Carlos Alcaraz may have lost his Wimbledon crown to Italy’s Jannik Sinner, but the young Spaniard walked away from Centre Court with his head held high and his sights still set on greatness. After falling 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in Sunday’s final, Alcaraz acknowledged the sting of defeat—his first in a Grand Slam final—but also praised the rising quality of his ongoing rivalry with Sinner.
“It’s always a bad feeling losing matches,” Alcaraz admitted. “But I’m proud of everything I’ve done these last four weeks. I played against someone who was simply unbelievable today.”
With both players now having claimed four of the last nine Grand Slam titles, their rivalry is fast becoming the defining narrative of a new era in men’s tennis. Alcaraz believes the intensity and quality of their matches set them apart. “When we play each other, the level is higher than anything else we see on tour. Our rivalry is getting stronger and better.”
He added that their competitive relationship is not just pushing him to improve but also lifting the game. “It motivates me every day in practice. To beat Jannik, I need to raise my game constantly.”
Sinner, for his part, celebrated not only his maiden Wimbledon title but also his mental growth. The victory broke a five-match losing streak against Alcaraz and avenged his heartbreaking French Open loss just weeks ago. “When you lose several times to someone, it’s not easy,” Sinner said. “But I never stopped believing. I kept learning.”
His coach Darren Cahill revealed that Sinner studies Alcaraz’s matches more than any other opponent, describing the Spaniard as a benchmark for improvement. “He pushes us,” Cahill noted. “We have to evolve constantly.”
Alcaraz also recognized this drive in his rival. “He learned from Roland Garros. Champions do that. He didn’t repeat mistakes.”
As Novak Djokovic nears the end of his era and other legends like Federer, Nadal, and Murray exit the stage, the tennis world is embracing this new chapter. The Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry is not just the future—it’s the present. And according to both players, it’s only getting started.
