Jannik Sinner Retains Wimbledon Title in Comeback Victory

It was a point that encapsulated Jannik Sinner's journey to a second Wimbledon title.

In a tight final, Sinner had a chance to break opponent Alexander Zverev's serve. He fell to the ground mid-rally, picked himself back up and forced an error out of Zverev to clinch the first break of serve almost three hours into the match.

Sinner would not be denied from there.

The Italian world number one again dropped to the ground two games later - but this time in celebration after completing a four-set comeback victory to become only the 10th man in the Open era to retain the Wimbledon men's singles title.

Once again triumphant at the only tennis tournament he would watch as a child - when the sport he would come to master still had to compete with skiing and football for his attention - the manner of his fifth Grand Slam success suggested normal service had resumed.

Because, for a brief moment, Sinner had appeared vulnerable.

One month after the world number one suffered a seismic shock at the French Open, another upset was brewing.

Confronted with unwanted history, Sinner would have to come from behind to beat Miomir Kecmanovic in five sets and avoid becoming only the third defending Wimbledon men's champion to lose in the first round.

The 24-year-old's durability in marathon encounters has long been a concern, with Sinner having lost eight of his previous nine matches that went the distance.

There had also been a shattering event in Paris for the second year in a row.

Sinner arrived at Wimbledon having not competed since his extraordinary collapse in the French Open second round, when he lost to Argentine Juan Manuel Cerundolo from two sets and 5-1 up.

He had recovered from a far greater catastrophe to triumph at the All England Club in 2025, taking revenge on rival Carlos Alcaraz just 35 days after losing their epic Roland Garros final from two sets and three championship points up.

But now his physical resilience was under the spotlight - and the early signs at Wimbledon offered encouragement to those eyeing his throne.

Both junctures would have taken others months to recover from. For Sinner, they became catalysts for greater heights.

"This one means a lot because it was a tough one after Paris, again," Sinner said.

"Last year was also tough. But coming here, I tried to put myself in the best position to be as competitive as possible.

"We put in a lot of long days, sacrificing a lot to be in this position."

Since escaping another monumental setback 13 days ago, Sinner's performances have expelled any doubts over how he might respond.

By beating Zverev in Sunday's final, Sinner became the first player in 48 years to win the men's singles title at Wimbledon after being taken to five sets in his opening match.

He is the first man to manage that at any slam since Spanish great Rafael Nadal at the 2011 French Open.

Sinner's coach, Darren Cahill, said: "There have been a few kicks in the stomach along the way. Tough losses. What makes us most proud is the way he comes back.

"It doesn't put him down for long. That's his attitude in tennis and in life.

"We spoke about his resilience, and being able to come back and be bigger, stronger and faster whenever he has a bad moment.

"If you don't have those tough moments, maybe you never grow like he has been able to."

Sinner and Zverev are the tour's most in-form players this season, and that will be reflected in the rankings when Zverev replaces the injured Alcaraz as world number two on Monday.

Zverev ended his long wait for a first major title last month - but he has now lost his past 10 matches against Sinner, who remains a class above.

Sinner has won 44 of his 47 matches this year, and 77 of 83 matches since beginning his title-winning run at Wimbledon 12 months ago.

His still largely unchecked dominance will leave many hoping Alcaraz can complete a swift return to full health, after the pair's burgeoning rivalry had begun to take off.

"I think we have seen the new Novak Djokovic for the next 10-15 years," former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"The way he was able to weather the storm when he had to, come up with an extraordinary shot when he had to, it reminds me so much of Djokovic."