Jannik Sinner emerged victorious in the battle of tennis' next generation of stars as the 20-year-old defeated Carlos Alcaraz in four sets to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals - 6-1 6-4 6-7 (8-10) 6-3.
Middle Sunday action is a rarity at Wimbledon but Centre Court played the host venue as 19-year-old and fifth seed Carlos Alcaraz, the youngest player in the men's draw, attempted to reach his third Grand Slam quarter-final.
But Sinner was in the mood right from the off though and capitalised on far too many forehand errors from his opponent - which is usually the Spaniard's most feared weapon.
Alcaraz found his rhythm in the third set to win a thrilling tie-breaker 10-8 but the same mistakes came back to bite him in the fourth as Sinner powered on.
The No.10 seed admitted afterwards he hadn't been playing great all week yet he's already overcome three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka in round one, before beating Mikael Ymer and serving supremo John Isner to get to this stage.
The Sporting News was on Centre Court to bring you live game-by-game updates - check out how the action unfolded below.
Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner result
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Alcaraz | 1 | 4 | 7 (10) | 3 | - |
| Jannik Sinner | 6 | 6 | 6 (8) | 6 | - |
Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner updates and highlights from Wimbledon 2022
All times BST
*denotes server
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 7-6 (10-8) 3-6 *Jannik Sinner - SINNER WINS FOURTH SET AND THE MATCH
Alcaraz wins the first and third point due to Sinner's overhit forehands. Alcaraz then hits one of his own wide, 30-30. Alcaraz gets break point, a two-handed forehand hit with devastating force sees Sinner unable to return it. He can't take it though, his forehand shot hits the net and the ball drops agonisingly on his own side, deuce. Alcaraz then hits a return serve into the net and Sinner's on the brink. Alcaraz can't return a huge forehand to the back of the court and the Italian is through to his first ever Wimbledon quarter-final!
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 7-6 (10-8) 3-5 Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz is 15-30 down and then lures Sinner in with a drop shot but the Italian reads it and cushions it home to set up another two match points. Sinner's backhand lob goes long to see the first pass him by, as does the second courtesy of an inch-perfect forehand winner from Alcaraz. Sinner hits one of his own on the backhand to get match point again. Alcaraz screams "Vamos!" as he delivers a powerful serve to deny him. Alcaraz's patience pays off as Sinner pays for his sins with two errors.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 7-6 (10-8) 2-5 *Jannik Sinner
Sinner is also upping the pace though in pursuit of a place in the quarter-finals as he goes aggressive with his play to take a 30-0 lead. An ace down the middle gives Alcaraz a timely reminder he's staring down the barrel. He holds to love, this time a big serve wide.
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 7-6 (10-8) 2-4 Jannik Sinner
A comfortable hold from the Spaniard who is refusing to roll over. He gets to 40-15 but then plays a tricky backhand at the net wide. Sinner sends a forehand beyond the base line in the deciding point.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 7-6 (10-8) 1-4 *Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz responds by winning the opening two points and then Sinner double faults, 0-40. Alcaraz wastes the first break point, Sinner aces on the second and also smashes home the third to get back to deuce. Sinner does brilliantly at the next two points, a backhand winner sealing his hold.
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 7-6 (10-8) 1-3 Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz gets a volley in the middle all wrong to fall 15-30 behind. A clumsy forehand goes wide and long and Sinner has two break points... it's been a while! This time a drop shot does come off as the No.5 seed saves one but then double faults.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 7-6 (10-8) 1-2 *Jannik Sinner
Sinner attempts a drop shot that most of his opponents wouldn't make... but the lively 19-year-old does and dinks it back over the net. Sinner misses an easy volley at the net to bring the scores to deuce. He gets advantage courtesy of an Alcaraz error but that's cancelled out by a backhand winner down the line from the Spaniard. Sinner gets the hold.
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 7-6 (10-8) 1-1 Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz's serve continues to go from strength to strength. Meanwhile, Sinner is still sliding round the grass court like he's playing on clay!
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 7-6 (10-8) 0-1 *Jannik Sinner
Sinner had two match points in that tie-breaker and that's going to hurt him the way Alcaraz came back. As for the fifth seed he's growing in confidence and earns an early break point, twice. Sinner saves them both and he'll take a little bit of confidence back as he eventually holds.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 7-6 (10-8) Jannik Sinner - ALCARAZ WINS THIRD SET
Sinner goes for it with a big forehand on Alcaraz's second serve but it hits the net, 8-8. Centre Court erupts and people are on their feet as Alcaraz clips a cheeky forehand at his feet just over the net to earn set point of his own. What a shot! Sinner then sends a backhand just wide and we're going to a fourth set!
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 6-6 (7-8) Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz is on serve but in the rally he gets carried away and the forehand is way out, despite his challenge. That brings up a first match point for Sinner but he then hits an awkward backhand into the net. A serve right down the middle gets him another.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 6-6 (6-6) Jannik Sinner
Sinner has luck on his side as he fires a forehand to the net put the power takes it over, just. A sweet forehand winner from the Italian claws another point back. Alcaraz has to serve for the set but a long rally ends with a stunning forehand winner across court to level the scores, 6-6.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 6-6 (6-3) Jannik Sinner
Sinner attempts another drop shot but this one doesn't make it over the net. Sinner then goes long with a forehand from the left side and hits another into the net as Alcaraz earns his first set points.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 6-6 (3-3) Jannik Sinner
A huge serve from the Spaniard levels the scores. A huge roar from Alcaraz follows as he settles one of the longest rallies of the match with a devastating forehand winner. Sinner replies with a cheeky drop shot.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 6-6 (1-2) Jannik Sinner
Sinner finds the net with his return. He gets level with a backhand down the line as Alcaraz comes to the net. Alcaraz blasts a forehand way long.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 6-6 *Jannik Sinner
Sinner is refusing to let up. At 40-0 he serves down the middle and Alcaraz can only return to the net. Into the tie-breaker we go!
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 6-5 Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz's serves are starting to hurt Sinner a little more often now, he gets to 40-0 and then drills an ace.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 5-5 *Jannik Sinner
It's fair to say Alcaraz's shot choices have frustrated the crowd today. He's in a long rally before opting to attempt a backhand slice that hits the net, 15-15. Sinner gets back on track with more powerful serving but then double faults, 40-30. Alcaraz then hits a backhand down the line just wide.
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 5-4 Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz practically jogs to the net to hit an overhead smash as Sinner could only return it high off the serve, 30-15. Sinner gets level with a forehand down the line after spotting his opponent come to the net. Two big serves, including a final ace, and Alcaraz takes the lead again.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 4-4 *Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz raises his fist to the air as he gets to 15-30, a lovely shot back across Sinner who had come to the net sneaks in. Alcaraz takes Sinner to deuce twice. Alcaraz then opts for a drop shot at the wrong time which doesn't come off and follows up with a forehand into the net.
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 4-3 Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz looks disappointed as an easy forehand goes wide, 15-30. At the next point he does brilliantly to save three huge forehand hits with his backhand and gets his reward as Sinner then hits one long. Sinner is on the floor as he slips chasing a precise drop shot, which he misses, and Alcaraz goes over to check he's ok. At 40-30, Alcaraz has all the time in the world to smash home a forehand at the net but gets it all wrong and there's a collective sigh from the crowd. He eventually gets the hold.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 3-3 *Jannik Sinner
Sinner wins a brilliant opener as Alcaraz looks to have lobbed him but the No.10 seed gets to the back of the court and hits a double-handed backhand on the turn across court! The other three points are nowhere near as exciting and he holds.
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 3-2 Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz gets fully over a forehand from the back of the court to fire away a winner, 15-15. At 30-30, Alcaraz hits his eighth ace of the match and then unleashes another forehand from the net which sits up perfectly for him.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 2-2 *Jannik Sinner
Turns out Sinner also doesn't mind showing off his volley skills at the net, a backhanded effort gets him to 30-0. The Italian then drills a forehand winner which kisses the base line despite Alcaraz's pleas on the challenge. Sinner holds again as Alcaraz blasts a forehand long.
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 2-1 Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz holds to love... just the one winner from a volley this time.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 1-1 *Jannik Sinner
Sinner apologises as he gets lucky with a net call to get to 30-0. No need for an apology on the next as he has Alcaraz doing all the running and the Spaniard can't return one from the base line. He holds comfortably.
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 1-0 Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz loves making it hard for himself. He's needing to save three break points right at the start of the third set. He saves all three, the third a controlled volley from height at the net. Some brilliant play at the net puts Alcaraz back on the front foot and he gets the hold with another well executed volley. Forget the forehands... just hit volleys, Carlos!
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-6 *Jannik Sinner - SINNER WINS SECOND SET
Sinner's not letting up at all as he gets to 40-0, a forehand out to the back of the court goes beyond Alcaraz's reach. Three set points but he needs just one as Alcaraz's backhand finds the net.
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 4-5 Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz deceives Sinner with a drop shot but it just fails creep over the net, 15-15. The Italian's powerful return catches Alcaraz on the back foot at the next to put the pressure on. He soaks it up with a lovely forehand winner to the back left. Sinner should do better with an easy forehand at the net to get set point but panics and sends it long, 40-30. Sinner goes on to make some more errors but will now have the chance to serve for a two-set lead.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 3-5 *Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz wins the opener as he's patient in a long rally, eventually forcing Sinner to hit the net. Sinner responds with a powerful forehand winner before Alcaraz's return from the serve is long, 30-15. Sinner soon double faults to take the scores to deuce but gets back in control for an important hold.
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 3-4 Jannik Sinner
Sinner hits a fierce forehand to the right side of the court, 15-15. Under pressure, Alcaraz smashes an ace to get to 30-30. He gets his positioning right at the next to unload some top spin on a forehand winner and then hits a second ace in the game to hold.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 2-4 *Jannik Sinner
Sinner hits a deft drop shot to take the opening point. Back-to-back errors from Alcaraz gives Sinner the chance to hold to love and he takes it... you guessed it courtesy of another Alcaraz mistake.
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 2-3 Jannik Sinner
Sinner has some mistakes of his own from the return serve at 15-30. Alcaraz then puts a forehand wide. His next shot is what he wishes every forehand should look like, the perfect power and placement into the back left of the court. He holds with an ace.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 1-3 *Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz shakes his head as he can't return Sinner's opening two serves with any conviction. The third follows the same path and the fourth ricochets off the rim of his racket and into the crowd... a man takes the catch with one hand.
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 1-2 Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz gets to 30-0 with a couple of devastating forehands before Sinner hits a return with such power that if it had hit his opponent he'd have been hurt, big time. Alcaraz picks his spot perfectly with another forehand winner to get to 40-15 and then drills an ace.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 0-2 *Jannik Sinner
Sinner hits a backhand into the net, 15-30, to give Alcaraz some hope of breaking back. He then sends Alcaraz from left to right which Alcaraz unbelievably makes but his return his high into the air and just lands wide. Alcaraz thinks he's won the next point when he plays a lovely drop shot to the right side but Sinner shows he can be just as quick and gets there to return with a drop shot of his own. At deuce, Sinner hits a wild forehand and Alcaraz finally gets a break point. He gets control back with a couple of big serves and then a backhand cross-court winner coupled with an Alcaraz return into the net sees him hold.
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 0-1 Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz looks to his box a few times but the message from his coaches is surely pretty simple, stop overhitting the forehands. More errors gives Sinner two break points and then Sinner hits a tricky shot to Alcaraz's feet that he's forced to return awkwardly and the ball goes out. Not the start he wanted.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 Jannik Sinner* - SINNER WINS FIRST SET
Sinner gets to 30-0 as despite Alcaraz's lightning quick speed across the court, he can't hit a decent return. However, at 15-30 he shows exactly why he draws comparisons to Rafael Nadal, a stunning whipped forehand right along the line while running at speed leads to huge applause from the crowd. His next forehand is long though and Sinner has set point. He seals it with an ace.
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-5 Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz isn't showing much emotion at present but he can't be happy with how he's started. A simple forehand is sent way beyond the base line as he falls 15-30 behind. Things go from bad to worse as he double faults to present two break points. He saves the first with a big serve down the middle but it's another forehand wide to give his opponent the double break.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-4 *Jannik Sinner
Sinner's forehand has been pretty impressive so far, he hits another win into the back corner to go 30-15 up. Alcaraz's hasn't and one crashes into the net at the next point. Alcaraz then can't get a backhand effort over either. Sinner looking much more comfortable out there at these early stages.
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-3 Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz is 15-30 down as he's caught off guard by Sinner's strong returns. The teenager then whips a forehand into the back left corner out of Sinner's reach, 30-30. He tries to do the same again but this time it goes just wide and Sinner has break point. Sinner gets it as Alcaraz switches things up with a drop shot but it fails to go over.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-2 *Jannik Sinner
Sinner plays a lovely drop shot that lures in Alcaraz, which he makes, but the Italian is at the net to hit the volley, 30-15. A cross-court backhand winner from Alcaraz is the shot of the match so far to level the scores. Sinner keeps his composure after at deuce and holds.
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-1 Jannik Sinner
No signs of any early nerves from the 19-year-old as he races to 40-0. A big serve out wide can't be returned by Sinner and Alcaraz is up and running.
Carlos Alcaraz 0-1 *Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz goes 0-30 up before Sinner smashes a neat forehand winner. Alcaraz then smashes a forehand wide, 30-30. A couple more unforced errors from the Spaniard sees Sinner hold.
4pm: Both players come out to a warm reception. The home crowd will be a little deflated having just witnessed Watson go out but Alcaraz and Sinner are sure to lift their spirits with some high-octane tennis shortly!
3.45pm: Britain's last hope in the women's singles is over as Watson crashes out to Niemeier in straight sets. Alcaraz and Sinner will be making their way to court shortly.
3.25pm: Alcaraz and Sinner will be on Centre Court following the conclusion of Heather Watson and Jule Niemeier's match. The German took the first set 6-2 and they are currently 3-3 in the second set.
3pm: Hello, and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of today's second Centre Court match in what promises to be an exciting matchup between two of the sport's most promising talents coming through.
Victory for either player will put them into the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time in their careers.
It's Middle Sunday action at Wimbledon and we're absolutely pumped for this one. Anything could happened over the next few hours.