Carlos Alcaraz triumphed over Jannik Sinner in four sets on Sunday to win the US Open, reaffirming his dominance in one of tennis’s defining rivalries. The 22-year-old Spaniard secured a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory, capturing his second US Open title and sixth Grand Slam overall. This win avenged his only major final loss to Sinner at Wimbledon in July.
“It’s a great feeling. I’m working really hard just to lift this trophy. It’s my second one but it’s still a dream come true,” Alcaraz said.
With this victory, Alcaraz will reclaim the world number one ranking from Sinner, returning to the top spot on Monday for the first time since September 2023. He ended Sinner’s 27-match winning streak at hard-court Grand Slams. “It was one of the first goals that I had, to recover the number one (ranking),” Alcaraz added. He also defeated Sinner in an epic French Open final in June and has now won seven of their last eight meetings, holding a 10-5 overall head-to-head advantage.
Sinner acknowledged Alcaraz’s superior play, saying, “I tried my best today. I couldn’t do more. He raised his level when he had to… He played better than me today.”
The rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner has defined the last eight Grand Slams, with each player winning four titles, surpassing even Novak Djokovic’s dominance. Despite Sinner’s impressive 109-4 record against other players over the past two seasons, Alcaraz has consistently been his toughest opponent.
Sinner reflected on his defeat, stating, “It’s going to be on me if I want to make changes or not. That’s what I have to do, trying to become a better tennis player.”
Sinner’s loss extends the longest drought without a successful men’s title defense at the US Open in the Open era. No man has retained the US Open crown since Roger Federer’s five consecutive wins from 2004 to 2008.
The final was delayed by 30 minutes due to heightened security measures following the attendance of former US President Donald Trump, who received a mixed reception from the crowd. The event also drew celebrities such as Bruce Springsteen, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Douglas, and Stephen Curry.
Despite the delay, Alcaraz started strong, breaking Sinner’s serve twice in the first set to take a 6-2 lead. Sinner fought back in the second set, leveling the match at one set apiece. However, Alcaraz dominated the third set with early breaks and maintained control in the fourth, securing the championship.
With this win, Alcaraz became only the fourth man to win multiple majors on hard courts, grass, and clay, solidifying his status as a versatile and formidable champion.