Latest news with #singlesfinal
The Sun
19 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Jannik Sinner wins first Wimbledon title just two months after returning from drugs ban in thriller over Carlos Alcaraz
THERE was only one moment in this Wimbledon men's singles final when Jannik Sinner looked truly flustered. That was in the second set, when he had to delay a serve after almost being struck by a freshly-popped Champagne court. 7 A couple of hours later, the Veuve Clicquot was all his. As Centre Court roasted in 90-degree heat, the Italian was the coolest man in the building. In front of two future Kings of England and the current King of Spain, Sinner dethroned Carlos Alcaraz as he avenged last month's dramatic French Open defeat to become the first Italian to win a Wimbledon singles title. What it means for clean sport, who knows? Sinner failed a drug test last year and should surely not have been playing here. Yet his rivalry with Alcaraz is such an absorbing one that tennis chiefs allowed him to escape with slapped wrists - a three-month suspension which included none of the Grand Slams. A Sinner by name and my nature then - and yet here is Sinner's wages were £3million. A grubby backroom deal, and the sacking of a physio, had allowed the Italian book himself a brief ban after testing positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol, which he claims entered his body via massages. Still, whatever the ethics, his rivalry with Alcaraz is compelling. Having blown a two-set lead and three championship points at Roland Garros, this time Sinner roared back from a set-down to secure a 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 victory. This was the first Wimbledon men's singles final since 2002 to include none of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal or Andy Murray - there has been a generation shift in the sport over the last two years and these two 21st-century boys are ahead of the rest by a country mile. After squandering a 4-2 lead in the opening set, Sinner was imperious thereafter as he seal a fourth Grand Slam title since the start of last year. Sinner, who speaks German as his first language, was impressively efficient as Alcaraz turned ragged in the sweltering heat. After that epic five-and-a-half hour saga at Roland Garros, where Alcaraz staged one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time, All England Club chiefs were taking a risk by moving the start time back until 4pm. Then the over-running women's doubles final shunted it back further still. But in front of tennis royalty and actual royalty, the two finest tennis players on the planet strode on to Centre Court at ten past four for the climax of a sun-baked fortnight. In the intense heat, thousands of fans fluttered thousands of fans, Centre Court resembling a butterfly sanctuary. Both men had arrived with their bazookas - amid a barrage of big serves early on, Alcaraz delivered a 139mph ace, the fastest he'd ever clocked at a Slam. 7 7 Yet in the fifth game, Sinner reeled off four points in a row to break Alcaraz from 40-15 down, the champion going long with a forehand to hand Sinner the Soon, though, Alcaraz was back on terms. After one marathon rally which threatened the neck muscles of every side-on spectator, the Spaniard forced two break points and needed only one to tie it at 4-4. Alcaraz backed that up by holding with a 140mph ace which scattered the chalkdust. Suddenly the champion was all over his rival and he reeled off a fourth consecutive game to break Sinner for the opening set. At deuce, the Italian threw in a double fault, then Alcaraz concluded a stunning rally with a backhand winner from the baseline and cupped his ears to take in the roars. It would prove premature. Smarting, Sinner forced three break points at the start of the second - taking the third when Alcaraz sent a forehand long. The quality was ridiculous, Alcaraz fizzing a backhand cross-court to put immediate pressure on the Sinner serve but the wiry world No 1 held. Sinner was forced to delay his serve when he was almost struck by a freshly-popped champagne cork. Even the missiles are posh here, and we were sipping from the lumpy end of the wine list both on and off the court. As Sinner served for the second set, he raised the roof with a cross-court winner at the net, then a thunderclap forehand down the line earned two set points, the first one taken with a flourish. 7 The Italian was operating a scorched-turf policy now, giving the world's most famous lawn a serious pummelling. Alcaraz was wristy, searching for the angles, but struggling for consistency. The champion rescued two break points at the start of the third, clinging on in there. Sinner turned to improv, dinking over the net from between his legs, then duffing the volley that would have made it count - yet he thrashed an ace to hold for 3-3. Alcaraz, emerging from a lull, lobbed his man with a dramatic arc, yet Sinner got out the big gun again and aced for 4-4. Then Alcaraz got sloppy and slippy, Sinner breaking as the Spaniard fell on the baseline and Sinner was serving for the set - which he managed, successfully, despite a double fault. The momentum was fully with Sinner now and he nailed two backhands down the line to break for 2-1 - just four games from glory. At 4-3, Sinner cleared the baseline to concede two break points but saved both and eventually held. Then as the Centre Court crowd chanted his name, Sinner served out nervelessly - securing three Championship points after a thrilling rally, taking the second and holding his arms aloft before he headed for some of that bubbly. 7
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
John McEnroe calls for Wimbledon rule change live on TV during women's singles final
Tennis great John McEnroe made his feelings clear ahead of this weekend's Wimbledon women's singles final. Saturday's action saw Poland's Iga Swiatek take on American Amanda Anisimova on Centre Court, in what was a first Wimbledon final for both competitors. As the pair prepared to make the walk to compete in front of a packed audience at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Swiatek could be seen donning a pair of over-ear headphones. While the sight of athletes listening to music before a decisive event as a means of psyching themselves up is commonplace in many sports, three-time Wimbledon winner McEnroe insisted the practice is unnecessary. Speaking live on the BBC as part of his punditry duties, the outspoken American claimed Swiatek would be better served taking in the enormity of the occasion. 'They shouldn't allow them to wear AirPods or headphones,' McEnroe said. 'Because you have got to get them to enjoy [the atmosphere] instead of playing some music. Come on now, ladies.' World No 4 Swiatek previously revealed that she listens to classic rock music before her matches as a means of psyching herself up for competition. The ritual appears to have been effective as Swiatek was utterly dominant once play got underway. Clearly struggling to meet the occasion of her first Grand Slam final, Anisimova failed to build any momentum as she hit eight double faults and made 28 unforced errors. Swiatek ultimately claimed victory in just 57 minutes, winning 6-0, 6-0 to mark her sixth Grand Slam triumph. The only other 6-0, 6-0 defeat in a final at Wimbledon came in 1911, when Dora Boothby lost to Dorothea Lambert Chambers.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Maya Jama, Ant McPartlin and Leigh-Anne Pinnock spotted at Wimbledon as they rub shoulders with Mo Farah and Mary Earps
LOVE Island's Maya Jama led the famous faces rubbing shoulders with sporting legends Mo Farah and Mary Earps at Wimbledon today. A-list stars - including model Cara Delevingne, TV presenter Ant McPartlin and Little Mix 's Leigh-Anne Pinnock, turned out for the ladies' singles final as Iga Swiatek goes up against Amanda Anisimova to become a new champion. 8 8 8 8 8 Singers Sir Cliff Richard, Katherine Jenkins and Pixie Lott were also seen arriving for the two-week tournament's penultimate day. Our exclusive footage shows the famous faces arriving at SW19 as temperatures reach 30 degrees. Former England goalkeeper Mary, who earned 53 caps in eight years before retiring from international football in May 2025, was a guest in the evian suite. Tomorrow will see Carlos Alcaraz defend his crown, and look for a third successive title, as he takes on Jannik Sinner in the men's singles final. Yesterday, boxer Conor Benn was dressed to impress at Wimbledon as ahead of his eagerly awaited rematch with rival Chris Eubank Jr. Proud Brit Benn arrived at SW19 in his luxury Rolls Royce, decked out in bespoke Burberry garms, complete with Jacquesmus strides, a Tom Ford belt with Gucci loafers and Cartier sunglasses, all uniquely styled by Flannels. The Essex-based fighter took a well earned break to take in the men's semi-finals at SW19 first, before he heads Stateside to New York to watch this Saturday's Ring Magazine event at the home of the US Open, Flushing Meadows, where Matchroom Boxing stablemate Shakur Stevenson battles William Zepeda. The 28-year-old has a date for retribution against Eubank Jr set for September 20 in London as he seeks revenge following their closely contested classic back in April at a sold-out Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Benn is then expected to ramp up his training plans back in the UK as he counts down to facing Eubank Jr again - and he has promised boxing fans to expect another legendary encounter in the capital. 'It was great to be watching some modern day tennis legends in Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic today at Wimbledon,' the boxer told us. Fans convinced Leonardo DiCaprio was 'flirting' with two former Wimbledon stars at Centre Court 'I feel like I've enjoyed a brilliant, much-needed, break with my family. But I'm counting down the days until September 20. "And I cannot wait to show the world what I'm about to do in the rematch. I can promise you it will be advantage Team Benn!' 8 8 8
Reuters
2 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Wimbledon Day 12: Sinner sends Djokovic packing with ruthless display to set up Alcaraz showdown
Top seed Jannik Sinner ensured Novak Djokovic will be absent from a Wimbledon men's singles final for the first time in eight years after handing the Serbian great a brutal Centre Court battering on Friday (July 11).
CNA
3 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Sinner demolishes Djokovic to reach first Wimbledon final
LONDON :Top seed Jannik Sinner ensured Novak Djokovic will be absent from a Wimbledon men's singles final for the first time in eight years after handing the Serbian great a brutal Centre Court battering on Friday. Italian Sinner lost both his previous Wimbledon duels with Djokovic but a devastating display of power and precision proved too much for the seven-time champion who subsided to a humbling 6-3 6-3 6-4 defeat. In his first Wimbledon final the 23-year-old Sinner will face Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in a mouth-watering repeat of their recent French Open humdinger which the Italian lost after battling for more than five hours, squandering three match points. Djokovic, bidding to reach his seventh successive Wimbledon final at the age of 38 looked defenceless in the opening two sets as Sinner dropped only six points on serve. He briefly stemmed the tide in the third set to move 3-0 ahead but it proved merely a blip for top seed Sinner who nipped any hope of a comeback in the bud.
