World no.1 ranked player Jannik Sinner beat rival Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon finals on Sunday, becoming the first Italian of the Open Era to win the title. An amazing match, it was still overshadowed by the semi-final between Sinner and longtime legend Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic lost to Sinner in under two hours, marking the first time in almost a decade he was not a part of the Wimbledon finals. For many, this recalls the early 2000s, when the old guard was on its way out and up-and-coming players were ascendant. Past is prologue and today’s young players are amassing wins in tennis tournaments as the stalwarts take step back.
Sunday’s match saw a tense first set where Alcaraz outplayed Sinner 6-4. Sinner quickly upped his game with amazing serves, however, turning the game around in his favor. During the third and fourth sets, Alcaraz appeared to be losing steam, as he struggled to respond to Sinner’s aces, consistently challenging and varied enough to keep Alcaraz on his toes.
Sinner dominated critical match situations, outplaying Alcaraz through expert shots and composed responses to drops. His performance was aided by his composure, rarely showing any signs of worry or pressure.
But while Sinner sailed through to the win, two close calls almost derailed his win. At two separate points Sinner dashed toward the center of the court before slipping onto his knees, raising concerns of injury. However, these fears proved unfounded, as Sinner participated in the celebration ceremony and the traditional dance between the winners of the Men’s and Women’s singles without any visible limp.
Sinner’s victory, however, has triggered a degree of polarization among fans, who are debating what it means for his career and the sport as a whole. Detractors claim Sinner will ride the high of the Wimbledon win for a few years, at most, before yielding the court. Some have even compared him to players such as Bjorn Borg and Boris Becker, who retired early after finding success at a young age.
Supporters, however, foresee Sinner and Alcaraz destined to become the next Federer and Nadal, maintaining this win is merely the start of a long and successful career.
Regardless of the future, Sinner’s victory ensures that no matter what path his career takes, the world will be watching.