Wimbledon, the third of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, concluded on Sunday with world number one Italian Jannik Sinner defeating his new runner-up in the professional rankings, German Alexander Zverev, in an edition suggesting that the second half of the season will be more competitive compared to 2025.

The Italian star won his first major title of 2026, the fifth of his career, and his second consecutive at Wimbledon.

But Zverev showed real resistance at the start of the match this time, and the 29-year-old, who won his first major title last month at Roland Garros, almost took a two-set lead on Centre Court at the All England Club.

Sinner's Australian coach Darren Cahill said on Sunday: 'Now that he has gained the confidence from winning a Grand Slam title, he believes in his abilities more.'

He added: 'He knows he can win seven matches at a Grand Slam... and if he continues to produce this level and this more attacking style than before, Zverev will cause big trouble for his opponents.'

In his early days, the German lived in the shadow of Swiss Roger Federer, Spanish Rafael Nadal, and Serbian Novak Djokovic, and today he hopes to keep pace with Sinner and Spanish Carlos Alcaraz to form a new 'Big Three' at the top of world tennis, as he said on Sunday in London.

Zverev said: 'I have improved this year, and I feel I put these two players under pressure: Alcaraz in Australia (where the Spaniard had to go five sets to reach the final), and Jannik here. I haven't beaten them this season, but I think I pushed them to their limits.'

Zverev has lost four times in five Grand Slam finals since the 2020 US Open.

With age advancing and reaching his 39th year, Djokovic's chances of a record 25th major title are diminishing, somewhat removing him from the competitive circle with Sinner and Alcaraz, who missed the last two majors due to a wrist injury, opening the door for Zverev.

He admitted that the 'harsh lesson' he received against Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals (4-6, 4-6, 4-6) clearly reminded him of the new limitations imposed by age, saying: 'I lost to a better player. I was one or two levels below him.'

Former world number three Croatian Ivan Ljubicic considered that 'Djokovic is still a great player, but it seems to me that his body' can no longer endure playing 'seven matches at the highest level' as required by Grand Slams, according to what the elite official of the French Tennis Federation told AFP.

Wimbledon may be the tournament where the Serbian relinquished his position as the third man in the competitive circle in favor of Zverev, although the German refused to rush to declare the end of the Belgrade native's career, who is still able to compete.

After describing Sinner as 'the best player in the world,' Zverev said: 'I think there are two, maybe three players who can match him. Probably three, because we have to acknowledge that regarding Novak.'

With the next major date on the calendar approaching, the US Open (August 30 - September 13), the key question remains: will Alcaraz be ready to return to the courts?

The Spaniard, who started the year as world number one and won the Australian Open, the only major missing from his record, has returned to hitting the ball lightly with his right hand according to a video posted on social media.

But the seven-time major winner does not appear on the entry list for the Montreal Masters 1000 (August 2-13).

In the most optimistic scenario, he might return to competition just before the US Open, by participating in the Cincinnati Masters 1000 (August 13-23).

Sinner said on Sunday: 'I hope Carlos comes back, because tennis needs him.'