Carlos Alcaraz beats rival Jannik
Sinner at the U.S. Open for a 6th Slam title and the No. 1 ranking
[September 08, 2025]
By HOWARD FENDRICH
NEW YORK (AP) — So maybe the first U.S. Open final between young,
elite rivals Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner wasn’t as long,
riveting and dramatic as their matchup to decide the championship at
the French Open. Perhaps it wasn’t as seemingly meaningful and
plot-driven as their showdown for the Wimbledon trophy.
Still, what the No. 2-seeded Alcaraz’s 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory
over No. 1 Sinner on Sunday did do was significant. Alcaraz
reasserted his superiority over the defending champion, wrested away
the top spot in the ATP rankings and left tennis fans eager for
whenever their next clash will come.
They are the first two men in the sport’s history to face each other
in three consecutive Grand Slam finals within a single season.
“I’m seeing you more than my family,” Alcaraz joked during the
trophy ceremony, eliciting a grin from Sinner. “It’s great to share
the court, to share the locker rooms, everything.”
This 2-hour, 42-minute win gave Alcaraz, a 22-year-old from Spain,
leads over Sinner, a 24-year-old from Italy, of 10-5 in their
head-to-head series, 6-4 in total Grand Slam trophies, and 2-1 in
U.S. Open championships.
“I give lots of credit to him, because he handled the situation
better than I did,” said Sinner, who lamented that his own play was
too predictable. “He raised his level when he had to.”
The match’s start was delayed for about a half-hour while thousands
of fans were stuck outside Arthur Ashe Stadium going through extra
security because President Donald Trump sat in a sponsor’s suite.
Under a closed roof because of rain earlier in the day, Alcaraz was
stronger, faster, more well-equipped for the occasion.
“You were better than me,” Sinner said. “I tried my best today. I
couldn’t do more.”
Alcaraz finished with twice as many winners, 42-21, and his coach,
2003 French Open champ Juan Carlos Ferrero, called the performance
“perfect.” Alcaraz's view of that assessment? “He's right. I think I
played perfect. ... If I want to beat Jannik, I have to play
perfect.”
This hard-court matchup followed Alcaraz’s victory over Sinner
across 5 1/2 hours after erasing a trio of match points on the red
clay at Roland-Garros in June, and Sinner’s victory over two-time
reigning champ Alcaraz on the grass at the All England Club in July.
“The things ... I did well in London,” Sinner said, “he did better
today.”
Alcaraz took a week off after Wimbledon and then immediately got to
work, spending 15 days with Ferrero focusing on one thing and one
thing only: beating Sinner.
“I studied that match,” Alcaraz said.
During his defeat at Wimbledon, Alcaraz was caught by a camera
telling his team in Spanish: “From the back of the court, he’s much
better than me.”
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Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, left, and Jannik Sinner, of Italy, right,
embrace after their men's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis
championships, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth
Wenig)
Perhaps that’s why Alcaraz was so aggressive Sunday
with his sledgehammer of a forehand. Whenever the smallest opening
presented itself, Alcaraz barged through with that shot.
Sinner had dropped a total of one service game in his preceding
three matches, but Alcaraz broke right away Sunday and five times in
all.
These guys have combined to collect the past eight Slam trophies —
four each — and 10 of 13. Novak Djokovic, the 24-time major champ
eliminated by Alcaraz on Friday, took the other three.
Both Sinner, who had won his past 27 hard-court matches at majors,
and Alcaraz offered glimpses Sunday of why they are so good,
although it was rare that both were at a peak simultaneously.
An hour and 20 minutes in, it was a set apiece, after Alcaraz ceded
one for the first time all tournament.
As Sinner worked his way into things, he would celebrate points by
pumping a fist toward his guest box, which included Olympic champion
ski racer Lindsey Vonn.
Ah, but it was Alcaraz who appeared to have more ticket-buyers on
his side.
They regaled him with standing ovations. For one particularly
magical volley at a hard-to-believe angle struck just before the
ball hit the court — even Alcaraz himself liked that one, saying
“Wow!” and breaking into a wide grin. For one special overhead smash
to a corner with the tailing movement of a firefly.
And so on.
Sinner, needless to say, wasn’t as pleased by those sorts of
strokes.
He bounced his racket off the ground and caught it after one lost
point. He exhaled and shook his head after another.
Sinner simply doesn’t see that sort of stuff from anyone else.
And these numbers say as much about Alcaraz as they do Sinner: Over
the last two seasons, Sinner is 1-7 against Alcaraz — and 109-4
against everyone else.
That one win for Sinner over Alcaraz came at Wimbledon.
Less than two months later, Alcaraz reversed the result to cap what
he called “the best tournament so far that I have ever played.”
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