Jannik Sinner emotionally opens up on mental struggles after clinching Wimbledon title

Jannik Sinner opened up on his emotional battles this year after becoming the first Italian to win a Wimbledon singles title. The world No.1 gained revenge on Carlos Alcaraz for his painful French Open defeat to inflict a first Grand Slam final defeat on the stunned defending champion.

It was also the Italian's first tournament win since serving a three-month doping ban after winning the Australian Open. Nick Kygrios posted an asterisk on social media. But in tear-filled post-match scenes, Sinner climbed into the Centre Court stands to embrace his parents, Hanspeter and Siglinde, and brother Mark after claiming his fourth Major title at the age of 23.

Sinner, who banks £3million, said: "It feels amazing. It's so special. It is very emotional even if I don't cry. It feels emotional because only me and the people who are close to me know exactly what we have been through on and off the court, and it has been everything except easy.

"We've tried to push, you know, every practice session, even I was struggling at times mentally. Maybe even more in practice sessions because I feel like when I play the match, I can switch off and just play. I believe that this helped me a lot.

"To share this moment with my family here, my whole family here, it's the most amazing thing that could have happened to me, no?

"In Paris it was only my mom, and it was still an amazing feeling. Here my dad and my "brother and my mom too and the whole team, not only from my coaches' perspective, but everyone who works for me has been here. It has been, yeah, an amazing feeling."

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Sinner failed to take three match points in Paris five weeks ago. But in south-west London he fired down a 137mph serve - his biggest of the match - on his second match point to win in four sets.

"I had a very tough loss in Paris," admitted the world No.1. "But at the end of the day it really doesn't matter how you win or you lose. Especially in important tournaments. To accept the loss and to keep working, this is for sure one of the reasons why I hold the trophy here. The last game I served very well. I am happy about that.

I just tried to be as aggressive as I could. It takes too much to win against him. I am very happy that I held my nerves at the end and I can hold this trophy now."

Sinner and Alcaraz have now shared the last seven Grand Slam titles since Novak Djokovic won the 2023 US Open.

Double Wimbledon champion Alcaraz, who made only 53 per cent of first serves, said: "It's always a bad feeling losing matches. I think it's a little bit even worse when you lose in a final. Today was complicated a little bit. Low percentage of first serve.

"Then I played against one of the best returner on tour, without a doubt. It was a weapon that I wish it could be better, but twith the nerves and everything, it was difficult to serve better."