
Sinner Overcomes Adversity to Defend Wimbledon Crown
Despite sitting comfortably at World No.1, it had been a season of mixed emotions for Sinner. On one hand, he won every Masters 1000 tournament held before Wimbledon. During that remarkable run, he also became just the second man after Novak Djokovic to complete the Career Golden Masters. However, a Slam title had continued to elude him.
Sinner had lost only three matches this season, but two of those defeats were among the most painful of his career. Novak Djokovic first beat him in a five-set marathon at the Australian Open. Then, at the French Open, while chasing the Career Grand Slam, the Italian suffered a heartbreaking collapse.
Just one game away from what would have been a routine second-round victory, Sinner’s body seized up with cramps in the hot conditions. Unable to serve out the match, he eventually lost in five sets. Having not won a Slam since his Wimbledon triumph last year, Sinner arrived at this year’s Championships with a point to prove.
It initially looked as though the pressure might overwhelm him. In the first round, he found himself two sets to one down against Miomir Kecmanovic. From there, Sinner produced a comeback. As the fortnight progressed, he raised his level significantly and dropped only one more set for the remainder of the tournament, thanks to exceptional serving and rock-solid baseline play.
Canadian Open Return Sets Up Historic Masters Chase
The victory gives Sinner his fifth Slam title, leaving him just two behind his biggest rival, Carlos Alcaraz, who has missed each of the last two Majors because of a wrist injury.
With the next two Slams taking place on his favorite surface, hard courts, Sinner will now look to close that gap as quickly as possible, beginning with the US Open. Before then, however, it appears he and his team are ready to leave no stone unturned. Sinner’s team has effectively confirmed that he will more than likely compete at this year’s Canadian Open. The Italian’s coach, Darren Cahill, said:
“There are 3 weeks this year. So it [Canada] is on the schedule. We’ll sit down as a team and work out what his schedule is, but the M1000 events are incredibly important. We have the intention to make sure that we put him in the best position to do well.”
It is a tournament Sinner won in 2023 before skipping it last season because of the short turnaround following Wimbledon. This year, however, there is an additional week between the two events, making his participation far more practical. While Sinner’s primary objective will be to build momentum ahead of the US Open, there is another piece of history in his sights potentially.
The Italian could become the first player ever to win every Masters 1000 event held in a single season. He is already more than halfway there after claiming the first five Masters titles of the year. The remaining four Masters events are all played on hard courts, and Sinner has previously won each of those tournaments at least once.
With history in his eye view and another Slam fast approaching, it would come as no surprise if Sinner continued his outstanding form with another dominant run in Canada as he chases yet another place in the record books.
Main Image Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
