Alexander Zverev’s dream of lifting the Wimbledon trophy ended in heartbreak on Sunday, but the German left Centre Court convinced his breakthrough run has shown he has what it takes to become champion at the All England Club.
The 29-year-old was beaten 6-7(7) 7-6(2) 6-3 6-4 by world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who retained the title to extend his winning streak over Zverev to 10 matches and collect a fifth Grand Slam crown.
Yet, rather than dwell on another painful defeat, Zverev chose to reflect on how far he has come during a summer that began with his maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open and ended with his first appearance in a Wimbledon final.
“At 29 years old, this is the first time I actually believe I can win this trophy,” Zverev said during the trophy presentation.
Sinner vs Zverev, Wimbledon men’s singles final: Updates
BREAKTHROUGH CAMPAIGN
That belief would have seemed unlikely just weeks ago. Before this year’s Championships, the world No. 3 had never progressed beyond the quarterfinals at Wimbledon despite possessing one of the game’s biggest serves and cleanest backhands.
A confident grass-court campaign changed that. Wins over Jiri Lehecka, Taylor Fritz and British wildcard Arthur Fery carried him into his maiden final, making him the first German man since Boris Becker in 1995 to reach the Wimbledon title match.
Against Sinner, Zverev showed why he now believes he belongs on the sport’s biggest stage. He edged a fiercely contested opening-set tiebreak and matched the defending champion for long spells before Sinner’s consistency and relentless pressure turned the contest around. Even after suffering a painful fall on his right knee during the third set, Zverev battled on before the Italian eventually pulled away.
PRAISE FOR SINNER
Despite extending his losing streak against Sinner, Zverev was quick to congratulate the Italian, joking that he no longer liked him after losing to him so many times before calling him “the best player in the world.”
He also praised Sinner’s team for guiding the Italian from outside the world’s top 10 to the summit of men’s tennis, describing their success as the product of years of collective effort.
Zverev reserved special thanks for his own team and the Wimbledon crowd, saying the support he received throughout the fortnight was unlike anything he had previously experienced at the tournament.
“I never felt support like that at Wimbledon before,” he said. “You guys are a big part of why I made it to the finals.”
He ended by describing Centre Court as the most unique court in tennis and said playing in front of the Royal Box made reaching the Wimbledon final even more special.
While Sinner walked away with the trophy once again, Zverev departed with something he had never previously possessed on the lawns of southwest London: genuine belief that the Gentlemen’s Singles title is within his reach.
– Ends
