Carlos Alcaraz's variety vs Jannik Sinner's precision: Where the Wimbledon final will be won

Hindustan Times

2 days ago

Not so long ago, men's tennis found itself at a crossroads, haunted by the question: Who comes after Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic? A handful of promising names emerged, each carrying the weight of expectation, but none quite embodied the defining trait of the Big Three—an almost superhuman level of consistency. That changed with the arrival of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. With Nadal and Federer having already exited the scene, and Djokovic approaching the twilight, the Spanish-Italian duo has stepped into the spotlight as if destined for this very moment. A combination picture shows Italy's Jannik Sinner and Spain's Carlos Alcaraz ahead of the Wimbledon men's singles final. July 12, 2025(REUTERS)
The world caught a breathtaking glimpse of their generational brilliance in last month's historic Roland Garros final. And now, as they prepare to collide on Centre Court at Wimbledon, tennis fans can dare to believe: if Alcaraz and Sinner come anywhere close to recreating their clay-court masterpiece on grass, we may be witnessing the dawn of a new golden rivalry.
As Alcaraz and Sinner gear up for their much-anticipated showdown at SW19, we take a look at the key factors that could define this heavyweight clash...
How Alcaraz can win
Just a fortnight ago, Carlos Alcaraz was teetering on the edge of an early Wimbledon exit. In what was likely Fabio Fognini's farewell appearance at SW19, the 38-year-old veteran pushed the defending champion to five sets in the opening round. Alcaraz then needed four sets to get past Jan-Lennard Struff and dropped the opening set to Andrey Rublev in the fourth round. But since then, the Spaniard has transformed, sharpening his game and shifting into a higher gear.
The most striking evolution has come on serve. While Alcaraz won just 64% of his service points across his first two matches, that number surged to 76% in the next three, all of which were against higher-ranked opponents. Against Cam Norrie and Taylor Fritz, he won 89% and 88% of his first-serve points, respectively, underlining his control and efficiency.
Adding to his growing arsenal is a tactical throwback: the serve-and-volley. Once thought to be a relic of grass-court glory days, Alcaraz has revived the art with stunning effect. He has used the play on 11% of his service points en route to the final, boasting a 79% success rate (61/77). Notably, he ramped up his usage in his last two matches, winning 36 out of 40 serve-and-volley points.
The next-best player on the serve-and-volley list is Grigor Dimitrov (75%), who had retired injured after leading by two sets to love against Sinner in the quarters.
Alcaraz's ability to adapt mid-tournament, elevate his serve under pressure, and reintroduce variety into his grass-court play makes him not just the defending champion, but also the player with the momentum—and arguably, the edge—in Sunday's final.
The five-time Grand Slam winner also knows what it takes to win at Wimbledon, having defeated one of the all-time best grass-court players, Djokovic, in the last two finals.
How Sinner can win
On paper, the world No. 1 has been the superior player throughout the fortnight. Whether it's serve, return, or winner count—Jannik Sinner has outperformed Carlos Alcaraz across key metrics. While Alcaraz's serve has been his standout weapon this Wimbledon, his return game has been noticeably patchy—an area where Sinner has excelled.
The Italian has won 40% of points on his opponents' first serve and a formidable 63.3% on second-serve returns, underlining his relentless pressure. Even on serve, Sinner has posted elite numbers, landing 82% of his first serves over the tournament. In the semifinal against Novak Djokovic—arguably the greatest returner in tennis history—Sinner maintained a 74% first-serve percentage and won 77% of those points, blunting Djokovic's biggest weapon.
His forehand has also been firing, tallying 85 winners to just 56 unforced errors, showcasing a perfect blend of power and control. If Sinner maintains this balance between aggression and precision—especially on return—he can seize control of rallies early and push Alcaraz into uncomfortable positions.
Prediction
Carlos Alcaraz. Why? Because when it matters most, Alcaraz finds a different gear.
Despite a shaky first week, the Spaniard has a knack for peaking when the stakes are highest. He remains undefeated in Grand Slam finals, holding a perfect 5–0 record. Statistically, Sinner has been the better player—just as he was at Roland Garros last month, and across the ATP tour this season. But when these two meet, numbers often fall short of explaining the outcome.
Alcaraz has beaten Sinner five straight times since 2023, and time and again, he's found ways to outplay the Italian in the biggest moments. If the final goes deep and tight, history suggests it's the Spaniard who holds the edge—mentally, tactically, and emotionally.