London: Almost all questions directed at Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz after their semifinal wins was a spin-off from their unforgettable last meeting, which lasted five hours and 29 minutes. While it was six of seven queries for the Italian world No. 1, it was five of seven for the two-time defending champion from Spain.Sinner and Alcaraz meet for the second time in a Major final, when they play for the Gentleman’s Singles Trophy at Wimbledon. Neither believes the Roland Garros final, which the 23-year-old Italian lost after having three successive match-points on Alcaraz’s serve, one of a second serve that was clocked at 144 kmph, will have a bearing on the Sunday’s tea-time affair.The Italian argued that if their last meeting was lodged in his head he wouldn’t be in another final five weeks later. “I always try to put myself in these kinds of situations that I really love,” he said, “Sundays in every tournament is very special.”Alcaraz, who produced flawless tennis in the last 15 minutes of the match, after Sinner worked his way back into the contest in the fifth set, hasn’t watched the final again.
Poll
Who do you think will win the Wimbledon final, Sinner or Alcaraz?
“Just a few clips, a few points, but not that much,” the 22-year-old said. A bookmark in his memory.Sinner, a furious ball striker, whose power was described by American Ben Shelton as two times that of other players, has lost five successive matches to Alcaraz. He trails the head-to-head 4-8. The last time Sinner beat Alcaraz was in Beijing almost two years ago. The world No. 1 has however won their only previous meeting on grass in the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2022.Alcaraz, tennis’ universal favorite, much in the Roger Federer fashion, has enviable range. Taylor Fritz, the fifth seed, who fell to Alcaraz in the semifinal, mused that the world No. 2 forces opponents out of their comfort zone. While Sinner has the bigger serve, average speed for the first serve hitting 125 mph this fortnight, Alcaraz’s play messes with the head. “Carlos is unpredictable with the slicing and the coming to the net, and the dropshots. He has a lot of different ways to play. You never know what Carlos will do, a short kicker and serve and volley at 15-30,” Fritz said.Alcaraz talked down the advantage he holds in the rivalry, saying the Italian is the player he is because of his ability to learn from his losses.The question for Sinner, in his first Wimbledon final, playing his arch nemesis, who is in his third successive title match at SW19, maybe about belief. Particularly as this clash comes not long after the chances he had in Paris.Everyone and anyone is comparing what Sinner and Alcaraz have to the golden generation – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – who between them have 66 Grand Slam titles.The Italian pointed at the trio’s remarkable longevity, which is unlike anything tennis has seen. Alcaraz, however, looked at what he and Sinner could do for the sport. “We fight to get more people to watch tennis, we’re fighting for tennis to be bigger, as all the tennis players are doing,” Alcaraz said.
