Jannik Sinner defends Wimbledon title with battling win against Alexander Zverev

Jannik Sinner fought off a full-blooded challenge from Alexander Zverev to successfully defend his Wimbledon title.

Fresh from finally winning a first grand slam crown at the French Open last month, Zverev shrugged off a woeful recent record against Sinner to claim the first set.

But, after wilting in the heat in Paris, Sinner stamped his authority firmly back on men’s tennis by battling to a 6-7 (7) 7-6 (2) 6-3 6-4 victory and a fifth major crown.

It was also a 100th grand slam match win for the world number one.

After losing nine matches in a row and 14 sets against the Italian, Zverev knew he had to do something different and his intention was clear from the start.

The German stands 6ft 6in and hits the ball as sweetly as any player yet often in his career he has hung metres behind the baseline and relied on his defensive skills.

His forehand has also been prone to breaking down but he picked up where he left off in his semi-final against Britain’s Arthur Fery, stepping into the court and unleashing on the ball.

Sinner had really raised his level in a semi-final demolition of Novak Djokovic but previously had not been timing the ball particularly well, and a shanked forehand cost him the only break point of the opening two sets at 4-3.

Zverev was the better player overall, though, and it was fitting that it was a clean winner off the German’s forehand that clinched the first tie-break.

Zverev crouched down with both fists clenched looking towards his support box, roaring in delight.

The contest lacked the contrast of styles that makes clashes between Sinner and the much-missed Carlos Alcaraz so compelling but it was tight and tense, with the serves of both men snuffing out any potential opportunities.

Zverev, who will