Carlos Alcaraz admitted he was left without answers against Jannik Sinner’s elevated game in the Wimbledon final, feeling his opponent was “more complete.”
Sinner’s Game Reaches New Heights
Alcaraz, the defending champion, pointed directly to Jannik Sinner’s surge in baseline play from the second set onwards as the turning point. “I didn’t know what to do; I felt he was being more complete than me,” Alcaraz stated after his four-set loss.
The Spanish star acknowledged Sinner’s well-known power and precision, but noted a significant improvement. “Sinner, from the second set onwards, raised his level from the baseline,” he reiterated, highlighting the challenge he faced.
Learning From Losses
Champions often learn from setbacks, and Alcaraz recognized Sinner had done just that. He knew Sinner would have studied their French Open final, where Alcaraz emerged victorious, and would avoid similar errors.
“I knew at the beginning that he was going to learn from that final, not going to make the same mistakes as he did in the French Open final,” Alcaraz said, praising Sinner’s incredibly high level of play on the day.
The Serve Under Siege
Another crucial element was Sinner’s relentless return game. Alcaraz struggled with his first serve, landing only 53% of them, and Sinner capitalized repeatedly. He attacked Alcaraz’s second serve, hitting powerful backhands down the line that left the defending champion scrambling.
“He was pushing me to the limit in every point,” Alcaraz explained, also touching on the mental strain. “Mentally, sometimes it’s really tough to maintain the good focus during the whole match when you see the opponent just playing such great tennis.”
A Coach’s Insight
Jannik Sinner’s coach, Darren Cahill, emphasized the importance of this victory for his player. “He needed that win today,” Cahill remarked, highlighting Sinner’s determination to close out the match.
Cahill observed a heightened energy and focus from Sinner in critical moments, ensuring he maintained his lead against Alcaraz.
The Rivalry That Pushes Limits
Despite the loss, Alcaraz expressed gratitude for his rivalry with Sinner, believing it pushes both players to elevate their game. “We push each other to keep improving,” he said, calling it great for both himself and the sport of tennis.
Alcaraz noted that their matches consistently reach an incredibly high standard, unlike what he sees from other players. He believes this rivalry, frequently occurring in Grand Slam and Masters finals, is only getting “better and better.”
This intense competition forces Alcaraz to give his “100% every practice and every day,” motivating him to constantly maintain and raise his own level to compete with Sinner.
- Carlos Alcaraz felt Jannik Sinner was “more complete” in their Wimbledon final.
- Sinner significantly raised his baseline game from the second set onwards.
- Alcaraz struggled with his first serve, allowing Sinner to dominate returns.
- The rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner is seen as a positive force, pushing both players to new heights.
As this compelling rivalry continues to unfold, tennis fans can anticipate many more high-stakes battles between these two phenomenal talents.
