Jannik Sinner: Quiet man of tennis basks in the limelight

Italy’s Jannik Sinner poses on the balcony after winning the men’s singles final tennis match against Germany’s Alexander Zverev on the last day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 12, 2026. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP)

Jannik Sinner is the quiet man of tennis who has become a big noise, clinching a second consecutive Wimbledon title and fifth Grand Slam crown.

The Italian defeated French Open champion Alexander Zverev in four sets on Sunday to close within two Grand Slam titles of his great rival Carlos Alcaraz.

The pair are the dominant forces in men’s tennis, although Alcaraz has missed the past two Slams with injury.

READ: Jannik Sinner bounces back with another Wimbledon title

Jannik comes out to the balcony 🙌#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/be6mcO8xL0

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 12, 2026

While Alcaraz is the flashy showman of the game, adored by the fans for his high-risk, high-reward tennis, Sinner stays ice-cold on the court and mild-mannered off it.

His game is based on relentless power and accuracy from the baseline.

The Italian is used to life at the top, and showed it with a brilliant performance in his seventh major final, saving the one break point he faced and dispatching the in-form Zverev in typically efficient fashion.

Sinner says he does not follow a strict routine unlike many other players and is aware there is no guarantee his dominance will continue.

“I am very relaxed. Look, I don’t have anything that I’m doing the same over and over again,” he said.

“I also enjoy the moment, because I know how rare these days are. Grand Slam finals, they are tough to achieve and to arrive.”

READ: Wimbledon: Jannik Sinner scuppers Djokovic record bid to make final

He has spent 79 weeks as world number one, 13 more than Alcaraz, and earlier this year became only the second player in history after Novak Djokovic to complete a career clean sweep of all nine Masters 1000 titles.

Sinner has won six consecutive Masters tournaments and 34 straight matches at the level just below the Grand Slams.

But until arriving at Wimbledon last week, his form this year at the majors had fallen below his high standards.

A five-set semifinal loss to Djokovic at the Australian Open was followed by a shock second-round defeat by Juan Manuel Cerundolo at the French Open.

He banished those memories in style at the All England Club, though, growing into the tournament before producing a clinical display in Sunday’s final to see off Zverev for a 10th consecutive time.

Last year, he successfully defended his Australian Open title in January and bounced back from an agonising loss to Alcaraz in the French Open final by defeating the Spaniard in the Wimbledon showpiece match.

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Sinner’s career was put on hold early in 2025 as he served a three-month ban for twice testing positive for banned anabolic steroid clostebol in 2024.

Sinner has always maintained the product entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist, who had used a spray containing it to treat a cut.

The World Anti-Doping Agency said “Sinner did not intend to cheat” but that he would serve his suspension as he is responsible for the actions of his entourage.

Alcaraz rivalry

Sinner was born in German-speaking San Candido, in northern Italy, near the border with Austria.

A career in professional tennis was not a given.

He was a champion skier as a youngster and still enjoys the sport in the off-season. He was also a keen footballer.

The right-hander, who stands six feet 3 inches (191 centimetres) tall, won his first title indoors in Sofia in 2020.

The 2024 season was his breakthrough year as he collected his first Grand Slam, the Australian Open, and followed up with seven other titles including the US Open.

He first became world number one — and the first Italian to reach top spot — in June 2024.

Sinner’s super-power is his extraordinary ability to stay calm on court.

Sinner makes no secret of the fact that he loves the job he has chosen.

“I’m very lucky because tennis started off a hobby when I was young, and now it becomes my job,” he said.

“In my mind it’s still a hobby. I love to go on court and just play. There is no better place to do it than in big stadiums with packed crowd.”