LONDON – Jannik Sinner (24) successfully defended his Wimbledon title on Sunday with a hard-fought four-set victory over French Open champion Alexander Zverev (29) in the men’s final.

The world number one recovered from losing the first set in a match dominated by serve, eventually wearing down his opponent to secure a 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 6-4 win in three hours and 46 minutes.

“You can feel the nerves on Sunday morning, it is a very special place,” said Sinner, who saved the only break point he faced on Centre Court. “You never know how many times you are going to come back. I never take it for granted.”

The Italian claimed his first Grand Slam title since lifting the trophy at the All England Club 12 months ago. Sinner’s fifth Slam crown puts him just two behind the majors tally of his injured rival Carlos Alcaraz after notching his 100th match win at tennis’ four biggest events.

He hit 58 winners against only 25 unforced errors, refusing to buckle against an in-form Zverev who brought a 13-match winning streak at the Slams into the final.

“It has been an amazing final once again. It takes two players,” added Sinner, who banks the winner’s prize of £3.6 million. “I’m very happy about the win but I’m mostly very happy about the level we played.”

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Bouncing back

Sinner has put behind him the shock second-round exit from the French Open at the hands of Juan Manuel Cerundolo when he blew a two-set lead last month.

The closest Sinner came to exiting Wimbledon was in the first round when he had to come from behind to beat Miomir Kecmanovic in five sets. It was plain sailing from then on for the 24-year-old, who has become a force on grass.

He now boasts a 44-3 win-loss record this year after winning his sixth title of the season.

Zverev had never reached the quarter-finals in nine previous visits to Wimbledon. He managed to take a first set off Sinner in seven meetings, but could not snap a now 10-match losing streak against his rival.

The German, who was bidding to become the first German man to win the trophy since Michael Stich in 1991, will climb above Alcaraz to second in the ATP rankings on Monday.

“At 29 years old, it’s the first time I actually believe I can win this trophy,” said the second seed.

Tight contest

Zverev saved the only break point of a tight first set dominated by serve as it went to a tie-break. The first 15 points of the breaker went with serve, with both men saving set points, before Zverev clinched it with a forehand winner.

There were no break points in the second set as the players bludgeoned their way to 6-6, but this time Sinner stepped it up in the tie-break to level the match.

Zverev finally created his first break point in the seventh game of the third set, but slipped when Sinner dinked over a drop-shot winner. He clutched his knee and Sinner crossed the net to check on his opponent, but was helped to his feet by the Italian.

Sinner made his move in the next game as Zverev’s serve finally broke down. Zverev threw his racquet angrily across the turf after looping a forehand long on a break point which had seen Sinner lying flat on the turf earlier in the rally.

The top seed served it out to love, sealing a two-sets-to-one lead with an ace.

Zverev tried to prolong the contest but his race was run when Sinner broke for a 4-3 advantage in the fourth set. He wrapped up the title on serve despite a dramatic final game featuring two of the best rallies of the match, falling to the turf in celebration after slapping away a forehand winner on his first match point.