13 July 2025 6:09pm

6:09PM Big chance for Sinner to get to 0-30 when he sprints up an Alcaraz drop volley but he nets the forehand. Bad miss that. Door opens for Sinner again when Alcaraz sends a backhand long, 30-all.

Alcaraz responds to the pressure moment with a forehand winner and holds when Sinner puts a backhand long.

6:04PM At this stage of the match, both players are hovering around the 60 per cent mark for first serves in which is short of what they are usually at.

Sinner won’t mind too much, though as he runs around his backhand to whip a cross-court forehand into the corner for a winner.

6:01PM Alcaraz’s level is definitely off. He’s hit two double faults and is now 15-40 down. To his credit, he responds to get level and hits a 123mph ace to hold.

5:57PM You sense Sinner is trying to play Alcaraz at his own game in many respects here. Waving his racket to the crowd to appeal for more applause? Straight out of the defending champion’s playbook, but almost unheard-of for the Italian.

Three incredible escapes from defence in that game from Sinner. Almost reminiscent of the game Alcaraz played to take the French Open final into a fifth-set tie-break. This is boiling up nicely.

5:54PM What a start by Sinner. He slides into a deep forehand by Alcaraz with a backhand. It should be an easy volley for Alcaraz but he’s too casual and drops the ball far enough for Sinner to sprint up and hit a cross court backhand winner. Sinner gestures to the crowd for more energy.

Defensive Alcaraz backhand is high and short of the mark, 30-15. More magic from Sinner as Alcaraz goes big again with forehand but Sinner goes even bigger with a forehand down the line winner, two set points.

Oh my goodness. You won’t see a better game from Sinner. Alcaraz hits a wide angled forehand and Sinner responds with an angled forehand winner on the full side.

Another jaw-dropping end to a set.

5:48PM Alcaraz does what he needs to do and holds serve to 15 with a swinging wide ace. Sinner has been feeling the tension in the match, can Alcaraz raise his level to take advantage?

5:46PM Business-like service hold to love from Sinner. He’s a game away from the set.

All the highlight-reel stuff is coming from Alcaraz, as you might have guessed before the match. He has 21 winners to Sinner’s ten. But Sinner is hanging in there, competing well, despite possessing fewer options on the grass.

5:42PM Alcaraz looks to be in command of the game at 40-0 but Sinner pegs him back to 40-30. Third double fault of the match from Alcaraz makes it deuce.

And another double fault gives Sinner a break point. What’s going on here?

A fifth missed serve in a row for Alcaraz but he makes second serve and Sinner nets a backhand. Big chance missed there because Alcaraz eventually gets the service hold after a couple of first serves.

5:36PM An opening for Alcaraz after Sinner sends a forehand long, 15-30. 124mph first serve down the T and Alcaraz puts a forehand return long.

He ups the speed on his next serve, 135mph, and gets another unreturned ball, 40-30. A bit of luck for Sinner as his forehand catches the net cord and drops short on Alcaraz’s side.

5:32PM Again, some rare chinks in the Sinner poker-face which reveal the pressure he is feeling. After an Alcaraz mishit found the sideline, he barked angrily at his player box. We never see that! But he held and is still a break up, despite the champagne cork that popped onto the court before his serve on his first game point. The ultimate first-world problem.