For the first time in Italian tennis history, one of their own won the Wimbledon singles title in 2025.
After Matteo Berrettini and Jasmine Paolini fell at the final hurdle in 2021 and 2024, it was Jannik Sinner’s turn to try and get the job done.
Taking on his closest rival, Carlos Alcaraz, against whom he’d lost the French Open final in heartbreaking fashion the month before, Sinner was determined to secure the win.
Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images
Dropping the first set 4-6, the 23-year-old’s title hopes hung by a thread, but he was not to be denied, as Sinner fought back to beat Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, clinching his maiden Wimbledon title.
Sinner’s win saw his and Alcaraz’s Grand Slam streak extend to seven tournaments, as the pair continue to dominate on the ATP Tour.
Sharing his thoughts on the world number one and two’s brilliance, a former Italian tennis star has predicted whether either Sinner or Alcaraz can complete the Calendar Grand Slam in the future.
Paolo Bertolucci says it is ‘now more likely’ that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz complete the Grand Slam
Writing for La Gazzetta dello Sport, 1976 Davis Cup winner Paolo Bertolucci gave his verdict on the chances of Sinner or Alcaraz achieving the Calendar Grand Slam or ‘Grand Slam’.
To complete the Grand Slam, a player must win all four majors in a calendar year, a feat achieved just three times in men’s tennis history, and once in the Open Era.
1938 – Don Budge1962 – Rod Laver 1969 (Open Era) – Rod Laver
Discussing the Calendar Grand Slam failure of three of the sport’s greatest players, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, Bertolucci argued the current world number one and two are ‘more likely’ to match Rod Laver’s feat.
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“In my opinion, the possibility of it happening now has become more likely, precisely because we have two players of that level, not three, four, or five like in the last decade,” he said.
“[Jannik] Sinner and [Carlos] Alcaraz are in a different sport; they are two men in sole command. Last year, like good ‘little brothers,’ they shared two majors each. This year, however, we’re 2-1 in favor of the Italian, and the fourth event remains, with all the complaints that can be made about the three match points missed in Paris.
Grand SlamWinnerRunner-UpScore2024 Australian OpenJannik SinnerDaniil Medvedev3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-32024 French OpenCarlos AlcarazAlexander Zverev6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-22024 WimbledonCarlos AlcarazNovak Djokovic6-2, 6-2, 7-62024 US OpenJannik SinnerTaylor Fritz6-3, 6-4, 7-52025 Australian OpenJannik SinnerAlexander Zverev6-3, 7-6, 6-32025 French OpenCarlos AlcarazJannik Sinner4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-62025 WimbledonJannik SinnerCarlos Alcaraz4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4Grand Slam winners since 2024
The Italian doesn’t think Sinner or Alcaraz have advantages over one another on different surfaces anymore.
“No surface favors one or the other anymore; even in the Wimbledon final, we saw that when one of the two puts in 3% less on the court, they’re taken away,” said Bertolucci.
“Then everything changed. We’re talking about an increasingly physical and less technical sport, different rackets and balls, but also different surfaces.”
Bertolucci proceeded to explain what he noticed at Wimbledon in 2025, which highlighted the talents of Sinner and Alcaraz.
“At the All England Club, I saw a photo from 1985; on the grass, there was a vertical groove all the way to the net, not a horizontal one behind it,” he said.
“Now the baseline is being played in an unimaginable way, especially from Jannik and Carlos, who hit impressive shots in rallies that can last seven or eight shots.
“Not [Novak] Djokovic, whose ball is now traveling 20 kilometers per hour slower.
“Then maybe someone else will come along, perhaps [Joao] Fonseca, but for three years the stage is set for Rod Laver’s two heirs.”
Bertolucci believes the youngsters may have what it takes to complete the Grand Slam, but have either of them been close so far in their careers?
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s best Calendar Grand Slam attempts
To complete the Calendar Grand Slam, a player must win 28 consecutive matches at major tournaments.
With that being the case, a failure to win the first Grand Slam of the year immediately removes you from the Calendar Grand Slam conversation.
Alcaraz’s struggles at the Australian Open have hurt him throughout his career, as he has yet to reach the semifinals in Melbourne.
Carlos Alcaraz’s best Calendar Grand Slam attempt – 4/28 matches won (2024, 2025)
Sinner, on the other hand, has won back-to-back Australian Open titles and made an impressive run to the French Open final in 2025.
However, failing to convert Championship points against Alcaraz saw his assault on the Calendar Grand Slam come to an end, just before the halfway stage.
Jannik Sinner’s best Calendar Grand Slam attempt – 13/28 matches won (2025)
Only time will tell if either Sinner or Alcaraz will make a more sustained run at the Calendar Grand Slam in 2026, but it will certainly be something to look out for.
The 2026 Australian Open is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 12.