Cahill on Sinner: “He needed that win”
The Italian’s coach explains why Sunday’s victory was so important
Chryslene Caillaud / Psnewz
After breaking Carlos Alcaraz’s serve in the second set of the 2025 Wimbledon final, Jannik Sinner let out an uncharacteristic bellow. The Italian’s roar gave a rare insight into his usually hidden emotions: this was about more than winning Grand Slam number four.
The past 18 months, Alcaraz has dominated the pair’s head-to-head, beating Sinner five times in a row, including last month’s gut-wrenching defeat in the French Open final. Few others were able to lay a finger on the 23-year-old, but his biggest rival consistently found a way to defeat him.
Speaking after his 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory, coach Darren Cahill admitted that the rivalry with Alcaraz was front of mind for Sinner heading into their clash on Sunday.
“Today was important for many, many reasons,” he said.
“Carlos has had the wood over him for the last five matches. They’ve played amazing matches, and Jannik has had chances in maybe four of the five matches they’ve played to beat him. Hasn’t been able to get the victory.
“So today was important not just because it was a Grand Slam final, not just because it was Wimbledon, and not just because Carlos had won the last five matches against him.
“He needed that win today.”
Past losses key to Sinner’s Wimbledon win
Cahill explained that Sinner’s ability to raise his level in the biggest moments was a direct result of his past losses to Alcaraz, where it had been the Spaniard who elevated his game under pressure.
“He knew the importance of closing this one out when he had the opportunities,” Cahill said.
“With that, I think you saw a bit more energy from him in the big moments and a bit more focus to knuckle down and make sure that when he had his nose in front, that he kept on closing the door against Carlos. He did an amazing job with that today.
“Today’s match I think was a match of moments, of just who was going to step up in the big moment and make something happen. At Roland-Garros it was Carlos, and today it was Jannik.”
In a rivalry that has already given so much to tennis, this latest wrinkle has added even more intrigue to the pair’s head-to-head.
