Sinner defends Wimbledon title against Zverev in intense final

By Bilal Ahmed

By Bilal Ahmed — 13 July 2026 — 3 min read

Jannik Sinner, the Italian top seed, successfully defended his Wimbledon crown on Sunday, securing his fifth Grand Slam title. He overcame a strong challenge from Alexander Zverev in a four-set final marked by powerful play.

The match saw Zverev, who recently won the French Open, push Sinner to his limits. Zverev initially threatened an upset by taking the opening set, but Sinner ultimately found another gear to win 6-7(7) 7-6(2) 6-3 6-4.

The contest, which lasted three hours and 46 minutes, was closely fought for much of its duration. A key moment occurred in the third set when Zverev experienced an awkward fall, after which Sinner gained momentum to secure the title.

At 24 years old, Sinner made history last year as the first Italian to win a Wimbledon singles title, defeating Carlos Alcaraz. His recent victory places him among an exclusive group of 10 men who have successfully defended the title in the professional era.

This win marks Sinner’s tenth consecutive victory over Zverev, though this encounter was particularly challenging. Zverev, who is 29, was aiming to become the first German man to win the Wimbledon title since Michael Stich in 1991.

Throughout the match, Zverev’s first serve percentage remained high, often around 80 percent. His forehand, which has sometimes been a weakness in significant matches, proved to be a formidable weapon as he matched Sinner’s intensity.

Concerns about Sinner’s form had arisen after his second-round exit at the French Open and a close call in the first round of Wimbledon against Miomir Kecmanovic. However, his performance in the final demonstrated his status as a top player, as he did not drop a single service game in his semi-final victory over Novak Djokovic or in the final.

Speaking after his win, Sinner expressed his appreciation for the tournament. He mentioned feeling the nerves on Sunday morning, acknowledging the special nature of the day and the importance of not taking such opportunities for granted. He also highlighted the high level of play from both competitors.

The first set, lasting 65 minutes on a hot and breezy Centre Court, was characterized by powerful tennis and fine margins. Only one break point was available in the initial 12 games, which Sinner missed at 4-3 on Zverev’s serve.

Zverev’s pace and accuracy with his forehand challenged Sinner early on, with the German dropping only eight points on his serve in the first set. Zverev also broke a streak of losing 14 successive sets against Sinner by winning the first set tie-break.

Frustration was visible on Sinner’s face early in the second set as he struggled to impact Zverev’s service games. However, in the second tie-break of the match, Zverev faltered, allowing Sinner to level the contest.

The powerful serves and aggressive ball-striking continued into the third set. At 3-3, Zverev had his first break point of the match after two hours and 42 minutes. However, he slipped behind the baseline after Sinner executed a drop shot.

Sinner paused to check on his opponent, and although Zverev indicated he was fine, he appeared shaken. Sinner then held his serve and subsequently broke Zverev’s serve for the first time, as the German seemed to move with some discomfort, throwing his racket in frustration.

Zverev regained his composure in the fourth set, but Sinner maintained his focus and broke serve again to take a 4-3 lead. The match concluded with Sinner winning a 23-stroke rally with an angled shot to reach match point, before sealing his 100th Grand Slam victory with a forehand winner.

Despite this being his fourth Grand Slam final defeat, Zverev can reflect on a strong period in his career, having won his first major title in Paris and progressing further than ever before at Wimbledon. He will move up to second in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings on Monday.

Sinner’s win brings his year’s record to 44-3, marking his sixth title of the season. He hit 58 winners and made only 25 unforced errors during the final.

Source: dawn.com