New Delhi: The 2025 Wimbledon men’s singles delivered everything but predictability. As the legendary Big Four step into the sunset of their careers, a new constellation rises at the Centre Court—its brightest star being 23-year-old Jannik Sinner.
The Italian etched his name into history as he overcame the stiff challenge posed by defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling final: 4–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4. It was Sinner’s first title at the All England Club and his fourth Grand Slam overall.
He became the first man from his country to clutch a Wimbledon singles title, in the process avenging his loss to Alcaraz in last month’s French Open final.
After dropping the opening set, Sinner displayed clinical precision, sharp returning and mental resilience, particularly during a key hold in the fourth set where he saved two break points. He snapped a five-match losing streak against Alcaraz and handed the Spaniard his first loss in a major final.
Between them, Sinner and Alcaraz have now won seven of the last 12 Grand Slam titles, establishing them as the new tennis powerhouses. Sinner is the only man to beat Alcaraz twice on grass.
This win also ended Alcaraz’s 24-match unbeaten run and back-to-back reign at Wimbledon. Sinner wasn’t raised on courts but on snow. He grew up skiing, racing down ski slopes at the Italian alps with lighting speed. The transition to tennis came at 13. By 17, Sinner had turned pro.
In 2024, he beat Djokovic to win the Australian Open, and later added a US Open title. Wimbledon 2025 now completes his grass-court dream.
Carlos Alcaraz, already with five Grand Slams to his name including the Wimbledon titles in 2023 and 2024, and the 2025 French Open, continues to blend flair with force, making their rivalry the sport’s new main event.
Holger Rune, a top-10 mainstay known for his fiery baseline game, remains a dangerous opponent on tour. And Alexander Zverev, still a regular in Slam semifinals, continues chasing his elusive major breakthrough, hungry for the title breakthrough that has long eluded him.
Together, the three represent a passing of the baton, a generational shift, one where youth, grit, and power are rewriting tennis’s future.
Sinner’s triumph not only marked a personal milestone but also highlighted the defining contrast at the heart of modern men’s tennis. Unlike Alcaraz, whose game is built on instinctive explosiveness and dazzling flair, Sinner operates with clinical precision and quiet calculation.
His style is methodical, composed. A stark foil to Alcaraz’s fire. Their rivalry is shaping into a battle of ice versus fire, a dramatic clash of temperaments that is quickly becoming the sport’s most compelling storyline.
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The fading of Big Four
Veterans Novak Djokovic (38) and Roger Federer (now 43, retired in 2022) maintained a marvellous legacy, playing more than 40 finals in total, with Djokovic making through the past six—he won four and ended up losing two to Carlos Alcaraz.
Djokovic’s hopes of claiming a record 25th Grand Slam and an eighth Wimbledon title came to a crashing halt after a straight sets semi final defeat to Sinner. Visibly hampered by injury, the Serbian was outplayed 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, marking his fifth consecutive loss to the world No 1.
It’s been nearly 2 years since Djokovic lifted a Grand Slam trophy—his last being the 2023 US Open—and time, once his ally, now seems his fiercest opponent. With his movement restricted and recovery between matches harder than ever, each slam feels more like a ticking clock than an open opportunity.
But ruling Djokovic out would be naive. He’s built a legacy on proving doubters wrong. While Sinner and Alcaraz seem poised to dominate the next era with youth and moment on their side, Djokovic cannot be written off. The US and Australian Opens—his strongest surfaces—may yet offer a window.
For now though, the shadow of age, injury, and rising competition hangs heavy over the man who once seemed invincible. Whether this was the last real chance or just another twist in a storied career, only time and Novak will tell.
If Sinner is the man of the moment, Djokovic remains the measure. One represents the rising tide, the other the unyielding wall that rising generations must breach to claim legacy.
Though Federer officially bid farewell to tennis in 2022, his shadow still lingers over the Centre Court. The eight-time Wimbledon champion redefined grace, precision and longevity in the sport.
For over a decade-and-a-half, Federer meant Wimbledon: From his first win in 2003 to his last in 2017, the Swiss maestro stitched his legacy into the very grass of SW19. With 20 Grand Slam titles and countless records, his retirement marked the first clear sign that the Big Four era was entering its twilight.
Andy Murray, another sporting icon whose career spanned over 19 years, ended up breaking several records. In 2013, he won the Wimbledon, becoming the first Brit since Fred Perry to win Wimbledon. He brought the glory to his country after 77 years. Tightly clutching onto the No 1 spot for 46 weeks during the peak era of tennis, Murray won the title again in 2016 and then proved his legacy in the Paris Olympics where he won.
With three Grand Slams, two Olympic golds and 46 weeks as world No. 1, Murray’s legacy lies not just in titles but in sheer willpower.
While Federer embodied elegance and Nadal raw intensity, Murray’s greatness was carved through sheer defiance—the underdog who bled for every point.
Rafael Nadal, the biggest rival of Djokovic, has retired from the sport, leaving the latter as the lone remaining member of the ‘big three’. The quad of legends seemingly have defined an era.
Injury and time have slowly dimmed the firebrand from the Mallorca, but the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s aura remains. The King of Clay’s battles with Federer’s is symbolic, a reminder that the big four aren’t eternal. Nadal’s retirement from regular tour play signals that the golden age is nearing its end.
The veterans built their empires on consistency, discipline, and an almost obsessive pursuit of excellence. Federer danced across courts with elegance, Nadal brought unrelenting fury, and Djokovic thrived on defiance and precision.
Their dominance was forged through years of repetition, mental fortitude, and an ability to adapt without losing identity. In contrast, the new generation—Sinner, Alcaraz, Rune—thrives on instinct, explosiveness, and adaptability.
They bring power from youth, versatility shaped by technology, and a fearless desire to rewrite the rules. If the Big Four were about legacy, this new wave is about disruption.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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