LONDON, United Kingdom — Jannik Sinner secured a second consecutive Wimbledon men’s singles championship on Sunday, overcoming Alexander Zverev after losing the opening set in a final shaped by dominant serving and two early tiebreaks.
On Sunday, July 12, 2026, Sinner defeated Zverev 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court.
The match lasted three hours and 46 minutes and gave the world No. 1 the fifth Grand Slam championship of his career.
Sinner’s victory made him the 10th man in the Open Era to successfully defend the Wimbledon singles title, according to the ATP Tour.
It also denied Zverev a second major championship in succession after the German won his first Grand Slam title at the French Open in June.
The final remained level through two sets in which neither player faced a break point. Sinner then broke Zverev once in each of the final two sets and completed the match with a forehand winner on his first championship point.
After the ball passed Zverev, Sinner dropped onto his back on the grass. He then stood and turned towards his team.
Two Tiebreaks Before the First Break
Strong serving prevented either player from creating an opening during the first two sets.
Zverev took the first-set tiebreak after saving a set point and producing a forehand winner down the line. It was the first set he had won against Sinner in 15 attempts.
Sinner changed his returning position in the second set and established an early lead in the tiebreak as errors began to come from Zverev’s forehand.
The Italian closed out the set without losing either of his final two service points, bringing the match level.
The first break point of the final came in the seventh game of the third set. During the point, Zverev slipped behind the baseline while changing direction as Sinner played a drop shot.
Sinner walked across the net and helped Zverev stand. Zverev continued, although his movement appeared more limited in the games that followed.
Serving at 3-4, Zverev sent a forehand wide to surrender the first break of the match. Sinner held in the next game to claim the set.
Sinner maintained control of his service games in the fourth set and broke Zverev again before serving for the championship. He did not allow Zverev another break opportunity.
The only break point Sinner faced during the match was saved. He recorded 58 winners against 25 unforced errors, served 15 aces and won 80 per cent of the points played behind his first serve, according to the ATP Tour.
Zverev struck 17 aces and landed 76 per cent of his first serves. His serve was broken only twice, once in each of the last two sets.
The result was Sinner’s 10th consecutive victory over Zverev. He now holds an 11-4 advantage in their career meetings and has taken 17 of the last 18 sets they have contested.
Another Recovery After the French Open
Sinner arrived at Wimbledon without entering a grass-court tournament following his defeat at Roland Garros.
In Paris, he had led Juan Manuel Cerundolo by two sets and 5-1 before struggling physically in the heat.
He twice failed to serve out the match, received medical attention and lost 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1.
That result ended Sinner’s 30-match winning streak and halted his attempt to complete a career Grand Slam.
The French Open remains the only major men’s singles championship he has not won.
Sinner was extended to five sets by Miomir Kecmanović in the opening round at Wimbledon.
He then advanced through the later rounds without dropping another set before the final.
In the semi-finals, Sinner defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets for the second year in succession.
The Wimbledon championship added to the title Sinner won at the tournament in 2025, when he defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
His other major victories have come at the Australian Open, where he has won twice, and at the 2024 United States Open.
Sunday’s title was Sinner’s sixth tournament victory of the season and his 100th win in a Grand Slam match. His record for the year improved to 44-3.
The championship also continued Sinner’s recent pattern of following disappointment at Roland Garros with success in London.
In 2025, he lost the French Open final to Alcaraz after holding three championship points, then defeated the Spaniard at Wimbledon several weeks later.
Zverev, who was playing in his first Wimbledon final, is expected to move above Alcaraz to No. 2 in the men’s rankings despite the defeat.
