Sinner and Alcaraz will face off at 10 p.m. today, 13/7.

At Roland Garros, Sinner nearly ended Alcaraz's winning streak but ultimately lost a dramatic match 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2). Sinner acknowledged that the missed championship points in Paris might cross his mind as he steps onto Centre Court at Wimbledon today.

"You can’t put those special moments like the Roland Garros final out of your mind," Sinner said in a press conference on 12/7. "But if I think about it all day, I won’t have a chance to play another final."

Sinner (left) congratulates Alcaraz after the Roland Garros final at Philippe Chatrier Court, Paris, France, on 8/6. _Photo: Reuters_

Sinner believes Alcaraz has a slight edge in their second Wimbledon matchup and is pleased that young players are dominating the major tournaments. However, he doesn't think a new era in tennis has begun. "I think it's just a short period in history. The fact that we've won six or seven recent Grand Slams is something someone else could do in just a year and a half. So don't compare us to the 'Big 3'. They did that for 15, 20 years."

The two players, 22 and 23 years old, have won seven of the last eight majors, splitting three titles each since the beginning of 2024. Alcaraz's rise began earlier, in his teens, while Sinner has progressed rapidly in the past two seasons to become the Spaniard's biggest rival.

Sinner maintains his world number one ranking despite a three-month suspension. Alcaraz holds the head-to-head advantage, having won five consecutive matches and leading 8-4 after 12 encounters with his Italian rival. Although their matches are often close, Alcaraz consistently finds a way to pull ahead, demonstrating greater resilience and physical strength.

"I guess he learned a lot from the final in Paris," Alcaraz said of Sinner. "He’s a great champion, and it will be incredibly challenging if he’s stronger physically and mentally. Sinner will give 100%, and I don’t think the result at Roland Garros gives me an advantage."

It's easy to imagine a repeat of the Roland Garros final at the All England Club today. Alcaraz's artistic style thrives on natural surfaces like clay and grass. Meanwhile, Sinner's formidable performance poses a threat to anyone, even away from his preferred hard courts.

Alcaraz celebrates his victory over Fritz in the Wimbledon semi-final on Centre Court at the All England Club, London, England, on 11/7. _Photo: Reuters_

Sinner and Alcaraz, like Federer and Nadal before them, resonate not only because of their talent but also because of their distinct playing styles. More importantly, regardless of their approach, they are achieving success and becoming new icons in the tennis world. Therefore, whenever they meet, it's not just a clash of two superstars but also an opportunity for spectators to admire their playing styles and performance levels.

Three years ago, Sinner defeated Alcaraz in the fourth round of Wimbledon, 6-1, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3. Since then, Alcaraz has remained undefeated on London's grass courts, building a 20-match winning streak – the fifth-best in history, tying with fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal. Sinner acknowledges his opponent’s rapid progress on grass, while he admits it took him longer to adapt to the surface.

Sinner has learned quickly, reaching the finals of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, two venues with vastly different playing surfaces and conditions. This is a positive sign for the 23-year-old, as hard courts have been his strongest surface in recent years.

Sinner nearly exited in the quarterfinals, down two sets to Dimitrov before his opponent retired due to injury. Alcaraz also faced an early scare in the first round, needing to regain his form against veteran Fabio Fognini. These can be seen as dips in form for both players before regaining momentum. Sinner then won six straight sets against Ben Shelton and Novak Djokovic, while Alcaraz prevented upsets from Andrey Rublev and Taylor Fritz.

Djokovic (right) shakes hands with Sinner after their Wimbledon semi-final on Centre Court at the All England Club, London, England, on 11/7. _Photo: Reuters_

According to Djokovic, Alcaraz has the edge in today’s match. The statistics support this view, with the Spaniard on a 24-match winning streak, having won five of six finals this season and all five major finals of his career. His record is second only to the legendary Federer, who won his first seven Grand Slam finals.

If Sinner and Alcaraz's careers were a five-set match, mirroring the length of their last three Grand Slam encounters, they might only be in the first set. "We are too young; we have a lot of time to improve," said Alcaraz. The Wimbledon final is crucial, but it's not everything, and it certainly won't defeat them.

Vy Anh