Wimbledon, the third of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, concluded on Sunday with the victory of world number one Italian Jannik Sinner over 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 and the fifth of his career, his second consecutive at Wimbledon.

But Zverev this time showed real resistance at the start of the match, and the 29-year-old, who won his first Grand Slam title last month at Roland Garros, came close to taking 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 in a Grand Slam... and if he continues to produce this level and this more aggressive style than before, Zverev will cause big problems for his rivals.'

In his early days, the German lived in the shadow of the dominance 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 reshape a new 'Big Three' at the top of world tennis, according to what he said on Sunday in London.

Zverev said: 'I have improved this year, and I feel I have 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 his advancing age and reaching his 39th year, Djokovic's chances of a record 25th major title are diminishing, somewhat removing him from the circle of competition with Sinner and Alcaraz, who missed the last two majors due to a wrist injury, opening the way for Zverev.

He acknowledged 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 age imposes on him, saying: 'I lost to a better player. I was one or two levels below him.'

Former world No. 3 Croatian Ivan Ljubicic considered that 'Djokovic is still a great player, but it seems to me that his body' can no longer withstand 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 circle of competition in favor of Zverev, although the German refused to rush into declaring the end of the career of the Belgrade-born player, who is still capable of competing.

After describing Sinner as 'the best player in the world,' Zverev said: 'I think there are two players, and maybe three, 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 main question remains: Will Alcaraz be ready to return to the courts?

The Spaniard, who started the year as world No. 1 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 winner of seven major titles does not appear on the list of participants in the Montreal Masters 1000 (August 2-13).

In the most optimistic scenario, he could return to competition shortly before the start of 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.'