While the inaugural US Open final between rising stars Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner may not have reached the epic lengths and intensity of their French Open battle, nor matched the dramatic flair of their contest for the Wimbledon trophy, it held its own significance. Alcaraz’s 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 triumph over Sinner not only reaffirmed his dominance over the reigning champion, but it also crowned him as the new No. 1 in the ATP rankings, leaving tennis enthusiasts eagerly anticipating their next encounter.
Remarkably, they are the first duo in tennis history to face off in three straight Grand Slam finals within the same season.
“I’m seeing you more often than my own family,” Alcaraz playfully remarked during the trophy presentation, prompting a smile from Sinner. “It’s fantastic to be sharing the court, the locker rooms—everything.”
This 2-hour, 42-minute contest marked a pivotal moment for 22-year-old Alcaraz from Spain, giving him a 10-5 lead in their head-to-head, a 6-4 edge in Grand Slam titles, and a 2-1 advantage in US Open victories over 24-year-old Sinner from Italy.
The match faced a half-hour delay as thousands of fans were held up outside Arthur Ashe Stadium due to enhanced security measures prompted by President Donald Trump’s presence in a sponsor suite.
Perhaps that unforeseen wait affected Sinner. From the outset, under a closed roof due to earlier rain, he struggled to match Alcaraz’s pace.
This hard-court battle came on the heels of Alcaraz’s epic 5-and-a-half-hour win over Sinner after saving three match points on the clay at Roland-Garros in June, and Sinner’s victory over the two-time champion at Wimbledon in July.
Alcaraz and Sinner are currently head and shoulders above the competition in men’s tennis, showcasing extraordinary skills and unmatched gameplay.
They have dominated the Grand Slam scene, sharing the last eight titles—four each—while Novak Djokovic, the 24-time major champion who was eliminated by Alcaraz on Friday, took the other three.
Both players displayed flashes of brilliance on Sunday, highlighting why they are at the pinnacle of the sport, although moments of simultaneous peak performance were rare.
With double the number of winners—42 to Sinner’s 21—Alcaraz excelled in the first, third, and fourth sets, while Sinner found his rhythm in the second.
In a moment during his Wimbledon defeat, Alcaraz was caught on camera telling his team in Spanish, “From the back of the court, he’s much better than me.”
This perhaps fueled Alcaraz’s aggressive approach with his powerful forehand, jumping at every opportunity to dominate early in rallies.
Sinner, who had lost just one service game in his previous three matches at majors, dealt with a minor abdominal issue during the semifinals. Despite reassurances from his team, Alcaraz capitalized quickly, breaking Sinner’s serve right off the bat and five more times throughout the match.
Sinner adjusted his tactics in the second set, targeting Alcaraz’s backhand whenever possible.
After an hour and 20 minutes, the match stood at one set apiece as Alcaraz dropped a set for the first time all tournament, leaving Neale Fraser as the last man to win every set played at the event—in 1960.
As Sinner gained momentum, he celebrated key points with roars directed toward his guest box, which included Olympic skiing champion Lindsey Vonn.
However, Alcaraz seemed to have the majority of the crowd rallying behind him.
Fans erupted in applause as he delivered a dazzling volley at an impossible angle—an astounding shot that even had Alcaraz exclaiming “Wow!” with a beaming smile. Another overhead smash sent the ball to a corner, creating a mesmerizing effect.
Sinner, on the other hand, was less amused by such flair.
He slammed his racket against the ground in frustration after losing a point, shaking his head and exhaling deeply on several occasions.
Sinner simply doesn’t encounter this level of play from anyone else.
The statistics underline Alcaraz’s standing: Over the past two seasons, Sinner has a record of 1-7 against him, yet holds a remarkable 109-4 against all other players.
