Carlos Alcaraz was heard making a worrying statement to his team during Sunday’s Wimbledon defeat to Jannik Sinner. Fans were treated to another back-and-forth contest between the two best men’s players on the planet, but world No.1 Sinner had Alcaraz on the ropes after breaking his serve to go 5-4 up in the third set of the final.
Sinner sent Alcaraz scrambling with a thunderous forehand, and although the Spaniard sent it back over the net, he had strained so hard to get there that he was on the turf and could not respond to an easy Sinner volley. Alcaraz immediately turned to the large team of coaches, trainers and loved ones sat in his box, and continued to rant towards them as he took his seat for the changeover.
Staring at the prospect of going 2-1 down in sets, Alcaraz made a gesture which was easy for all to understand, pointing to Sinner and placing his hand up high, and then pointing to himself and placing his hand down low.
Microphones picked him up saying in his native tongue: “He is playing much better than me. Much better!” He then made a large gap between his hands as if to point out the gulf between him and his red-hot opponent.
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BBC commentator Andrew Castle said: “Nobody else can make Alcaraz as confused as this. He has been tested. He has been upset for a while now. He cannot have it all his own way against Sinner, ever.”
Sinner did serve out for the third set to move ahead against the opponent who broke his heart at the French Open only last month. The 23-year-old will have taken to Centre Court in search of revenge, having spurned three Championship points and been two sets up only to lose the final at Roland-Garros.
To get his own back, Sinner needed to dethrone Alcaraz on what has become his own stomping ground. The reigning champion beat Novak Djokovic in both of the last two finals, and he has looked nigh on unbeatable on grass over the past two years.
But Sinner achieved his mission with a remarkable display on Centre Court, coming away with a 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 victory for his first Wimbledon title.
