Sinner win helps fuel burgeoning rivalry

Jannik Sinner needed this victory.

He wanted to win Wimbledon, of course, and it would have meant a lot to him no matter who the opponent was in the final.

That this championship, his fourth at a Grand Slam tournament, came via a win over Carlos Alcaraz made it all the more significant to Sinner — and to the future of their burgeoning rivalry, the best men's tennis has to offer these days and, perhaps, for many years to come.

"It is important, for sure," the No 1-ranked Sinner said Sunday night after prevailing 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 against No 2 Alcaraz, "because when you lose several times against someone, it's not easy."

Sinner had lost five matches in a row against Alcaraz, none more disheartening than the one they played last month in the French Open final. Sinner grabbed a two-set lead in that one, then held a trio of championship points, before losing in five sets after five hours and 29 minutes.

"I keep looking up to Carlos, because, even today, I felt like he was doing couple of things better than I did," Sinner said. "So that's something we will work on and prepare ourselves, because he's going to come for us again."

Perhaps as soon as at the US Open, which starts in New York on Aug 24 and where Sinner is the defending champion. They will be seeded No 1 and No 2 again, so could only meet there in another final.

Alcaraz won the trophy at Flushing Meadows in 2022, beginning a stretch in which he and Sinner have combined to win nine of the past 12 majors. That includes the last seven, leaving zero doubt that these two young men — Sinner is 23, Alcaraz is 22 — have pushed themselves way past everyone else in the game at the moment.

"I'm just really, really happy about having this rivalry with him. It's great for us, and it is great for tennis. Every time we play against each other, our level is really high," Alcaraz said. "We don't (see) a level like this, if I'm honest with you. I don't see any (other players) playing against each other (and) having the level that we are playing when we face each other."

Both serve well, although Sinner was better at that on Sunday. Both return well, although, again, Sinner was superior over those particular three hours. Both cover the court exceedingly well — Alcaraz is faster; Sinner has a bigger reach and is a better slider. Both hit the ball so, so hard — Alcaraz is more prone to the spectacular; Sinner is as pure and consistent a ball-striker as there is.

And so on.