Wimbledon Final Preview: Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz

Centre Court will crackle with anticipation on Sunday, July 13th at 4:00 p.m. as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz face off for the Wimbledon title, a showdown loaded with history and high stakes.

Alcaraz is chasing a third straight crown at SW19 and the rare feat of winning the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back in consecutive seasons, something no man has done since Björn Borg nearly half a century ago.

Sinner, fresh from toppling Novak Djokovic, is hunting his first Grand Slam title on grass and a long-awaited breakthrough against the Spaniard who has denied him so often before.

Both players have split the last six majors and lit up the tour with one of tennis’s fiercest rivalries. On Sunday, only one will leave Centre Court as champion and perhaps as the sport’s new ruler.

Player Focus

Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner has carved a flawless path to his first Wimbledon final, intent on rewriting the narrative that has seen Carlos Alcaraz block his ascension to tennis’s absolute summit. The world No. 1 has stormed through the draw, dropping just one set and even that courtesy of an abandoned match.

Sinner’s grass-court crusade began in imperious style against compatriot Luca Nardi, dispatching him 6-4, 6-3, 6-0. Aleksandar Vukic barely laid a glove on him in round two, falling 6-1, 6-1, 6-3, before Spain’s Pedro Martinez managed only five games in total during their third-round clash.

Though Sinner faced an unexpected stumble against Grigor Dimitrov, trailing by two sets before the Bulgarian retired with the score at 3-6, 5-7, 2-2, he regrouped spectacularly. A composed victory over the explosive Ben Shelton followed, 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4, before he produced a semi-final masterclass to end Novak Djokovic’s bid for an eighth Wimbledon crown, winning 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

Yet, for all his brilliance, Sinner arrives in this final knowing he has lost five straight matches to Alcaraz, including the harrowing French Open final just weeks ago, where he squandered three championship points. His mission on Sunday is clear: conquer his Spanish nemesis, claim a fourth Grand Slam title, and finally prove that his game transcends surfaces.

Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz stands on the brink of Wimbledon history, carrying a confidence born of resilience and flair. The reigning champion began his title defence under duress, needing five sets to escape Fabio Fognini’s challenge on opening day. But since that narrow escape, the Spanish star has raised his level with every round.

A smooth victory followed over Oliver Tarvet, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4, and despite a brief stumble against Jan-Lennard Struff, whom he dispatched 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, Alcaraz has shown why he is the game’s reigning phenom. Andrey Rublev, Cameron Norrie, and Taylor Fritz all fell in succession, the American semi-finalist pushed aside in a tightly contested four-set battle, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(6).

Now 48-5 for the season and riding a 24-match winning streak, Alcaraz enters Sunday’s final with a 20-match unbeaten run at Wimbledon and an intimidating record in major finals: five played, five won. Moreover, he has never lost a five-setter against Sinner, coming back from the brink multiple times in their pulsating showdowns.

Beyond the physicality and explosive shot-making, Alcaraz brings mental fortitude unmatched in his generation. He’s determined to join legends like Borg and Federer as a three-time consecutive Wimbledon champion and to continue asserting his dominance over the man across the net.

Head-to-Head

Few rivalries burn brighter than this one, but recent history has been brutally one-sided. Though Sinner led their series 4-3 after 2023, Alcaraz has rattled off five consecutive wins, including three in finals.

• 2025 French Open Final: Alcaraz def. Sinner 4–6, 6–7(4), 6–4, 7–6(3), 7–6 (10–2)
• 2025 Italian Open Final: Alcaraz def. Sinner 7-6(5), 6-1
• 2024 China Open Final: Alcaraz def. Sinner 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-6(3)
• 2024 French Open Semi-final: Alcaraz def. Sinner 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
• 2024 Indian Wells Semi-final: Alcaraz def. Sinner 1-6, 6-3, 6-2

Prior to that streak, Sinner captured significant wins, including at Wimbledon in 2022. Yet crucially, every five-set clash between them has gone Alcaraz’s way, showcasing the Spaniard’s psychological edge when matches reach their crucible moments.

Sinner will need to reverse a trend that sees Alcaraz dominate the longest and most critical battles because on Sunday, the margins will be razor-thin.

What’s at Stake

Sunday’s final transcends a simple Wimbledon title:

• For Alcaraz:
  • A third straight Wimbledon crown.
  • The historic Channel Slam in consecutive seasons, echoing Björn Borg’s legacy.
  • Extension of his perfect 5-0 record in Slam finals.
  • A chance to further cement his growing aura as the sport’s next enduring superstar.
• For Sinner:
  • A first Wimbledon trophy.
  • A maiden Slam on grass to prove his versatility.
  • The end of a psychological barrier against Alcaraz.
  • Validation of his No. 1 ranking as more than a hard-court phenomenon.

This is not merely a battle for a trophy; it’s a contest for supremacy in a generational rivalry. One man will emerge with his legend enhanced. The other must retreat once more, searching for answers.