Wimbledon final 2025 LIVE: Latest score and game-by-game updates as Jannik Sinner WINS at SW19 for the first time as he gets revenge over Carlos Alcaraz for painful French Open final defeat

Matthew Lambwell was on Centre Court for a pulsating final that shows there’s no way either of the top men’s players on Earth can let their level drop – because their rival will be waiting.

You can read his thoughts, below.

And the crowds have gathered to pay homage to their new champion.

… and now the Italian pokes him in the eye right back.

Before the French Open, neither of the two players had lost a Grand Slam final they had featured in.

Alcaraz poured cold water on Sinner’s matchless record on Court Philippe-Chatrier. And now Sinner has returned the favour.

Sinner raced to his box to celebrate, but even more touching was Alcaraz’s cohort’s appreciation for his performance.

Spare a thought for Grigor Dimitrov, currently recovering in hospital after suffering a tear of his pectoral muscle. When it happened, on the heels of a full-send ace, Dimitrov was wiping the floor with Sinner.

This is not something that players get to do often. Especially when the number-19 seed’s uneven injury form is taken into account. But it was happening, and Sinner was flummoxed by Dimitrov’s game.

‘If, if, if’ as Nadal said, here at this very Championships. But it’s something that might play on the Bulgarian’s mind – and possibly Alcaraz’s.

He becomes the first Italian man to win at Wimbledon, but his legacy will be so, so much more than that.

With his grass game finally coming into its own, I think we’ll be counting his trophies in SW19 on one hand, and maybe another in the years to come.

The respect, the kind words, the references to their friendship – and Alcaraz is smiling more than Jannik!

This rivalry is not one with off-court fangs. Where’s the drama? (I’m joking).

That being said, their ability to have a relationship of respect and grace, while keeping the tennis scintillating and full of genuine jeopardy, is extremely rare, and refreshing.

Thank you for the player you are. It’s so difficult to play againt you, but off the court, we have such a good relationship.

You’re going to have this many times – you already have two!

It’s so special, because seeing my parents here, my brother, my whole team, it’s amazing. A special thanks to my brother, because there’s no Formula One race this weekend. That’s why he’s here.

On how he was affected after the French Open final:

Mostly emotionally. I had a very tough loss in Paris. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter how you win or lose, you just have to understand what you did wrong, to work on it. We tried to accept the loss, and just kept working. And this is why I have this trophy here. I’m happy I am healthy, I have great people around me.

On battling nerves in the last game:

Yes. The last game, I served well, I’m happy. Best of five, every moment can change the match. I’m very happy I held my nerves.

On whether he’s used to champagne corks popping over his head, like he’s a yacht being christened:

No, (it’s) only here at Wimbledon! That’s exactly why we love playing here. It’s very expensive to be here, so…

On taking up those member’s tickets:

I hope my career is a little bit longer, and after I can come back here – but it’s amazing. We were talking just before the match – when I was young, this was only a dream. But I’m just living my dream. It’s amazing.

He also thanks the ball kids, which is absolutely a classy touch, and Mr Classy Touch Carlos Alcaraz must be kicking himself for only mentioning the King of Spain.

It’s difficult to lose. It’s always difficult, even if not in the final. But I have to congratulate Jannik once again. Congratulations to you every week. It is a really well deserved trophy. Unbelievable two weeks in London. For your team as well, a lot of family and friends flew in, you have an amazing team. I’m really happy for you.

And I’m happy to build a good relationship with you off the court, and a great rivalry on it. You make me improve every day.

And then huge thanks to his team:

Without my team, it wouldn’t be possible to stand here and play great tennis. It is a great journey so far, which I’m really proud about. I just want to keep it going, to keep bringing joy on the court.

Wimbledon is one of the most beautiful tournaments, if not the most. I just feel at home every time that I come here. Such a beautiful court, I love playing here, I love the atmosphere. Thank you, and I’m going to be back.

And no way is he letting Annabel Croft wave him off without saying:

Thank you to the King of Spain for coming here for support. For me it’s just an honour having you here supporting. Thank you very much.

And off with Jannik Sinner’s head!

Alcaraz looks completely shell-shocked, but as ever, both players show the utmost respect and grace.

Now, the ball kids line up for their guard of honour, and necessary handshaking with the Princess of Wales, who gets a shout out from an admirer in the crowd.

She hands over the runner-up plate to Alcaraz, and talks to him briefly. He’s Princess Charlotte’s favourite, she told him last year.

And now Sinner – he salutes the crowd, and accepts the glittering gold trophy.

He’s beaten Alcaraz in a Grand Slam. This is not a drill.

On the heels of the ultimate heartbreak in Paris, Sinner has overcome his demons immediately, at the first time of asking.

Emotional scenes on Centre Court as he runs up to his box to embrace his family, his coaches.

Sinner stops the rot after five straight defeats to Alcaraz. And the rivalry grows even more tantalising.

Now the crowd chants, ‘Jannik, Jannik’, urging the Italian across the line after he comes out the best in a 15-shot rally. He’s three points away now, then two, after skipping into a down-the-line backhand that Alcaraz doesn’t even attempt to fetch.

Alcaraz isn’t going down without a fight – it just isn’t in his nature on Centre Court. He skids and he dives but Sinner is best to his ball every time.

40-love. Championship point.

Fault. And then… a cry of ‘go Jannik!’

And then… Sinner on the baseline nets his backhand. Have we seen this film before?

The crowd are incensed, and Alison Hughes the umpire offers a sharp message.

But there’s no need – an ace is all Sinner needs. He’s the Wimbledon champion.

Deafening chants of ‘Carlos! Carlos!’ around every side of Centre Court. There’s a few people in here want a fifth set. Well, it’s now or never. Break serve or it’s over.

Sinner is closing in here, but Alcaraz is determined to make him do it on his serve, clenching a fist as his serve wrong foots him for 40-30.

Racing up to the net, Alcaraz sends over the fastest of volleys, and Sinner has no meaningful retort.

Sinner must serve it out. Again.

‘Si se puede, si se puede!’, the Alcaraz contingent chants, and yes, it is possible – he did it in Paris. But can he do it here?

Alcaraz is beaming now, a grin while he sips from his branded bottle, before he springs out of his chair and heads to return.

The crowd, and Alcaraz’s box are vocal now after Sinner finds the net to go love-15 down. The Italian responds with a clenched fist when Alcaraz is next to shovel a backhand into the tramlines – about as visibly punchy as the South Tyrol native gets.

Break point Alcaraz, as the pressure begins to tell on the other side of the net. But it might be too early for flashbacks…

Alcaraz dances across the baseline, defending for his life, but eventually hits an inch too long on his forehand, bringing up deuce.

Sinner is marksman-like here, with a powerfully struck backhand that forces Alcaraz to crumble. Then, with a serve that Alcaraz can’t return in, he holds.

Was that Alcaraz’s last chance?

A report from James Sharpe:

‘Finish him, Jannik,’ comes a huge shout from a member of the crowd as Alcaraz is about the serve.

‘PLEASE!’ says the umpire, holding up her palm to the direction of the outburst.

There’s a feeling around Centre Court that we’re entering the end game. Presumably, they weren’t at Roland Garros a few weeks ago.

Fourth set… we’re running out of time for a repeat miracle from Alcaraz, but the best he can do here is hold his serve. An extremely confident Sinner makes it hard to do so, but hitting, and hitting, and hitting, it’s Sinner who blinks first and sends a backhand into the net, setting up game point.

The crowd, chasing a fifth set, cheer Alcaraz on, and there’s the first ghost of smile for a long time for the Spaniard as he wafts a backhand volley over the net. Cheeky, cheeky. He holds.

Sinner plays quickly to 40-love, but a lapse in concentration allows Alcaraz a toehold.

But there’s magic alright – Sinner’s forehand smacks the net cord and falls just inside the lines.

Alcaraz is fuming now, frustratedly asking his box for answers in, with a few choice Spanish phrases that express the limits of his fury.

A must-hold game coming up.

The crowd roars for Alcaraz – they want five! – and faster for his ace with the new balls.

Sinner’s backhand, down-the-line, gives him time to get in position to chip Alcaraz’s return off another one, this time volleyed, into fresh air, 40-15.

Alcaraz now misinterprets Sinner’s volley, and falls into a trap that sees the Italian hit a sparked forehand winner right past him, 40-30.

Another fault, and then a backhand return into the net – it’s deuce, and Sinner is looking like a man with the absolute measure of Alcaraz. That French Open magic would serve him pretty well now, one assumes.

A spot of something – Sinner on the run overcooks his forehand sprinting on the baseline, giving Alcaraz the advantage. And then Alcaraz keep a cool head when Sinner’s backhand is taken too quickly and flies out.

A sigh of relief from the Spanish camp.

That felt, and sounded, ominous. Sinner crunches a back-hand return down the line off Alcaraz’s second serve to secure the early break. Alcaraz looked stunned. So did everyone else here. Then Sinner rattles off a quick service game to lead 3-1. Sinner has swung that pendulum of momentum firmly his way and is keeping it there.

And now, Sinner goes for the jugular. He’s hitting with real assassin’s accuracy, as he smacks a backhand crosscourt winner past a running, full stretch Alcaraz.

Sinner claims the hold to love. It’s all on the Italian’s racquet, now.

Alcaraz continues to look the more rattled of the two: Sinner, yes, is usually impossibly cool, but the young Spaniard is chattering with his box, and it’s a world away from the usual choruses of ‘vamos’ they exchange.

The defending champion is being cowed by the intense pressure from the other side of the net, and double faults, before sending a ropey backhand out of play.

But there’s respite when Sinner hits long, toppled by good hitting from his rival, but not for too much time – on the next point, Sinner hits a peach of a backhand drive, which hits the postage stamp in the corner of the court for a winner.

Sniffing the early break, Sinner hits a second backhand, this one down-the-line and he has it! Alcaraz needs a serious game plan to rescue himself here.

Juggling the Alcaraz box, as per Matthew Lambwell:

Alcaraz shanked a return into the stands and the ball went straight to his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, who caught it neatly, of course.

But he doesn’t confer any luck onto his charge, as Sinner blazes through his own opening service game, winning to love. No loss of focus here, as the club chants for ‘Jannik, Jannik’.

All guns blazing is the way for Alcaraz to come out, with a much sharper serve – and he efficiently works through his opening game here.

Sinner’s attempt to waltz off with the second set may include an early double fault, but he can chase it with an ace, and leads 30-15. After a cagey spell, he’s chosen the perfect moment to strike.

In the mid-court, the Italian stretches to pull down and overhead and spark it past Alcaraz. Sinner has been superlative in coming forward today, picking his moments nicely.

And here’s a moment – he aces! Sinner is out in front.

After 17 straight holds of serve, Sinner is the man to strike first. He puts Alcaraz on his backside chasing a vicious cross-court forehand, then plonks a volley at the net into the empty space in front of him. A huge moment.

Sinner feasts on Alcaraz’s serve to send a punchy forehand zipping past the Spaniard to bring up break point. Scrambling at the baseline, Alcaraz skids and falls backwards as Sinner, cool as you like, pops a volley back over the net.

There’s a hint of concern on Sinner’s face as Alcaraz gingerly gets to his feet. He’s a nice person – but he’s not that nice.

At his chair, Alcaraz is getting wound up. Sinner has a chance here…

This time, Sinner can stick the overhead as he sends Alcaraz this way and that but can’t catch the seismic final smash, 15-love. Trading backhands, Alcaraz plays his way into the game with consistency, when Sinner gets his final effort trapped in the net.

A wicked Alcaraz drop shot sees him keep pace with Sinner 30-all, before play is briefly paused as a ball kid chases away a little lingering bird by the net.

Bird sent to a better seat in the rafters, Sinner sends down a second-serve ace, and then another one on his first attempt, to claim the hold.

Things continue to be cagey, but Alcaraz is a man in a hurry on serve, and sees out a clean and untroubled hold.

We’ve just reached the two-hour mark. A set apiece, third set on serve. Couldn’t slide a slip of net tape between them. Both playing shots that seem to defy the laws of science, both hitting back immediately when the other strikes. Their mental strength is as other-worldly as their talent. What a joy we’ve got years of these two to come.

Alcaraz scents blood in the water now as Sinner whips a forehand too sharply and out towards the doubles alley, 30-all. But Sinner is too skilled to unravel so quickly, pressing on Alcaraz’s backhand as he trots up the court to take the lead once again.

And Sinner drops it, with Alcaraz winning the point with another exceptional passage of play. Sinner first hits a tweener between his legs at the net, catches Alcaraz’s chipped backhand, but his ensuing smash goes long.

His rival can almost taste the break, but Sinner puts his head down and sees out the hold. On we roll, in this tensest of sets so far.

Alcaraz’s fondness for a five-setter is already legend, and he’s not bad in four either, as per Opta ace.

Serving at the trickier Royal Box end, Alcaraz has to contend with bright sunlight as Sinner’s side is bathed in shade – a new consequence in line with the later start time. The Princess of Wales pops on a vast sun hat, in solidarity.

He lets his opponent into the game with a woozy forehand, still not looking as brutal as he was in the opening set. A winning forehand puts him back in the lead, but again, a loopy return levels things again.

This is a dangerous time to lose focus, and Alcaraz knuckles down and tests Sinner’s backhand, finding it wanting, 40-30.

His serve is still lacking something special, but he holds, somehow.

Sinner is wasting no time here, as the opponents continue their cat-and-mouse holds of serve. He sprints to 40-love before Alcaraz can even attempt to catch him – and he can’t when his on-the-run backhand flies into the doubles alley.

Both men have such a unique ability to move on grass, turning the hallowed turf into bitter red clay. Sinner’s background in competitive skiing as a junior is always cited, but the way both he and Alcaraz can slide into shots helps them be a cut above.

Light on his feet, Sinner slides his way to a 40-15 lead, and a quick-draw forehand in the mid-court helps him close out his own opening hold.

Say it with me: Mamma mia!

Again, Alcaraz begins his service game looking a little spooked, and serves up a slew of double faults before rememebering where he is, and who he is, and clawing his way back to deuce.

After setting alarm bells ringing, Alcaraz is first to the advantage, and staves off a second early break with an ace.

It’s Sinner now who gets the crowd on their feet…twice…as he clinches the second set! First Alcaraz sends him hurtling beyond the far corner of the court, Sinner manages to get a return back but the Spaniard tries a little drop shot with Sinner miles away. Somehow, Sinner hurtles back towards the net, gets there and swats the ball past Alcaraz. Then, on set point, he whips a ridiculous forehand cross court, to Alcaraz’s side, but so quick and angled that the reigning champion can just stand there and watch it go past.

Wow – Sinner manages to canter up the court and show off a little touch of his own as he collects Alcaraz’s cocky drop shot with a whisked backhand that the Spaniard can only stare open-mouthed at as it passes him on the other side of the court.

The Italian shakes his racquet as his wide second serve outfoxes Alcaraz, 30-15. He brings up set point with a whippy forehand matching Alcaraz beat for beat – and he claims it with the sharpest of cross-court winners!

After testing Alcaraz, Sinner goes about his own service game with efficiency to set up his chance to break a second time, and win the second set.

Alcaraz stares mullishly up at his box after he’s forced into defence against Sinner, sending his forehand into the net at 40-30.

Double fault from Alcaraz draws Sinner up to deuce, and it’s time for Alcaraz to concentrate now lest he face a second break.

… A bigger test now, after a second double fault – minutes after his first of the match. Sinner has the advantage, and he spins his racquet in his hand waiting to take it.

A serve that finally goes in, Alcaraz’s second, and Sinner, untested for so long, funks his return into the net. Then, Alcaraz serves an ace. Crisis? What crisis?

Another big, accurate serve, and Alcaraz has the hold. There’s visible relief on the faces of his parents in his player box. A lucky escape.

The Spaniard is a man on a mission, attempting to rush Sinner in a bid for his break-back. Overhitting his return of Sinner’s fast-flying serve, however, will not help, and it’s 30-all.

135mph is the next serve speed for Sinner, which really wrong foots his opponent, and Sinner is able to claim the hold when a net cord declares its allegiance, and allows his ball to skim it and fall just out of reach for the sprinting Alcaraz.

Most of the time, however, you should be somewhat sensitive to your environment.

In the fastest service game for some time, Alcaraz puts his head down and closes out his hold in an attempt to wrench back momentum. Blink and you’ll miss it.

Alongside the F1 CEO, Sinner is also playing host to fan and friend Seal, who he recently ‘cheated’ on with Andrea Bocceli, putting out a song with the opera legend during his doping ban.

Which is an objectively fascinating thing to do.

Time for a breather, for those on court, and those frantically typing up game-by-game updates – Alcaraz and Sinner have a mutual energy dip as neither looks the sharpest of sharp for a brief, slow-moving game.

Sinner finds the net with a volley he bundles into it haplessly, bringing up 30-all. Giving Alcaraz an inch… he’s a braver man than most.

But Alcaraz has his own shovelled backhand to play, shunting the ball well past the baseline.

Sinner thinks he has Alcaraz with a well angled cross-court forehand, but it’s wide by an inch, and it’s deuce – with Sinner claiming the early advantage when Alcaraz hits loopily out and throws up his hands with frustration.

Alcaraz isn’t too happy too when a champagne cork pops while Sinner is beginning his service motion – and falls right next to the Italian.

The umpire is forced to say: ‘Please do not pop champagne courts just as the players are about to serve’, as a ball kid shimmies over to pick it up from Sinner.

With the softest hands, Sinner wins the advantage with a backhand passing shot at the net. An equally rough body serve seals the hold.

Another scintillating rally, with Sinner sliding across the baseline until a drop shot forces him up the court. He makes it, just, and then Alcaraz thinks he’s got him – but Sinner can reach it… only for the ball to land just inside the doubles alley. Mesmeric stuff, 30-all.

Alcaraz eventually wins his service game with a punchy ace.

Sinner stands, indignant, with his hands on his hips, after missing the simplest of backhands to level him at deuce after Alcaraz takes the lead on his serve.

He can do so a moment later, and claims the advantage with a leaping smash at the net. Pushed back, Alcaraz whacks the ball up to the roof, and Sinner has his crucial early hold.

Good grief, Sinner’s got some steel about him. Loses the first set in THAT manner, to THAT shot and then comes back to break Alcaraz straight away.

Sinner has slipped again, struggling with the more slick back of the court, but that’s all that’s stopping him as he bursts out of the starting gates in the second set.

The Italian has feasted on his opponent’s serve, and he has the quickfire break!

Wow. Wow. Wow. They are on their feet on Centre Court. Sinner sends down a crunching forehand down the line that looks for all the world that it’s saved a second set point but, somehow, Alcaraz flings out a hand and sends a return just over the net and beyond the Italian. Have you ever seen a better point to win a set?

And this, might I add, is what we expect from him. Unbelievable.

Grunting with effort, Alcaraz’s explosive backhand takes him in as cannon fodder when his shot flies just out to put Sinner on the board, 15-all.

An ace keeps Sinner afloat as he battles to stay in the set, but after sending Alcaraz spinning with a hotly struck serve, his volley is put away messily and the simply shot flies badly out.

Faltering now, Sinner drops as he misses catching Alcaraz’s forehand, but he squanders his first set point, unable to deal with Sinner’s body serve.

It’s deuce, the first of the match, and it’s set point again when Sinner double faults! He swipes at the air in frustration.

Another fault… and then Alcaraz’s sliding backhand is just too good. He’s turned around, but Sinner had thought his opponent had no chance of making the shot and stopped in his tracks.

Magical tennis hands Alcaraz the first set.

A huge puff of chalk and a fist pump to match as Alcaraz sent that ace crashing down to take the game. He knows how important that was. Sinner serving to save the set.

Alcaraz serves up the first double-fault of the match to bring Sinner 30-15 up, but the defending champion stops the rot by sending him deep and watching his return fly short of the net, 30-all.

His directional play is mesmirising, sending Sinner over to the far side of the court before popping his effort into acres of grass, and then he claims the hold with an ace.

He also breaks his new serving record: 140mph now, thank you.

Alcaraz focussed much more on just getting the return back in court there rather than blasting it and that gave him the room to weave some magic.

A purring backhand volley is ungettable for Sinner, bringing Alcaraz level at 15-all. That touch – the envy of the tour – is on full display.

And so is some immaculate ball striking. Sinner sends Alcaraz this way and that on the baseline, but eventually he overpowers the Italian, and wins the point as Sinner’s forehand goes funky with a mammoth roar.

Spooked, Sinner hits a straightforward forehand a shade long, and Alcaraz has break point. A dominant backhand return from Alcaraz, and Sinner can’t match it – his backhand finds the net.

Power, strength, and speed: Alcaraz is certainly aware of those attributes at the moment.

A lucky fan in the crowd gets to keep hold of Alcaraz’s ace for 30-15 after the ball flies up and out of the court. With a indefatigable grunt, Alcaraz’s whipped forehand screams past Sinner to bring up game point, and this time, the drop shot comes off – Sinner can only send his backhand return into the doubles alley.

Alcaraz wards off the dreaded double break for now.

Alcaraz’s forehand can’t quite get to grips with Sinner’s power yet, but the Italian isn’t all hard-hitting: he wins rapturous applause after drawing Alcaraz up to the net with a drop shot, and then sliding a springy volley past him as he floundered to reach open court.

An ace secures the hold. This is an excellent start from the final debutant.

Here we go. A few rallies to get the juices flowing. Sinner wins one with a gorgeous drop shot before Alcaraz fires a blistering ball down the line to win another. This is more like it. Strap in.

Sinner streaks up to the net to put away a bulleted volley as the crowd applaud his winner, and the paciest rally the match has seen yet.

A smashing down the line backhand that makes you go, ‘oof’ bypasses Sinner at the net, and leaves the Italian staring at the flash of the yellow ball to put Alcaraz ahead, 30-15. Another sharp serve brings up game point, but Sinner says, not so fast. I’ll take your sliced backhand and pop it across court for a winner.

Alcaraz goes sliding, as if on the red clay of Roland-Garros, to pick up a forehand at the back of the court, but he can only fall to the ground and watch his ball find the net for deuce.

Sinner plays his way to break point when a teasing Alcaraz drop shot can’t clear the net either. Bouncing on his toes to return, Sinner looks fearless now, and driven back, Alcaraz can only send his loopy offering well out.

Our first break of the 2025 final.

Very little between these two, as Sinner keeps things tight with another quick service hold.

We’re still playing short, sharp games in the opening stages in SW19, as Alcaraz claims the hold, and breaks a personal record in the process.

Carlos Alcaraz held for 2-1 with the fastest serve of his career: 139mph

Already the crowd trying to figure out their fan favourite. ‘Come on Carlos,’ comes one shout followed immediately by ‘Come on Jannik’ from another part of Centre Court before someone else calls for Alcaraz again. Back and forth like a baseline rally, though we haven’t seen many of those on court just yet.

Sinner is no slouch on serve by any means, and he’s on the front foot as he strides up the court to make sure Alcaraz’s return is snuffed out.

But Alcaraz is the first to get a point on his opponent’s serve now, when Sinner’s backhand can’t quite clear the net cord, 15-all. A heaving forward that’s got a touch too much on it hands Sinner back the lead from the baseline, but Alcaraz won’t make it too easy for him. The Spaniard tracks his rival to 40-30, but in the end, another strong serve hands Sinner the opening hold.

Start as you mean to go on, they say, and Alcaraz wins the first point of the Championship with an ace. He will hope he wins the last, too.

Alcaraz joked during his run at Queen’s that he had become a ‘serve bot’ due to his improved dominance in his service game, and there’s a good case to be made for that here. Sinner can’t string a rally together as Alcaraz thunders his way to an opening hold, to love.

Include the family of the late Arthur Ashe, including his wife Jeanne and daughter Camera.

The trailblazing Ashe won his Wimbledon title in a breathtaking match against long-time rival Jimmy Connors 50 years ago. He’s rightly celebrated by the Centre Court crowd as the announcer acknowledges the VIPs.

They’re greeted by a huge roar from the crowd, with not a seat to be had in the packed stadium.

Alison Hughes the umpire is waiting at the net for the players to pose for their photo and complete the coin toss.

Sinner springs on his toes, then Alcaraz does the same, flipping his racquet from side to side and doing a few Nadal-like jumps. Both of them seem springy and energetic, neither of them wanting to be caught sleeping.

Alcaraz calls the coin toss… and Sinner wins – he opts to receive serve.

… but first, the Prince and Princess of Wales chatted to history-makers Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool, as well as some select ball kids and representatives from Wimbledon.

Alcaraz and Sinner are making their way through the hallowed halls of the All England Club as they prepare to step out onto a sun-spilled Centre Court.

The two players’ personalities couldn’t be more different – as Alcaraz in the lead recognises the fans waving at them through the windows with a beaming, calm-as-you-like smile, Sinner is all business, head down, cool and composed.

Fire and ice. And just a few moments until we see them in action.

Massive queue for the hill. They’ve only just opened it up again to let people through. Had stopped people going up there for ages. ‘All to watch it on tv’ said one punter in the line.

Schlocky tennis rom-com Wimbledon (underrated in this writer’s opinion) would have it that ‘love means nothing in tennis’, but one couple has refused to read too deeply into the sport’s terminology, with the groom-to-be popping the question on Henman Hill.

It’ll be a memorable day for more than just Jannik and Carlos, then.

While Centre Court might have become a second home to Alcaraz, Sinner is less used to the cushiony grass of the All England Club’s show court.

But after securing the Australian Open in the first Grand Slam of the year, Sinner has had a miraculous year despite having been suspended until the Italian Open due to his doping ban.

Since his return, Sinner has had two shots at titles – in Rome, and in Paris – and twice, Alcaraz has thwarted him. Can he do it a third time, on his least favourite surface?

The Wimbledon men’s final has been delayed from 4pm to 4.10pm after the women’s doubles final ran on. The All England Club’s decision to switch the time of the finals from 2pm to 4pm in order to better target TV audiences for the first time has already been caught out.

Yes, it is only 10 minutes but there is no way a singles Grand Slam final should be scheduled in such a way that a delay to the start time is possible.

Winning the French Open is an achievement that might take everything else from you in the aftermath – ask Coco Gauff. The American starlet lost her one Wimbledon warm-up match in Berlin, and then was summarily knocked out at the All England Club in the first round.

But if you’re Alcaraz, you have a post-Paris routine down pat. First up, a trip to Ibiza to blow off steam.

Then, somehow, you win Queen’s, your Wimbledon warm-up, and then you have a spare week to get used to the grass on the practice courts at Aorangi.

Then, a few weeks later… you step onto Centre Court to defend your title.

… it’s a different story. Yes, their last meeting came well before Alcaraz’s dominance on the surface, but Sinner will be lethally motivated after their showdown in Paris.

How does Alcaraz fuel his winning runs in SW19, you might wonder? With everything served to him at Cambio de Tercio.

He’s a ‘perfect, fantastic eater’, says Abel Lusa – why not take a look at how Lusa’s restaurants made him the unofficial epicentre of the tennis tour, below.

As if by Matthew Lambwell-magic, Kudermetova and Mertens have done it in three sets, over nearly two-and-a-half hours, and it’s time to get this ceremony on the road.

I imagine the carpet is being rolled out double-quick…

We are in serious danger of a delay to the men’s final here – in the first year of Wimbledon’s switch to a 4pm start. The women’s doubles final – Su-Wei Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko vs Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens – began at 1pm and is now 4-5 in the third set with just 35 minutes to go until Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner due to take the court.

Given the amount of time which will be taken up by the trophy presentation and speeches, this is going to be touch and go. It would be an embarrassment for Wimbledon if they are forced to delay – there is absolutely no way a Grand Slam singles final should have a delayed start.

Alcaraz had his toughest outing, unbelievably, first up against Fabio Fognini, with the firebrand Italian veteran forcing him into a five-set tussle in the searing opening day hint. After a match so good that Fognini brought forward his retirement, Alcaraz then breezed past plucky Brit Oliver Tarvet, Jan-Lenard Struff, Andrey Rublev, Cam Norrie, and Taylor Fritz ahead of today’s clash.

Sinner was forced to knockout compatrior Luca Nardi, before defeating Aleksandar Vukic and Pedro Martinez with minimum fuss. Two sets down in his fourth-round tie, Sinner may in part owe his place in the final due to the tragic retirement of an injured Grigor Dimitrov. Two confident wins against Ben Shelton and Novak Djokovic helped push that thought from most people’s minds, however.

Defending champion Alfie Hewett went looking for a chance to avenge his own Roland-Garros defeat against rising star and No1 seed Tokito Oda in the wheelchair singles.

Oda got the better of Hewett a second time, but the Briton remains the very model of a champion – and will be even hungrier for revenge when they meet again.

The Royal Box will be crowded with star power, but the great and the good of screens big and small will be piling into hospitality seating and general admission seats too in a bid to watch what we hope will be another all-time classic.

Keep an eye on comings and goings, below.

Also in attendance in the Royal Box, although perhaps not staying for the men’s final – newly minted Ladies’ singles champion Iga Swiatek.

Fresh from her merciless beatdown of the positively frozen Amanda Anisimova, Swiatek showed off her trophy with a quick photoshoot featuring the court where she triumphed as a background.

Swiatek also flashed another part of her prize for claiming glory in SW19 – her member’s badge, which entitles her to two Centre Court tickets for each day of the tournament in perpetuity.

An early illustration of the contrast between the two finalists: Jannik Sinner warmed up at Aorangi Park away from prying eyes; Carlos Alcaraz at the epicentre of Wimbledon on Championship court 14 – absolutely packed with fans.

Sinner and Alcaraz are likely to get sick of the sight of one another as they scythe through their respective draws at Grand Slams for years to come, but at least the finals this year have shown that rankings hold water.

Not that Alcaraz and Sinner contested the title in the Australian Open at the start of the year, however – it was former world No2 Alexander Zverev who was downed by the Italian on Rod Laver Arena.

But don’t trust me on it. Why not have a leaf through Mail Sport’s tennis correspondent Matthew Lambwell’s thoughts on the matter?

Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s comprehensive coverage of the one we’ve all been waiting for – it’s the Gentlemen’s singles final, the crescendo of two weeks of piping-hot Wimbledon action, live and direct from SW19.

This year’s showing is primed to be unmissable. Will defending champion Carlos Alcaraz secure his three-peat, becoming the first man since Roger Federer to keep hold of the trophy back-to-back-to-back (although Novak Djokovic may feel aggrieved he’s ruled on a Covid-19 technicality)?

Or will world No1 Jannik Sinner get revenge on the Spaniard after he waltzed away with the French Open title in their five-set epic in Paris last month?

Stay tuned here, as we bring you all the build-up and more before proceedings get underway at 4pm.