Shubman Gill backs Jannik Sinner to win 2026 Wimbledon final
London, July 11
India's Test team captain Shubman Gill has backed the Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner to win the ongoing Wimbledon Championships.
Notably, Gill was present at the Wimbledon semi-final on Friday, where he witnessed Alexander Zverev defeat Britain's Arthur Fery to reach his maiden men's singles final.
Speaking to JioStar, he said, "I'm backing Sinner to win Wimbledon. He is a fantastic player, and he carries himself really well both on and off the court."
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner produced a dominant display to defeat Novak Djokovic in straight sets on Friday, securing a place in the Wimbledon men's singles final for the second consecutive year. Sinner eased past the seven-time champion 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 at the All England Club.
Gill revealed that tennis legend Roger Federer is his favourite sportsperson, praising the tennis legend's elegance and grace. He said Federer's effortless style was a result of immense hard work, something he relates to through his own cricketing journey.
"Roger Federer is my favourite. Growing up, a lot of people said he made everything look effortless. But when you play a sport yourself, you realise how much work goes into making it look that way. People have called me effortless in cricket too, but I know the effort behind it. The elegance and grace Federer played with was special, and that is why I admire him," Gill said.
Gill said Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz's drop shot reminds him of his own trademark short-arm jab in cricket, describing both as quick, deceptive and effective.
"The drop shot that Alcaraz plays, it reminds me of the short-arm jab in cricket. I play that shot too, it's my trademark shot. Quick, deceptive, and very effective," he said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Always refreshing to see cross-sport admiration. Gill's comparison of Alcaraz's drop shot to the short-arm jab is spot on—both require that split-second precision. I just hope Sinner's medical issues don't flare up during the final. Kid has immense talent but needs to stay fit.
Gill watching Wimbledon and talking about tennis—love it when our cricketers show interest in other sports! Federer as his idol is a class choice. But I'm slightly surprised he didn't mention any Indian tennis players like Paes or Mirza. Still, great to see this kind of sportsmanship across disciplines. 👏
While Gill's support for Sinner is nice, I wish our cricketers would also talk about grassroots sports development in India. We have so much talent in tennis but no infrastructure. Anyway, Sinner vs Alcaraz final would be epic—that drop shot vs baseline power showdown! 🤞
Sinner has been phenomenal this season. The way he handled Djokovic shows he's ready for the big stage. Gill's comparison of Alcaraz's drop shot to his short-arm jab is actually quite insightful—both are about deception and timing. Can't wait for the final! 🎾🔥
What a crossover moment! Shubman Gill watching Wimbledon and making these parallels—love it. But honestly, Sinner needs to prove he can handle the pressure of a final. Last year's loss to Djokovic must still sting. Federer as his favorite is the correct answer though! 😄