Carlos Alcaraz powered past Italian rival, Jannik Sinner to reclaim the US Open title in New York, sealing a four-set victory to overthrow Sinner as Tennis World No. 1.
The 22-year-old Spaniard triumphed 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in a match that was delayed for half an hour due to extra security measures prompted by the attendance of US President Donald Trump, who returned to Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2015.
Alcaraz becomes the second youngest man in history behind Bjorn Borg win six Grand Slam titles.
Carlos Alcaraz Back on Top
Alcaraz’s superior serving, which was a weakness in his Wimbledon defeat to Sinner two months ago proved decisive.
Delivering a 131mph ace to seal victory, he reclaimed the title he first won in 2022 and wrestled back the world number one ranking from Sinner, who had held the top spot for 65 weeks.
“This is the best tournament I’ve played from the first round to the end,” Alcaraz said afterwards, crediting his maturity and laser focus for the win.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner: How the Match Unfolded
First set (6-2): Alcaraz’s explosive returns rattled Sinner, who struggled to gain a foothold. The Spaniard’s pinpoint serving ensured he lost just three points on serve.
Second set (3-6): A familiar dip from Alcaraz allowed Sinner back into the contest. The Italian raised his intensity, hitting with ferocious depth and breaking in the fourth game to level.
Third set (6-1): The Spaniard responded vehemently, rediscovering his serve and artistry at the net. He raced to a double break, leaving Sinner with no answers.
Fourth set (6-4): Errors crept into Sinner’s game, compounded by an abdominal issue from his semi-final. Alcaraz capitalized, breaking serve for the fifth time and sealing victory with a thunderous ace.
Alcaraz vs Sinner: The Rivalry That Defines Tennis
This was the pair’s fifth final of the season and their third Grand Slam showdown of 2025. Sinner had taken the Australian Open and Wimbledon, while Alcaraz prevailed at the French Open and now the US Open.
“I see you more than my family,” Alcaraz joked as he addressed Sinner during his on-court speech. “It’s great to share the court with you.”
Alcaraz also admitted the rivalry fuels his constant growth:
“I give 100% every day to improve, sitting down with the team to see what I can do better to beat Jannik and win these kind of trophies.”
“Having this rivalry means a lot, it is super special for me, for him and for the people who enjoy it every single time we play.”
Jannik Sinner, meanwhile, admitted he was not at his best on the day but vowed to evolve:
“I tried my best today, I couldn’t do more. I didn’t make one serve-volley, didn’t use a lot of drop shots, and then you arrive to a point where you play Carlos and have to go out of the comfort zone.”
“I’m going to aim to, even if I lose some matches from now on, try to be a bit more unpredictable. I think that’s what I have to do to become a better player.”
The Numbers Behind Alcaraz’s Win
Alcaraz’s serving statistics underlined his dominance at Flushing Meadows:
97% of service games won
84% of first serve points won
Faced just 10 break points in the tournament
Conceded only 3 breaks of serve en route to the title
His ability to combine power, spin, slice, and net play kept Sinner off balance throughout.
What Next for Sinner and the ATP Tour?
Jannik Sinner has now reached all four Grand Slam finals in 2025, but his reign as world No.1 has ended. He admits he must diversify his tactics if he is to overcome Alcaraz consistently.
Beyond Alcaraz and Sinner, the gap to the rest of the men’s field remains wide. Novak Djokovic, now 38, is still their closest challenger.
Others, such as Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Jack Draper, and Ben Shelton, have yet to prove they can topple the duo in five-set battles.
Sabalenka Retains Women’s Title
In the women’s US Open final, Aryna Sabalenka defended her US Open crown by beating American Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6, (7-3).
The Belarusian overcame nerves to secure her fourth Grand Slam title.
“After two finals where I completely lost control of my emotions, I didn’t want to let that happen again,” Sabalenka said.
“There were some moments where I was close to letting it go, but I kept calm.”
Anisimova, contesting her second major final, admitted:
“It’s been a great summer. Losing two finals in a row is great but also super hard. I didn’t fight hard enough for my dreams today.”
Sabalenka became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to retain the US Open title.
