Carlos Alcaraz wasn’t used to what happened Sunday at Wimbledon. He didn’t rule the court.
Jannik Sinner appeared to have all of the answers, especially in the last three sets of his 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory in the Wimbledon men’s final.
Sinner surrendered the first set, but the tall, slim Italian then took over Centre Court with his power, movement, shot-making and yes, quickness. He stumbled a few times going for broke, but in most cases he had already delivered the winning blow.
SINNER WAITED TO TAKE CHARGE
Sinner didn’t really introduce his mighty serve to the always full and enthusiastic packed house until the last three sets. And then, the usually brilliant Alcaraz didn’t seem prepared for Sinner’s full-court attack.
Sinner’s aces still didn’t come in record numbers the last three sets, but they were always an option. He delivered three aces in the all-important sixth game of the third set when he pulled even at 3-3. Alcaraz appeared to have new life when he held service for 4-3, but Sinner had little trouble winning the last three games of the set.
Once Alcaraz was broken in the third game of the fourth set, he couldn’t catch up with Sinner’s power and all-court play again.
CENTRE COURT CAN CHANGE QUICKLY
The Spaniard’s usual drop shots and brilliant play all over the court didn’t seem to be there after the first set.
With nothing but success in his first five appearances in Grand Slam finals, Alcaraz may have to play catch up with Sinner in the upcoming hard courts in the U.S. Open and hard courts Down Under in Australia.
It’s amazing how quickly things can change almost overnight.
Alcaraz was almost everyone’s hero after surviving the power of Taylor Fritz in the semifinals with the aid of two set points saved in a fourth-set tiebreaker.
Sinner probably looks pretty unbeatable until next spring’s French Open.
But Alcaraz still has those five Grand Slam titles.
And he’s still 22 years old.
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James Beck (843-795-3584, h)
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James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award for print media. A 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.
