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Qatar Tribune
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Sinner's coach expects ‘amazing' Alcaraz rivalry to ‘get better'
PA Media/DPA London The best of the rivalry between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz is yet to come, according to the Italian's coach. Sinner triumphed in the latest instalment of the new battle at the top of men's tennis, gaining revenge for his heartbreaking loss in the French Open final five weeks ago by claiming a first Wimbledon title. The world number one fought back from a set down to defeat Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Centre Court, ending the Spaniard's 24-match winning run and hopes of claiming a third straight Wimbledon title. They have shared the last seven grand slam trophies between them, with Sinner now boasting four major titles to his rival's five. Australian Darren Cahill, who has worked with Sinner for three years and previously coached Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi and Simona Halep, said: 'The quality of Roland Garros I think was one of the best matches I've ever seen in the 25 years I've been a coach and a player. 'The rivalry I think is amazing already, and I think it can get better with both these players pushing each other. 'I do think there's some other younger players coming through that will punch their way through the door, so it won't just be a two-man show. Which we look forward to as well and are excited about. 'I have fingers crossed that they're going to have a great 10 or 15 years to go, and they'll have some more amazing matches.' Six of the top 10 are aged 23 or under, with Britain's Jack Draper, American Ben Shelton, Dane Holger Rune and Italian Lorenzo Musetti all looking to challenge Sinner and Alcaraz, while 18-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca broke into the top 50 for the first time on Monday. But there is no doubt the top two are currently a significant level above their rivals - Sinner has almost twice the ranking points of Alexander Zverev in third despite serving a three-month doping ban this year - and both put a special focus on each other. 'I would say that we are preparing him for the field, not just for one player,' added Cahill. 'But Carlos is a big focus, and both of those guys are pushing each other. 'I would say that Jannik watches more Carlos matches than he does anybody else because he's fascinated with the improvements that are coming in his game, and he's pushing us as coaches to make sure that he's improving also as a tennis player.' A potential blow to Sinner could yet be averted, meanwhile, with the 23-year-old telling Italian media that, by winning the final, he won a bet with Cahill allowing him to decide whether the Australian should reverse his decision to retire at the end of the season. Sinner and Alcaraz will now take a well-earned break before turning their attention to the North American hard-court swing, culminating in the US Open at the end of August, where Sinner will be the one bidding to retain his title. By winning Wimbledon and ending a five-match losing streak against Alcaraz, Sinner has cemented his position as number one and now holds three of the four major titles. Alcaraz retains a healthy lead at the top of the Race to Turin, which only counts points from 2025, and he must look to avoid the sort of letdown that affected him following his loss to Novak Djokovic in the Olympic final last summer. 'It's a different feeling,' said the 22-year-old, who suffered his first grand slam final loss. 'Last year in the Olympics I was really bad emotionally after the match. In the last year I've been through different situations (and) I learned from them. I just lost a final in a grand slam, but I'm really proud about being in a final.' Sinner, meanwhile, expects his rival to take a leaf out of his book and bounce back strongly. 'Even (in the final) I felt like he was doing a couple of things better than I did,' said the Italian. 'So that's something we will work on and prepare ourselves because he's going to come for us again. There is not only Carlos, but everyone. We have a big target on us, so we have to be prepared.'
Japan Today
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Japan Today
Sinner wanted to win Wimbledon but he really needed to beat Alcaraz
Italy's Jannik Sinner, left, celebrates with the trophy after beating Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, right, to win the men's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) tennis By HOWARD FENDRICH 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 5 hours, 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 U.S. 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 guys — 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 Sunday. Both return well, although, again, Sinner was superior over these 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. One other contrast, usually, is that Alcaraz shows emotion, whether via yells of 'Vamos!' or the sort of point-to-his-ear-then-pump-his-fist celebration he did after winning Sunday's opening set by stretching and reaching low for a cross-court backhand to close a 12-stroke point. Sinner is far more contained. Even his arm-raised victory poses are mild-mannered. Sunday, though, there were more visible displays. He even shouted 'Let's go!' after one point. Later, he shook his racket overhead while the crowd roared after a well-struck backhand. When he took a set with a forehand winner, Sinner held a pose, then lifted a fist. When the match was over, he crouched, lowered his head and pounded his right palm on the grass five times. 'You saw a bit more energy from him in the big moments," said one of Sinner's coaches, Darren Cahill, "and a bit more focus to knuckle down and make sure that, when he had his nose in front, that he kept on closing the door against Carlos.' Both players spoke about their matchup motivating them to work hard to try to improve. 'It gives me the opportunity to just give my 100% every practice, every day. Just to be better, thanks to that,' said Alcaraz, who won the past two Wimbledon titles and was 5-0 in Grand Slam finals before Sunday. 'The level that I have to maintain, and I have to raise, if I want to beat Jannik is really high.' Sinner described Alcaraz as 'someone who is young, who wins basically everything.' 'You have to be ready,' Sinner explained, 'if you want to keep up.' © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Scoop
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Scoop
NZ Shearers Look Forward To Welsh Challenge
"Everything's still new to me over here" - French Open winner Toa Henderson looks forward to Welsh challenge New Zealand shearing champion Toa Henderson's first Open final win in the Northern Hemisphere was a big confidence booster, but he says he's still learning as he goes. He claimed the win in the French Open international final on Sunday during the French shearing and woolhandling championships at Boussac, the third stop on the Wool's of New Zealand team's 2025 tour and on which he and teammate Jack Fagan also scored a big win over France representatives Jeremy Leygonie and Pierre Grancher. But despite a team record of two test-match wins in his first tests in the New Zealand singlet and places in the Open finals at all three stops, Henderson holds no expectations as he and Fagan face a three-test series against Wales, starting against Welsh guns Gethin Lewis and Llyr Jones at the Cothi Shears on Saturday. 'I can't wait to take on the Welsh, it will be good experience, but everything is still new for me over here,' said Henderson, whose wins at the Golden Shears and New Zealand Championships earlier this year took him past 40 wins in Open finals, of which 35 have come in the three years since the disruptions of the Covid era. While dominating home tests in the annual home-and-away series' against Wales, New Zealand series wins in Wales are rare, and it won't get any easier with the in-form Welsh, particularly Lewis, who beat Fagan and Henderson in a Great Yorkshire Show Open win in England last Wednesday, and on Saturday shore 696 sheep in setting a two-stand British eight-hour ewes record with fellow Welsh shearer Llyr Evans. Lewis, who has shorn about 10 downunder summers in New Zealand, was also in the Welsh teams that won at Cothi in 2023 and 2024. The Open at Boussac on Sunday attracted 36 shearers, with Henderson being the top qualifier from the semi-final to the six-man, of 20 blackface lambs each. He later described the 13m 50s first-to-finish shear as a 'good warm-up'. Fagan, the defending champion, was next-off 26 seconds later and beaten by 1.6pts, with French shearer Jeremy Leygonie third a further 3.7pts away. In the test, also over 20 sheep each, Henderson finished more than a minute ahead of Fagan, and both Frenchmen, while Fagan had the best quality points, in a black-singlets win by 11pts overall. Fagan won the Boussac Speed Shear earlier in the weekend, with Henderson claiming second place. Henderson's third placing at the Great Yorkshire Show and win at Boussac followed a fourth placing in the Scottish black face shearing championships final when the tour opened at the Lochearnhead Shears in Scotland on June 28. The second test against Wales will be at the Royal Welsh Show next Wednesday, and the tour ends at the Corwen Shears on July 26. Results: International (20 sheep): New Zealand 127.6pts (Jack Fagan 15m 11s, 62.85pts; Toa Henderson 14m 9s, 64.75pts), France 138.6pts (Pierre Grancher 15m 10s, 68.35pts; Jeremy Leygonie 17m 16s, 70.25pts). New Zealand won by 11pts. French International Open (20 sheep): Toa Henderson (New Zealand) 13m 50s, 56.55pts, 1; Jack Fagan (New Zealand) 14m 16s, 58.1pts, 2; Jeremy Leygonie (France) 15m 53s, 61.8pts, 3; Pierre Grancher (France) 16m 19s, 66.5pts, 4; Ilan Jones (Wales) 17m 15s, 67.55pts, 5; Felix Cesbron (France) 19m 47s, 80.3pts, 6.
Express Tribune
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Sinner eyes golden era after Wimbledon glory
Jannik Sinner has warned Carlos Alcaraz that he will get even stronger after beating his arch-rival to win his first Wimbledon title on Sunday. Sinner avenged an agonising French Open final loss against Alcaraz as he battered the Spaniard into submission with a dynamic display of power hitting on Centre Court. The Italian's 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory ended Alcaraz's two-year reign as Wimbledon champion and gave Sinner his fourth Grand Slam crown. Sinner has reached the last four Grand Slam finals, winning three of them, and the world number one has no intention of resting on his laurels. "I don't think I'm at my best because at 23 I don't think you can be in your best shape ever. So hopefully I can keep improving," he said. "I keep looking up to Carlos because even today I felt like he was doing couple of things better than I did. "That's something we will work on and prepare ourselves because he's going to come for us again. "We have a big target on us, so we have to be prepared." It was a cathartic triumph for Sinner after he squandered a two-set lead and blew three championship points against Alcaraz at Roland Garros in June. Alcaraz had won five successive encounters against the 23-year-old, including finals in Paris, Rome and Beijing, prior to their showdown at the All England Club. Sinner admitted it was vital to finally beat the world number two for the first time since 2023. "It is important, for sure, because you know, when you lose several times against someone, it's not easy. But in the same time in the past I felt that I was very close," he said. "I never pushed myself down. I felt like I did something great because it has been not easy. Coming here and winning Wimbledon, it has been amazing." 'The rivalry is real' While Sinner had spent the last five weeks publicly insisting he would not let his French Open collapse affect him, he revealed he had to work hard to move on from the loss before launching his Wimbledon challenge. "This is the part where I'm the proudest because it really has not been easy. I always tried to be honest with myself and had the self-talk. You know, what if, what if? I tried to accept it, in a way," said Sinner, who returned from a three-month doping ban in May. "Even if I don't cry, it feels emotional because only me and the people who are close to me know exactly what we have been through on and off the court, and it has been everything except easy. "We've tried to push, you know, every practice session, even I was struggling at times mentally. "That's why I also said after Roland Garros that it's not the time to put me down, no, because another Grand Slam is coming up, and I did great here." Sinner and Alcaraz have won the past seven majors between them, establishing themselves in a class of their own. Sinner's coach Darren Cahill expects the pair to battle for supremacy for years to come, but he stopped short of comparing it to the dynastic era of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. "It's difficult to compare this rivalry to what we've just had. It's been a golden age in tennis with Novak and Roger and Rafa. They dominated for 20 years," Cahill said. "To win a Grand Slam back in those days, you had to beat one of them in the quarters, the other one in the semis, and another one in the final. "These guys still have a ways to go, but they've started incredibly well. Carlos is a big focus, and both of those guys are pushing each other. "The rivalry is real. Hopefully it's going to be there for the next 10 or 12 years."
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Here's what Prince George and Princess Charlotte received from the Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner
Source: X/ Wimbledon Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner didn't just leave Centre Court with a trophy on Sunday, he also won over some very special fans in the royal box. After his impressive four-set victory over Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Italian tennis star had the chance to meet the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Though their youngest brother, Prince Louis, wasn't in attendance, Sinner made sure not to leave him out. So what did he give the young royals? Signed tennis balls: one each for George, Charlotte, and Louis. The sweet gesture took place backstage following the trophy ceremony. Speaking in his post-match press conference, Sinner admitted, 'In the beginning, I didn't know what to say.' He added, 'I asked the kids if they play tennis and asked them what kind of rackets they play with, these kind of things.' According to People and The Telegraph , the Princess of Wales thanked him for his 'kind' gift and offered him her 'huge congratulations' before they parted ways. As patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Kate has been a regular presence in the royal box for both the men's and women's finals at Wimbledon. This year, she was accompanied by Prince William, along with Prince George, 11, and Princess Charlotte, 10, both of whom have developed a visible interest in the sport. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo Prince George made his Wimbledon debut in 2022, while Charlotte joined her family courtside for the first time in 2023. Their appearance this year shows a growing tradition, one likely encouraged by their mother's lifelong love of tennis. Sinner, who became the first Italian to ever win a Wimbledon singles title, said the meeting was deeply meaningful. 'You see how much they care about tennis and the sport itself,' he said. 'It's very prestigious. I've been lucky to meet her and the whole family, and it was a very nice moment.' Also in attendance was Spain's King Felipe VI, who had flown in to support Carlos Alcaraz. During the trophy presentation, Alcaraz publicly thanked the Spanish monarch for attending. Though Alcaraz bested Sinner at the French Open just weeks prior, the two have developed a strong on-and-off-court rapport. After the final, both men praised each other in their speeches, with Alcaraz acknowledging Sinner's 'really well-deserved' win. Their budding rivalry and friendship is quickly becoming one of tennis's most talked-about storylines. But on this day, Sinner's post-match moment with the little royals was just as charming as his performance on court.
