It was a point that encapsulated Jannik Sinner's journey to a second Wimbledon ****** le.
In a tight final, Sinner had a chance to break opponent Alexander Zverev's serve. He fell to the ground mid-rally, picked himself back up and forced an error out of Zverev to clinch the first break of serve almost three hours into the match.
Sinner would not be denied from there.
The Italian world number one again dropped to the ground two games later - but this time in celebration after completing a four-set comeback victory to become only the 10th man in the Open era to retain the Wimbledon men's singles ****** le.
Once again triumphant at the only tennis tournament he would watch as a child - when the sport he would come to master still had to compete with skiing and football for his attention - the manner of his fifth Grand Slam success suggested normal service had resumed.
In a tight final, Sinner had a chance to break opponent Alexander Zverev's serve. He fell to the ground mid-rally, picked himself back up and forced an error out of Zverev to clinch the first break of serve almost three hours into the match.
Sinner would not be denied from there.
The Italian world number one again dropped to the ground two games later - but this time in celebration after completing a four-set comeback victory to become only the 10th man in the Open era to retain the Wimbledon men's singles ****** le.
Once again triumphant at the only tennis tournament he would watch as a child - when the sport he would come to master still had to compete with skiing and football for his attention - the manner of his fifth Grand Slam success suggested normal service had resumed.
18 days ago
