LONDON (AP) — Jannik Sinner is one set away from a first Wimbledon title, leading defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in Sunday’s men’s final.
LONDON (AP) — Jannik Sinner is one set away from a firstWimbledontitle, leading defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in Sunday’s men’s final.
Sinner broke Alcaraz for a 5-4 lead in the third set in the highly anticipated meeting that comes just five weeks after the pair played an epic match to determine the French Open champion.
In the second set, Sinner broke Alcaraz in the opening game and then held serve the rest of the way. That was despite being interrupted by a fan in the stands popping open a champagne bottle as Sinner was getting ready to serve out the game at 2-1 up. The cork landed at Sinner’s feet, causing Alcaraz to raise both hands and shake his head in frustration.
Sinner lost the following point but went on to hold for a 3-1 lead.
The matchup at Centre Court between theNo. 1-ranked Sinner and No. 2 Alcarazmarks the first time the same two men faced off in the title matches on the clay at Roland-Garros and the grass at the All England Club in the same year since Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal did it in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Alcaraz, a 22-year-old from Spain, defeated Sinner, a 22-year-old from Italy,in five sets spread over 5 hours, 29 minutes in Parison June 8, coming back from a two-set deficit and saving three match points along the way.
That made Alcaraz 5-0 in Grand Slam finals, includingvictories in 2023 and 2024 at Wimbledon.
He also carries a career-best 24-match winning streak into Sunday and has beaten Sinner five times in a row.
Sinner owns three major trophies and is playing in his fourth consecutive Slam final — but first at the All England Club.
He won theU.S. Openlast September and theAustralian Openthis January.
Sinner is wearing the tape and arm sleeve to protect his right elbow that he has been using sincefalling in the opening game of his fourth-round winon Monday. After eliminating24-time major champion Novak Djokovicin the semifinals, Sinner said he didn’t think his elbow would be an issue on Sunday.
___
AP tennis:https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
The Associated Press