Jannik Sinner beat first-time finalist Alexander Zverev 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday to become the tenth man to successfully defend the Wimbledon title. He secured his fifth Grand Slam trophy and denyied the German a rare double.
Jannik Sinner is once again Wimbledon champion, coming through a gruelling three hour and 46 minute battle with Alexander Zverev on Centre Court to retain the title he won in 2025. The world number one recovered from losing a tight opening set tie-break to level in the second, then broke Zverev once in each of the third and fourth sets to close out the match on his first championship point.
A final of contrasting fortunes
The win completes a remarkable turnaround for Sinner, who suffered a shock second-round exit at Roland Garros in May, beaten in five sets by Juan Manuel Cerundolo. Zverev took advantage of that early departure in Paris to claim his own maiden Grand Slam title and arrived at Wimbledon hoping to become the first man in the Open Era to follow a first major with a second at the very next Slam.
Sinner made sure that record stayed intact, extending his head-to-head advantage over the German to eleven wins from their last fifteen meetings.
Zverev played with unusual aggression throughout, landing 76% of his first serves and attacking freely from the baseline. Sinner, by contrast, relied on his trademark court coverage, sliding into the corners to absorb the German’s heaviest blows before finding his best tennis when it mattered most . He surged to a 4-0 lead in the second-set tie-break to level the match. From there, single breaks in the third and fourth sets proved decisive.
Sinner’s first major of 2026
Sinner’s victory brings him a fifth Grand Slam title and his first of the season, having already completed the Career Golden Masters in Rome back in May. It marks his return to major-winning form since his 2025 Wimbledon triumph over Carlos Alcaraz. The result also drops Zverev to second in the world rankings from Monday, with Sinner extending his lead to 4,970 points.
Speaking after the match, Sinner praised his opponent’s efforts: “It has been an amazing final once again and it always takes two players and Sascha and I tried to give everything we had. I am very happy about the win, but also the level that we both played.”
Zverev, gracious in defeat, reflected on a landmark fortnight for his own career: “We came into Wimbledon having never reached a quarter-final and we played a first Wimbledon final. At 29 years old this is the first time I believe I can win this trophy.”
