The heavy artillery rolled out at Wimbledon on Sunday as world No 1 Jannik Sinner successfully defended his men’s singles titles amid a fusillade of aces.
After the deftness and artistry of Saturday’s women’s final, Sinner’s collision with Alexander Zverev was a contrasting study in power. The transition felt jarring, like going from one of Disney’s classic hand-drawn animations to a Transformers movie about two CGI robots bashing chunks out of each other.
It was a competitive match, and a highly impressive one in a technical sense, but the texture of the play was so serve-dominated that we could almost have travelled back 30 years to the era of Pete Sampras and Goran Ivanisevic.
Astonishingly, it took two hours and 54 minutes of play for the first break of serve to come up. This arrived in the 34th game of the match, with the score standing at 6-7, 7-6, 4-3 – which soon became 5-3 in the third set when Zverev pushed a forehand long and then threw his racket sideways along the baseline in frustration.
In the second year of the All England Club’s new scheduling policy on singles finals, which now start at 4pm, the organisers were fortunate that Sinner then managed another miraculous break at 3-3 in the fourth set. If this one had gone to a decider, fading light would have necessitated the closing of the roof – a bad look for a tournament that prides itself on being played outdoors wherever possible.
As the shadows lengthened, Sinner brought up match point with an astonishing 23-shot rally that saw him throw up a high lob, trade a dozen backhands, rush to the net to retrieve a deadly drop shot, and then somehow flick a sharp-angled riposte to about the only position on the court where Zverev was unable to reach it.
Sinner was smiling now, in defiance of the convention that tennis players keep a poker face until the match is over. He had started a little slowly, by his own stratospheric standards, and allowed Zverev to dictate the forehand exchanges in a way that had rarely happened in their previous meetings – the last nine of which had gone to Sinner.
But this dynamic reversed as the match went on, and Sinner proved as much on the final point: one huge forehand howitzer cross-court, another down the line, and then the patented collapse on to his back, which Rafael Nadal has turned into the go-to celebration for his successors.
Defence complete.
Jannik Sinner defeats Alexander Zverev 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4 to win his second Wimbledon trophy. #Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/TejFI5DdbW
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 12, 2026
The match clock read three hours and 46 minutes, after an extended tussle which might have put the watching Nicole Kidman in mind of her Oscar-winning movie The Hours, or left her Royal Box neighbour Dustin Hoffman recalling his own Marathon Man.
For Sinner, it was about time that he logged a major title in a season that had seen him lose to Novak Djokovic in Melbourne and then spontaneously combust in ferocious heat during the second round in Paris.
His 2026 win-loss record outside the majors stood at a ridiculous 31-1, so a big one was coming. This was his second Wimbledon crown to place alongside two Australian Opens and one US Open, with only the French Open still eluding him.
As for Zverev, he had taken advantage of the Sinner-free draw at Roland Garros to finally land his own first major at the age of 29. With that frustration behind him at last, he played arguably the best tournament of his career, culminating in what might have been his finest individual performance.
The fact that it was not good enough said something about Sinner’s flawless poise and unshakeable self-confidence. Still, Zverev could easily take a leaf from Andy Murray’s book, after Murray’s own first Wimbledon final ended in defeat to Roger Federer, and say “I’m getting closer”.
The champ!
More from Sinner
“Standing here, you can feel the nerves on a Sunday morning when you wake up. It is a very, very special day. You never know how many times you can come back on Sunday. I never take things for granted.
“Playing in front of very, very special people throughout the whole couple of weeks, it has been amazing. You are always amazing to me, thanks for the support. You gave me the most special feeling a tennis player can ever feel like. Thank you so much.”
Sinner reacts
“It feels amazing. ‘Sascha’, I would like to start with you and your whole team and family. You reached one of your main goals; winning Grand Slams. You made it happen in Paris.
“Today you were so, so close. If you keep playing like this I’m sure you’re going to have this one at home as well. So amazing, keep going. I know another goal is for you to become number one in the world. You are very close. I have to be very careful now! But congrats.”
More from Zverev
“To my team, we had pretty good two months I would say, even though we lost this final. We had an amazing two months and we came into Wimbledon having never reached the quarter-final, and we reached a first final. At 29, this is the first time I believed I could win this trophy, so thank you to you guys as well.
“I would like to thank the crowd for these two amazing weeks. Every time I played the court was full, I never felt support like that at Wimbledon before and you are a big reason I made it to the final, so thank you for that.”
Zverev reacts
“He showed once again why he is the best player in the world. It was great to share the Centre Court with you on finals weekend. A great honour to be here. It didn’t go my way but congratulations to you first of all.
“Also in relation to Jannik’s team, who have been with him for many years now. You are number one now but you were outside top 10 when you started and you are all the way to being grand slam champions and world number one. It is a team effort, Jannik will be first to admit it, so congratulations to you as well.”
Sinner receives the trophy from the Princess of Wales
‘I don’t like you anymore’
Zverev still manages to make a joke despite losing to Sinner
Tim Henman reacts
A worthy champion, an incredible defence of his title. As the great players do, they find the way to get the win.
Sinner has got better and better as he’s gone on through this tournament. His performance in the semi-final against Djokovic and today have been truly world class.
Sinner goes back-to-back
The moment Jannik Sinner became a back-to-back Wimbledon champion! ✨ pic.twitter.com/0gPzelYztd
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 12, 2026
Sinner was just too relentless
An incredible final game, full of high-intensity rallies – including a point for the ages at 30-30. Sinner was just too relentless. But Zverev, fresh from winning the French Open, has shown he can be a contender on all surfaces now.
Sinner* 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 6-4 Zverev
Bad start by Zverev as he sends a forehand long. Sinner’s drop shot is not good enough and Zverev pounces on it to finish with a forehand winner, 15-15.
Another great rally, Sinner hits another drop shot, Zverev gets there, Sinner hits lob, Zverev backhand pass and Sinner’s diving volley is wide, 15-30. Sinner forehand winner, 30-30.
Backhand to backhand rally is sensational, Zverev mixes it up with a drop shot, Sinner replies with one of his own and it beats the German, CHAMPIONSHIP POINT.
Sinner forehand winner down the line, GAME SET MATCH CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
Sinner 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 5-4 Zverev*
Zverev does what he needs to do and holds to 30 to prolong his hopes. He has managed to create just one break point in the match so far.
Can he finally break Sinner in the next game?
Sinner looks like he could maintain this level for hours more
The springiness and agility of Sinner is remarkable. He looks like he could maintain this level for hours more; he won’t have to, barring a remarkable turnaround.
Sinner* 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 5-3 Zverev
Zverev moans to his support box after spraying another forehand long, 30-0. He then nets a return, 40-0. Sinner consolidates the break with a backhand winner down the line. A ruthless finish!
Sinner 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 4-3 Zverev*
The crowd are on their feet after the point of the match. Exceptional defence from Sinner. He lobs Zverev, attacks the net and finishes with a drop volley winner, 0-15.
My colleague Tim Wigmore predicts a break is coming as Zverev nets a forehand, 0-30. Will he be right?
Deep return by Sinner and Zverev pushes a backhand wide, two break points. 137mph ace from Zverev saves the first. And he saves the second with an overhead smash winner. He is hanging on.
But then he miscues a forehand wide. Break point No 3…
Great return by Sinner. He gets a short reply from Zverev and Sinner steps in to rifle a forehand winner into the corner.
SINNER BREAKS. And Tim was right!
The crowd are on their feet and rightly so… what a rally! 😍 pic.twitter.com/It1xC1Koms
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 12, 2026
Sinner* 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 3-3 Zverev
All business from Sinner as he blasts through this service game and holds to 15.
Sinner 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 2-3 Zverev*
Zverev is convinced his backhand down the line is in but the replays show the ball was just wide, 40-30. The German gets out of the game with an unreturned first serve.
Sinner* 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 2-2 Zverev
Zverev on the attack, pulling Sinner left and right then finishing with an emphatic overhead winner, 0-30. Sinner leaps into a backhand and puts it away for a winner, 15-30. Brilliant shot.
The wind is starting to pick up which might make things tricky but Sinner finds back-to-back first serves to get ahead at 40-30. Another first serve in from Sinner is unreturned and he survives that scare.
Sinner 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 1-2 Zverev*
Confident hold to love from Zverev. If he does take this to a fifth, the roof will almost certainly come on.
Sinner* 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 1-1 Zverev
Zverev’s best two points in a row for a long time gets him to deuce after Sinner looked to be cruising through the game. Sinner does get the hold when Zverev’s backhand return is into the net.
Fourth Set: Sinner 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 0-1 Zverev*
This is obviously a must-win set for Zverev. His poor record against Sinner must be in his head. The Italian has beaten him nine times in a row.
He holds here to start the set but the body language isn’t exuding positivity.
The force is with Sinner now
Sinner looks a little snappier around the court than Zverev now. Three sloppy unforced errors and a double fault gave Sinner a chance to break; Zverev throwing his racket when he was broken betrayed his frustration. Finally, after 32 service games in this final, a break of serve.
The force is with Sinner now. He clinches the set with an ace and will feel that, with an early break in the fourth set, he can move decisively to securing his second Wimbledon title and fifth Grand Slam, title.
Sinner* 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 Zverev
Sinner’s level since the second set tie-break has not dropped and he deserves this set, which he takes with an ace down the T.
Zverev will have to dig very deep to win this now.
Sinner 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 5-3 Zverev*
There does not appear to be any lingering impact from that slip from Zverev as he moves swiftly to 40-15. But Sinner manages to take the game to deuce when Zverev drags a backhand wide.
Zverev hits a weary looking forehand long, break point Sinner. Sinner slips but gets back up to fight on in the rally, he then hits a big backhand to take control and Zverev mis-hits another forehand long.
A BREAK. WE HAVE A BREAK. Sinner to serve for the set.
A potentially relevant factoid here: no major final has ever started with three tie-breakers.
Sinner* 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 4-3 Zverev
First time in a very long time that we have 0-30 on the Sinner serve. He pulls one point back with a forehand winner. And levels when Zverev nets a backhand return.
Fizzing forehand winner by Zverev keeps the game alive at deuce. Sinner tries to go back behind Zverev but the German doesn’t move and bunts the ball back. Sinner then nets a forehand. A BREAK POINT AT LAST!
Short return by Zverev, Sinner drop shot is a winner but Zverev slipped over as he tried to run for it and holds his leg. He stays down and Sinner jogs over to check on him. Zverev eventually gets up and Sinner manages to hold onto his serve with a forehand winner.
Sinner 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 3-3 Zverev*
Stunning defence by Sinner to make Zverev play an extra ball and the German sends a forehand wide, 0-15. Zverev ace, 30-15. Back-to-back thumping first serves by Zverev are unreturned by Sinner and he holds.
Sinner* 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 3-2 Zverev
No sign of that elusive break of serve as Sinner holds to 15 with an ace. Impeccable serving from both men for two hours and 34 minutes.
Sinner 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 2-2 Zverev*
Beautiful forehand winner from Sinner into the corner, 30-30. As he has done so often, Zverev finds his first serve and forehand to win the point, 40-30.
136mph wide serve by Zverev is unreturned and he holds.
Sinner* 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 2-1 Zverev
Sinner is hitting his forehand with far more confidence at this stage of the match and it is paying off. Zverev is having to weather a bit of a storm.
Sinner 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 1-1 Zverev*
Sinner has come alive in the last 20 minutes. He moves to 0-30 with a forehand winner. But then tries to be too cute with a drop shot and nets.
Zverev fight back to 30-30 and then moves ahead with a 128mph wide ace. 136mph serve is unreturned and Zverev survives.
Third Set: Sinner* 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 1-0 Zverev
This match hasn’t been a thriller. Hasn’t been a match of great quality either. But Sinner’s performance in the tie-break was faultless. Can he keep that going to pull away from Zverev?
Well he starts this game with a service hold to 15 so he makes a good start.
We still have not had a break of serve
Zverev threatened in the Sinner service game at 5-6. But that chance to go 2-0 up swiftly evaporated in a sloppy tie-break. Instead, after over two gruelling hours, we are back all level. The start of the third set looms as critical: a quick Sinner break will tilt the match towards him. We still haven’t had a break of serve all match.
Sinner 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2) Zverev – Tie-break
Zverev forehand return high and wide, 5-2. Sinner attacks again and finishes with a forehand winner, 6-2. Zverev backhand wide, 7-2.
Game on, folks!
Sinner draws level 🤝
The defending champion takes the second set ✅ pic.twitter.com/iHIW85mgq6
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 12, 2026
Sinner 6-7 (7-9), 6-6 (4-2) Zverev – Tie-break
Zverev mis-hits a forehand long, 1-0. Sinner on the attack and Zverev puts a forehand long, 2-0. Sinner overhead smash winner, 3-0. Zverev forehand into the net, 4-0. So aggressive from Sinner.
Sinner tries a lob over Zverev but it is just long, 4-1. He is in the zone right now. Deep Zverev return and Sinner nets a backhand, 4-2.
Sinner* 6-7 (7-9), 6-6 Zverev
Massive game coming up. Smart drop shot by Sinner sensing Zverev’s position and the German can’t get the ball over, 30-15. Sinner first serve unreturned, 40-15.
Zverev backhand wide and we are heading to another tie-break.
Sinner 6-7 (7-9), 5-6 Zverev*
Zverev continues to be unplayable on serve. Rarely see Sinner this neutralised on the return. But credit to Zverev, who has produced a serving masterclass. He holds again with a thumping first serve down the T.
Sinner* 6-7 (7-9), 5-5 Zverev
An hour and 48 minutes played as Sinner comes out to serve. Still a long way to go I think. Frustration for Sinner after pulling a forehand wide, 30-15. He then nets a difficult drive forehand, 40-30. I wonder if we will hear after the match that Sinner was carrying an injury into this match.
An ace from Sinner to finish the game. One we go!
Sinner 6-7 (7-9), 4-5 Zverev*
Umpire Moore is forced to issue a warning after repeatedly calls out from someone in the crowd. Zverev keeps his cool though with another unreturned serve making it 30-15. Sinner forehand winner makes it 40-30. Zverev shuts the door with a 139mph wide ace.
Sinner* 6-7 (7-9), 4-4 Zverev
Serving second in the set, it will be interesting to see how Sinner copes with the scoreboard pressure after being behind. No sign of it in this game as he holds to 15.
Sinner 6-7 (7-9), 3-4 Zverev*
Sinner has adjusted his return position. He’s at least four metres behind the baseline. It doesn’t help him in this game as Zverev holds to 15 after another fizzing forehand winner.
Sinner* 6-7 (7-9), 3-3 Zverev
Before play resumes, we see Zverev apply an insulin pen to his left leg. Zverev was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was three years old
Half chance for Zverev here at 30-30 after getting lucky with net cord. The German gets a look at a second serve but net a forehand return. Sinner sees out the danger with a volley winner.
Huge groans, especially from Zverev himself, at that missed forehand return on second serve at 30-30. Break points have been so scarce today (still singular, indeed) that that felt like a big opportunity.
Alexander Zverev is type 1 diabetic, meaning he’s allowed to use a phone during Wimbledon matches to check his glucose levels and inject insulin if needed. pic.twitter.com/7uVgiesdBr
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 12, 2026
Sinner 6-7 (7-9), 2-3 Zverev*
The all-out aggression from Zverev continues as he powers to 40-0. He does go for too much with a forehand and that keeps Sinner in the game, 40-15. Then a backhand wide by Zverev gives Sinner some hope, 40-30. But Zverev shuts that down with his trusty combo of a big serve followed by a forehand winner.
Sinner* 6-7 (7-9), 2-2 Zverev
More conviction and consistency in Sinner’s forehand in this game. It helps him to hold to love and level the set.
Sinner 6-7 (7-9), 1-2 Zverev*
Another Zverev service game passes by Sinner as the German holds to love. Sinner has work to do here to change the way things are moving.
Zverev is consistently outhitting Sinner with his forehand during their baseline exchanges. Tremendous power and placement is putting Sinner under relentless pressure. Still, just a solitary break point all match, which is a measure of how well both men are serving.
Sinner* 6-7 (7-9), 1-1 Zverev
Sinner miscues a forehand wide, 15-30. He hasn’t been at his best when Zverev goes big at it. Chance for Zverev on Sinner’s second serve but he nets a backhand, 30-30.
Timely ace from Sinner gets him ahead but Zverev takes the game to deuce with a 100mph forehand winner, deuce. Sinner survives the scare to hold.
Second Set: Sinner 6-7 (7-9), 0-1 Zverev*
Will losing that set be a wake up call for Sinner to do something different? Because so far, Zverev has been very comfortable on serve.
First game in a long time where Sinner takes Zverev to deuce. But Zverev finds another ace to claim the game.
This is the highest level we have ever seen from Zverev
Zverev absolutely deserved that. This is the highest level we have ever seen from him. He is a man transformed. And my first thought is that – whatever happens in this final – the men’s game could also be transformed into a new “big three” when Carlos Alcaraz returns from his wrist injury.
Sinner 6-7 (7-9) Zverev – Tie-break
134mph Sinner ace down the T, 7-6. SET POINT SINNER. 134mph Zverev ace out wide, 7-7. Zverev keeps his cool after good defence by Sinner and finishes with a backhand winner, 7-8. SET POINT ZVEREV. Zverev forehand winner into the corner after a cagey rally, 7-9.
A set of fine margins.
Advantage Zverev! 💥
What a final we have on our hands here 🍿 pic.twitter.com/Mxrd1pU4CE
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 12, 2026
Sinner 6-6 (6-6) Zverev – Tie-break
Chalk flies in the air after a 139mph ace, 3-4. Zverev makes Sinner hit a tough volley but the Italian makes it, 4-4. 130mph Sinner ace, 5-4. Sinner forehand return into the net, 5-5. Sinner hustles to stay in the rally but shanks a forehand wide, 5-6. SET POINT ZVEREV.
Sinner drop shot, Zverev hustles to get there and does but Sinner whips a forehand into the open court, 6-6.
Sinner 6-6 (3-3) Zverev – Tie-break
Sinner forehand winner, 1-0. Zverev overpowers Sinner with a series of forehand, 1-1. The point is on Sinner’s racket but he puts a forehand into the tramlines, 1-2. Sinner ace, 2-2. Zverev miscues a return, 3-2. 134mph first serve by Zverev is unreturned, 3-3.
Sinner 6-6 Zverev*
Lovely drive forehand winner by Zverev to start the game. Zverev gets ahead with a 136mph ace down the T, 30-15. 130mph unreturned first serve makes it 40-15. And he holds with a backhand winner back behind Sinner.
Tie-break time!
Sinner* 6-5 Zverev
Cool finish at the net from Sinner as he puts a drop volley, 30-0. Another forehand long by Zverev. As my colleague Simon said in the previous post, Zverev is probably going for too much on the forehand wing. That was his 10th forehand unforced error and 15th overall.
Fifth ace from Sinner to hold and book himself a place in at least a tie-break.
It’s hugely impressive how aggressive Zverev has been, given his reputation for playing passively under pressure. That first grand slam in Paris last month has changed his whole mindset. But Sinner is keeping him at arms length with great skill.
Sinner 5-5 Zverev*
Shot of the match so far as Zverev hammers a 95mph forehand down the line, 30-0. Nothing Sinner could do about that. The German then backs it up with his second ace of the match, 40-0. He holds to 15 when he overpowers Sinner with a forehand.
Zverev guilty of overpressing at times
Zverev has gone wide a lot. You could say that he is overpressing, but then perhaps the feeling in his camp is that you have to aim towards the sidelines, because Sinner is so hard to catch out of position.
Sinner* 5-4 Zverev
Zverev turn to apply pressure as the game moves to 30-30. Sinner responds on a pressure point with a big forehand winner, 40-30. Wild forehand into the tramlines by Zverev and Sinner comes through.
Sinner 4-4 Zverev*
Usually tennis players go a slower second serve after missing the first. Not Zverev. There has been no holding back from him. Sinner has not had a read on the serve so far which will be a frustration for him.
However he does get to deuce when Zverev whips a forehand into the tramlines. First double fault of the match by Zverev. Hmmmmm. This game has flipped quickly. First break point of the match for Sinner.
Cagey rally and it ends when Sinner shanks a forehand high and wide. Back to deuce. Normal service resumes for Zverev as he fires down some big serves to hold.
Centre Court is playing like a fast and bouncy cricket pitch
I make it five returns in from Sinner – the best returner in the world, or at least the tournament – from 14 Zverev serves. That puts Arthur Fery’s struggles in the semi-final in perspective.
This court has been baked so hard from the sun that it’s playing like a fast and bouncy cricket pitch, with the ball kicking up high.
Sinner* 4-3 Zverev
Sinner tries to get his own love hold service game but he sprays a couple of groundstrokes wide to keep Zverev in the game. But he pulls through when Zverev goes long. Entering the business end of the set.
Sinner 3-3 Zverev*
Four first serves by Sinner. Four serves unreturned. And a service hold in less than 90 seconds for Zverev!
Sinner* 3-2 Zverev
Tood from Zverev as he pushes Sinner wide with a cross court backhand and whips a forehand winner into the open court, 0-30. Sinner hammers down a 130mph ace to get back on track. And he levels when Zverev’s attempted forehand down the line is wide. A cry of anguish from the German after missing that.
Positive reaction from Sinner as he finds another first serve to take the lead and another unreturned serve gives him the game. Great recovery.
The Tennis Insights performance ratings – which I’ve found very convincing during this event – have Zverev at 9.4 to Sinner’s 8.1.
Sinner 2-2 Zverev*
Both players are timing the ball very sweetly at the moment despite the pace they are striking it. Zverev closes out the hold with a blistering forehand winner. Sinner never moved for it.
If this continues, we will have a lot of tie-breaks today.
Sinner* 2-1 Zverev
Sinner, who is bidding to become the 10th men’s champion to defend their title, moves serenely to 40-0. And holds serve with a lovely lob over Zverev’s head.
Sinner 1-1 Zverev*
Zverev is bringing the power already. Hitting a 141mph first serve, which is his fastest of the tournament. He then hits a 122mph second serve. Arthur Fery’s quickest first serve on Friday was 123mph.
Confident hold from the German to start.
First set: Jannik Sinner* 1-0 Alexander Zverev (*denotes server)
Interesting decision by Zverev, who won the toss, to put Sinner in to serve first.
Good start by Zverev as he moves to 15-30 when Sinner miscues a backhand into the tramlines. First ace of the match from Sinner, 132mph, gets him level. The defending champions holds serve when Zverev pushes a forehand return long.
Here we go!
Nearly showtime folks. The players have arrived on court. I’d say 50/50 for crowd support. It is not heatwave weather levels but it is still very warm.
The chair umpire is Eva Asderaki-Moore from Greece.
The Gentlemen’s Singles Final 💫
Jannik Sinner vs Alexander Zverev. #Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/bUdVoRPKMK
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 12, 2026
Pre-match thoughts from Sinner
“I am very relaxed. Look, I don’t have anything what I doing the same thing over and over again. I also enjoy the moment, because I know how rare these days are. Grand slam finals, they are tough to achieve and to arrive. You also need to enjoy this moment and the process.”
Zverev’s grand-slam breakthrough cannot remove black marks
As much as one respects Zverev’s tennis, as much as one acknowledges his persistence and dedication, his achievements on the court are so often occluded by… stuff.
Allegations of domestic abuse, violations of Covid protocol, altercations with umpires, tactless remarks about fellow players – all these factors have since filtered into the perception of Zverev as the chief anti-hero of the tour, at least since Nick Kyrgios faded out of the picture.
Some believe the criticism to be unfair. We should stress that the claims of Zverev’s ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova – who alleged that he had suffocated her with a pillow and hit her head against a wall – were investigated over 15 months by an independent agency hired by the men’s tour, which found no evidence to support them. And that Brenda Patea – the mother of Zverev’s daughter, who made separate claims that he had pushed her against a wall and choked her – ended up settling out of court.
Perhaps we should attempt to strike these allegations from the cognitive record completely, like a jury instructed to disregard unproven facts.
Even so, this is still a man with a PR problem. Despite the warm and relatable emotions displayed after his French Open win, when he embraced his family and backroom staff with red clay still clinging to his back, it may take Zverev a few more years to erase all those black marks from his record.
Royal family meet Arthur Fery
A nice moment for Fery as he meets the Royal family after his brilliant run to the semi-final.
Andrew Castle interview: Yes, I am upset at how it is ending with the BBC
Today will be Andrew Castle’s last Wimbledon after being dropped from the lead commentator role, with the BBC moving in “a new direction” from next year.
Castle, 62, has led the corporation’s coverage of this year’s Championships having been told two months ago that this would be his last, with Alex Kay-Jelski, the BBC’s head of sport, keen to modernise coverage.
The BBC offered Castle a different role to “stay on the team” but he told The Telegraph this would certainly be his last Championships.
I spoke to Castle before Wimbledon and he recalled his rise from a Taunton council estate, a costly Poll Tax error in his playing days and why he is upset at how it is ending with the BBC.
Click here to read more.
John Lloyd leaves BBC’s Wimbledon team: ‘It’s a different audience now’
John Lloyd, the former British No 1, has become the latest voice to leave the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage for good, bowing out in the most understated fashion during the men’s doubles final on Saturday afternoon.
“I didn’t want any fuss”, Lloyd told Telegraph Sport after the revelation – and this was evident on air from his tone of surprise when Todd Woodbridge, co-commentator, initially broke the news on the BBC’s live Wimbledon broadcast.
“Before we get to the presentation, worth just saying something about you, Lloydy,” said Woodbridge, who then brushed aside Lloyd’s slightly flustered response – “Wow, don’t need to…” – before concluding: “It might be the last chance that I get to sit in the comms box with you, it’s been an absolute pleasure.”
Click here for more from Lloyd’s interview with Simon.
Prince and Princess of Wales to take children to Wimbledon for final
The Prince and Princess of Wales will take their two eldest children to watch the Wimbledon men’s final on Sunday afternoon.
The Princess, who is patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) will be joined by the Prince, as well as Prince George, 12, and Princess Charlotte, 11, to watch Jannik Sinner compete against Alexander Zverev.
The Wales family, who also attended Wimbledon last year without Prince Louis, eight, will arrive on the players’ lawn before heading to Centre Court’s Royal Box for the duration of the final.
They will be joined in the box by Deborah Jevans, the chairman of the AELTC, and a gathering of screen stars including Dustin Hoffman, Ben Stiller, Nicole Kidman, Rami Malek and Sienna Miller.
Last year, Prince George admitted he was “all right” at tennis ahead of the final match in a discussion with doubles champion Julian Cash.
In a discussion about the eldest Wales child playing tennis, Cash asked if he was any good, to which the young Prince appeared to shrug and reply: “I’m all right.”
The 12-year-old is known to be a keen tennis enthusiast, like his sister and mother.
Their appearance on Sunday marks the Princess of Wales’s third time at Wimbledon during this year’s championships. She also attended the women’s final on Saturday, where she presented the Venus Rosewater Dish to Linda Noskova.
During the first week of the competition, the Princess also surprised tennis fans by meeting people in Wimbledon’s famous queue and later handing out tickets to attendees. She also watched British wild card Arthur Fery on Court 18 for 30 minutes alongside former pro Tim Henman.
Wimbledon men’s final
Good afternoon and welcome to coverage on the Wimbledon men’s final between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev.
It is the last day of the tournament, which has been remarkably rain free. And today it is no different with clear skies ready to meet the players when they walk onto Centre Court.
Sinner is looking to defend his title from last year while Zverev comes in as the winner of the most recent grand slam, the French Open.
Sinner has beaten Zverev in last nine meetings which would suggest this should be straight forward for the Italian. But Zverev has been buoyed by his success in Paris and appears finally to have cracked the grass court code.
“Once you win a major you know how to do it and you feel like you can do it again. You have this feeling inside of you,” Zverev told reporters.
Since suffering a scare in the first round against Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic, when he required five sets to avoid a first-round exit, he has moved smoothly through the tournament. He dispatched seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic in straight sets on Friday to reach his seventh grand slam final
“Because he tried for so long, and then when you finally achieve it, it’s amazing and then gives you this confidence boost,” Sinner said of Zverev’s French Open win.
“We see it again here. We saw how aggressive he’s playing, serving very big. He is a tough player to play against. I try to do my best on Sunday. It feels good again being back in a Grand Slam final. It’s good for me.
“Whatever happened in the past between me and him, it happened. In between, he won a Grand Slam in Paris, which gave him a lot of confidence. We can see the level he’s producing here. We all hope for a good match, and then we see how it goes.”
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Esta notícia foi originalmente publicada em: Fonte original