Jannik Sinner had always seemed one step behind Carlos Alcaraz until Sunday’s men’s singles final at Wimbledon.

Sinner is considered his biggest foe, but Alcaraz has dominated their rivalry throughout their careers. Entering Sunday, the 22-year-old Spaniard had an 8-4 record against the 23-year-old Italian, who had not beaten him since 2023. 

This included the 2025 French Open final, where Sinner squandered three consecutive championship points in the fourth set against Alcaraz. He ultimately lost the match in five sets, lasting five hours and 29 minutes. This weighed heavily on his mind.

He told the ATP Tour’s website in June he already had “a few sleepless nights” after his loss in Paris. 

While the 2025 French Open stung for Sinner, it likely made him even hungrier to overcome his struggles against Alcaraz, which proved beneficial in Sunday’s match at the All England Club in London. 

After losing the first set 4-6, Sinner showed why he’s the No. 1 player in the world. He won his following three sets, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 en route to his first title at the grass-court tournament. He’s also the first Italian man to win the Wimbledon singles title.