Tennis legend Jimmy Connors, an eight-time Grand Slam champion and two-time Wimbledon winner, delivered a scathing assessment of Carlos Alcaraz’s mentality during his loss to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon 2025 final. Speaking on his *Advantage Connors* podcast, Connors took issue with Alcaraz’s mid-match admission to his team that Sinner was playing “much better” from the baseline, branding it a sign of weakness and a lack of adaptability. “That is a tough thing to admit. I don’t know if I would ever have admitted that,” Connors said, arguing that Alcaraz “gave up too easily” by failing to shift tactics when his game faltered.
Connors, known for his relentless competitiveness, criticized Alcaraz’s attitude as “not acceptable,” emphasizing that elite players must have a “Plan B” to counter dominant opponents. “If your game number one is not winning, you have to figure something else out,” he stated, suggesting Alcaraz could have mixed up his play with serve-and-volley or net approaches to disrupt Sinner’s rhythm. Sinner, the world No. 1, outplayed Alcaraz in a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory, ending the Spaniard’s 20-match Wimbledon win streak and claiming his first Wimbledon title.
The 72-year-old American, who played six Wimbledon finals, stressed the importance of resilience, saying, “If you want to beat me, you’ll have to dig really deep. I’ll try to play three different matches.” Connors’ remarks were particularly pointed given his prior praise for Alcaraz, whose five Grand Slam titles at 22 mirror the early brilliance of Connors’ own career. He expressed concern about the psychological impact of Alcaraz’s admission, noting, “If he’s admitting that in the finals of Wimbledon, what does that do for Sinner’s confidence?”
Alcaraz’s frustration was evident as he struggled with a 53% first-serve percentage and won only 51% of second-serve points, unable to counter Sinner’s aggressive baseline play. Connors, while acknowledging Sinner’s dominance, believes Alcaraz’s lack of adaptability cost him, a critique that resonates as the Spaniard prepares for the hard-court season, starting with the Canadian Open. Despite the loss, Alcaraz remains a formidable force, with fans on X defending his candor as a sign of maturity, though Connors’ brutal shot underscores the high expectations for the young star in the “Sincaraz” rivalry.
