July 11, 2025<\/a><\/p>\nA French Open final repeat on the cards?<\/h2>\n
Alcaraz knows his opponent all too well and expects nothing short of another spectacle.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever Jannik has is because he has learned from everything \u2013 he just gets better after every match, every day,\u201d Alcaraz said of the top seed.<\/p>\n
The Spaniard said he expected Sinner to be in better shape mentally and physically for the Wimbledon final, but that he was not looking forward to another hours-long match.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just hope not to be five and a half hours on court again. But if I have to, I will.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Sinner \u2013 the tall, stoic and speedy Italian who stands between Alcaraz and a chance to become only the fifth man to win three straight Wimbledon titles \u2013 believes beating the holder will be \u201cvery tough\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very happy to share the court with Carlos once again. It\u2019s going to be difficult, I know that,\u201d Sinner said on Friday.<\/p>\n
The Australian Open champion said he loves playing Grand Slam finals \u2013 Sunday\u2019s will be his fifth in two years.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always try to put myself in these kinds of situations that I really love. Sundays at every tournament are very special.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 23-year-old from northern Italy termed Alcaraz as the favourite, given his record at the tournament and on grass courts.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is the favourite. He won here the last two times. He\u2019s again in the final. It\u2019s very tough to beat him on grass, but I like these challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alcaraz and Sinner after their epic French Open final [File: Susan Mullane\/Imagn Images via Reuters]<\/p>\n
\u2018Fire vs ice\u2019<\/h2>\n
Out of the 12 occasions that both players have met, four have been at Grand Slams, but this is only their second meeting in the final.<\/p>\n
The pair\u2019s only other meeting at Wimbledon came in the fourth round in 2022, when Sinner won 6-1, 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3. Alcaraz, however, brushed aside the reference by saying that both men are changed players from what they were three years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re completely different players on grass and on all surfaces.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 22-year-old from Murcia, in southeastern Spain, will be buoyed by his 5-0 record against Sinner in the past two years.<\/p>\n
Despite Alcaraz\u2019s success against his nemesis, it is Sinner who has consistently topped the men\u2019s rankings by racking up regular wins and points on the ATP circuit.<\/p>\n
All things considered, there is not much that separates the two ahead of their highly anticipated match.<\/p>\n
Just ask Djokovic.<\/p>\n
While the 24-time Grand Slam champion picked Alcaraz due to his past success at Wimbledon, Djokovic predicted \u201ca very close match-up, like they had in Paris\u201d when asked to choose a winner.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I will give a slight edge to Carlos because of the two titles he\u2019s won here and the way he\u2019s playing and the confidence he has right now, but it\u2019s just a slight advantage, because Jannik is hitting the ball extremely well.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is not just their contrasting styles of play \u2013 Sinner relies on his baseline game and shot speed, while Alcaraz likes to cover the court with his nimble footwork and excellent coverage \u2013 but also their on-court personalities that set the two apart while making them an engaging pair to watch.<\/p>\n
Before the French Open final, Alcaraz said in an interview that a \u201cfire vs ice\u201d analogy fits them perfectly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess you can say I am like fire because of the way I react on court and show emotions, while Jannik remains calm,\u201d the Spaniard said with his trademark smile.<\/p>\n
Alcaraz is never shy of showing his emotions on court [File: Stephanie Lecocq\/Reuters]<\/p>\n
In the shadow of the greats<\/h2>\n
For the fans, though, the pair offer another chance to pick sides and look forward to tennis tournaments that could pit the two against each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a dream final,\u201d Catherine Shaw, a tennis fan who watched both the men\u2019s semifinals on Centre Court, told Al Jazeera.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are the next big thing when it comes to tennis rivalries, so it\u2019s exciting times for tennis fans.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stepping out in the shadows of some of the greatest players and rivals \u2013 Stefan Edberg vs Ivan Lendl, Bjorn Borg vs John McEnroe, Andre Agassi vs Pete Sampras and Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer \u2013 the young players will have big shoes to fill.<\/p>\n
Both are aware of the weight their match-up carries but refuse to be compared with their heroes just yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the things that we are doing right now are great for tennis,\u201d Alcaraz said ahead of the final.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just fight to engage more people to watch tennis. We\u2019re fighting for tennis to be bigger, as all the tennis players are doing.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, it\u2019s sharing the big tournaments with Jannik, or just playing in the finals of the tournaments\u2026 We\u2019re still really young.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope to keep doing the right things for the next five to 10 years, so our rivalry is on the same table as those players.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sinner and Alcaraz will meet again on the iconic Centre Court at Wimbledon after their meeting in 2022 [File: Hannah Mckay\/Reuters]
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