Vanquished Spaniard says rivalry is a class apart

LONDON — Carlos Alcaraz said he could hold his head high despite being unseated from his Wimbledon throne by Jannik Sinner on Sunday, and the Spaniard praised their hot rivalry for being several notches higher than the others on the men's tour.

Alcaraz's bid for a third straight title at the All England Club ended with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 loss on Centre Court, leaving him to digest his first Grand Slam final defeat.

"It's always a bad feeling losing matches. It's a little bit worse when you lose in a final," said Alcaraz, who narrowly beat Sinner in a five-set humdinger at the French Open last month.