Alcaraz: Sinner's Roland Garros heartbreak 'won't be significant factor' in Wimbledon final

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Alcaraz: Sinner's Roland Garros heartbreak 'won't be significant factor' in Wimbledon final

Spaniard chasing third consecutive Wimbledon title

GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images Carlos Alcaraz celebrates against Taylor Fritz on Friday at Wimbledon. By ATPTour.com/es Staff

Carlos Alcaraz is in a third straight Wimbledon final. The defending champion defeated Taylor Fritz on Wednesday to book himself a place in his second consecutive Grand Slam title match against his his great rival Jannik Sinner.

The rivalry between the pair, which is defining a new era on tour, will offer up a new chapter on Centre Court this Sunday and provide an intriguing encore to their recent Roland Garros showdown, in which Alcaraz saved three championship points to deny the Italian.

“It will be an amazing final, another great battle,” predicted the Spaniard after progressing to the title bout. “I can’t wait to play more matches against Jannik, to keep elevating our rivalry to an even higher level. I’m ready for that.”

It will be the second consecutive clash between the pair at a Grand Slam final. The Murcia native leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head 8-4 having won the last five encounters against the world No. 1. One month ago, at Roland Garros, Alcaraz came from behind to lift the trophy in a five-and-a-half-hour marathon. However, he does not think the memories of that day will make any difference.

“Honestly, I don’t think it’ll be a significant factor,” explained the No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “Jannik is a great champion, a player who learns a lot from the toughest situations. I’m sure he’ll be stronger, that he will have worked hard on everything that happened there, physically and mentally... He’ll give 100%, and the good thing is that we’re ready for that too.”

Alcaraz, who now has five Grand Slam titles under his belt at just 22 years of age, acknowledged that he also took an important lesson from that final in Paris; the importance of perseverance. “It was a match that taught me so much,” said the Spaniard. “It reminded me that one or two points can change everything in a five-hour match. It’s such a mental sport that you can never give up. That’s the lesson I took from it.”

That respect for Sinner is mutual, as is their admiration. Alcaraz did not hesitate to choose a facet of the Italian’s game he would take given the chance. “His backhand, without a doubt. And more specifically, the backhand sliding with his left leg. For me it’s one of the best on tour, if not the best. It’s crazy what he does,” admitted a smiling Alcaraz. “And if you ask him, I think he’d say he’d have my touch, my dropshot or volleys.”

On Sinner’s straight-set semifinal win over Djokovic, Alcaraz was clear: “Honestly, I was a little surprised. Beating Novak here in three sets is one of the most difficult things you can do in this sport.”

On Sunday, on the grass of the All England Club, there will again be much more than a title on the line. Another chapter in the greatest rivalry in today’s tennis is just around the corner. And Carlos Alcaraz is ready to write it.

Alcaraz, who is 48-5 on the season according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, became the first player to qualify for the 2025 Nitto ATP Finals earlier this week when he reached the semi-finals.

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