Jimmy Connors heard what Carlos Alcaraz shouted during the Wimbledon final which he never would have admitted
During the Wimbledon 2025 final on July 13, where Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, Alcaraz made a candid admission that caught the attention of tennis legend Jimmy Connors. As the match slipped away, with Sinner asserting dominance from the baseline, Alcaraz turned to his coaching box and shouted in Italian, “Da fondo campo lui è molto più bravo di me!”—translating to “From the baseline, he’s much better than me!” This moment of vulnerability came after Alcaraz lost the first set but couldn’t sustain his momentum against Sinner’s relentless play.
Connors, an eight-time Grand Slam champion and two-time Wimbledon winner, addressed this on his *Advantage Connors Podcast*, expressing surprise at Alcaraz’s openness. He remarked, “That is a tough thing to admit. I don’t know if I would ever have admitted that. No matter what you have to get in there, mix up your game a bit, or try and do something a bit different.” Connors, known for his fierce competitiveness, suggested he would have avoided such an admission, preferring to adapt mid-match rather than concede superiority, even under pressure. His philosophy leaned toward finding alternative strategies—perhaps relying on his renowned return game or mental toughness—rather than vocalizing defeat.
This outburst highlighted Alcaraz’s frustration, especially after his epic French Open comeback against Sinner, and marked his first Grand Slam final loss after a perfect 5-0 record. Connors speculated on its impact, wondering, “If he is admitting that in the finals of Wimbledon, what does that do for Sinner’s confidence for what is upcoming?” The comment underscored a potential psychological edge for Sinner on faster surfaces like the upcoming US Open. While Alcaraz later praised Sinner’s performance, saying, “Thank you for the player you are,” his mid-match shout revealed a rare crack in his usual confidence, a moment Connors found telling yet uncharacteristic of his own approach to high-stakes battles.
