Carlos Alcaraz walked into the 2024 French Open with a title to defend and a familiar obstacle waiting across the net. In the semifinal, he edged past Jannik Sinner in a five-set battle that drained both players. For Sinner, it was a crushing loss—just one point away from his first Roland Garros final. Alcaraz went on to win the tournament, his second straight title on Parisian clay. But that wasn’t the only shift triggered in Paris.

Shortly after the tournament, Jannik Sinner made history, becoming the first Italian man to claim the ATP No. 1 ranking. Alcaraz, despite adding another Slam to his résumé, had fallen behind in the race for the top due to injuries and skipped events earlier in the season. With Sinner climbing the mountain, the rivalry was no longer just about matchups—it had become a battle for supremacy.

Wimbledon 2025 brought the tension full circle. Alcaraz was chasing a third consecutive title on the grass. Across the net once again stood Sinner. This time, the Italian flipped the script. In a tightly contested final, he outplayed Alcaraz and claimed his fourth Grand Slam title. The win wasn’t just about redemption. It also pushed Sinner’s lead in the ATP rankings from 1,130 points to a commanding 3,430. That number, though, is deceptive.

Sinner is about to enter the most vulnerable stretch of his season. During last year’s North American hard-court swing, he racked up 3,200 points: a quarterfinal run in Toronto, a title in Cincinnati, and his maiden US Open crown. Now, he has to defend every one of those results to maintain his No. 1 status. Alcaraz, in contrast, has almost nothing to lose—just 60 points from a disappointing stretch that included an early loss in Cincinnati and a second-round exit at the US Open. That US Open loss—to Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets—was his earliest Slam exit since his 2021 debut season.

For Sinner, it’s not just about form. It’s about weight. Maintaining the No. 1 ranking for 58 consecutive weeks is already a career milestone, but that number could stall quickly if results slip. For Alcaraz, every win in the coming weeks translates to pressure on Sinner, whose margin could evaporate in a matter of matches.

But behind this race and rise, behind the fire and fight, there’s someone who is believed to have silently guided Sinner through the storm to his Wimbledon destiny.

Jannik Sinner’s Wimbledon win is linked to his Grandmother’s influence

At Roland Garros, Jannik Sinner stood one point away from carving his name into clay-court history. One point from glory. One point from redemption. It was meant to be his first major on the Parisian dirt, his second Slam of the season. But fate had other plans. Carlos Alcaraz ripped it away in a match for the ages, defending his French crown in a brutal five-set marathon. The cameras didn’t miss the heartbreak etched across the face of Sinner’s mother, whose eyes held the pain of a son denied.

Fast forward 35 days. The green grass of Wimbledon became Sinner’s battleground for redemption. This time, he did not let go. This time, it was he who ripped the crown from Alcaraz’s grip. When it was over, arms stretched high and knees sunk into Centre Court, the emotion wasn’t of triumph, it was of release. Of burden lifted. Of pain transformed into purpose. And waiting for him in that moment of catharsis? His mother, once again in tears, only now they flowed in joy.

Sinner wrapped her in a tight hug, as if to say, We did it. His story, though, isn’t just about center courts and center stage. It’s also about humble beginnings. His father, Johann, once worked as a chef in a ski lodge. His mother, Siglinde, served tables with quiet pride. Reflecting on their influence, Sinner once said, “I wish that everyone could have my parents because they always let me choose whatever I wanted to.” A sentiment rooted in love and freedom.

But wait, there’s a twist. In a recent chat with Corriere dello Sport, a local postman from Dobbiaco named Luca added a sweet surprise to the story. He’s been delivering letters to the Sinner household for years, calling the family “kind and reserved.” But it’s his route to Sinner’s grandmother that turns this tale golden. “Delivering the newspaper to Sinner’s grandmother is part of my daily routine,” Luca shared. “Every now and then, we exchange a few words, and she thanks me with some homemade sweets.” One of them? Niggilan: a traditional Alto Adige delight. “I told her that perhaps I had discovered the secret of her grandson’s talent lay entirely in her sweets. She laughed and replied that perhaps I wasn’t entirely wrong.”

As the Wimbledon sparkle settles and the US Open looms on the horizon, one question remains, will that sweet streak carry Jannik Sinner all the way again?