A brilliant Carlos Alcaraz ended the reign of Jannik Sinner on Sunday to capture the U.S. Open title again and tighten his grip on the era-defining rivalry between the torch-bearers of the men’s game.
In a perfect echo of the triumph that first propelled him to world number one in 2022, Alcaraz’s 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-4 win took him back to the summit of the rankings, as the 22-year-old Spaniard displaced Sinner and increased his Grand Slam trophy haul to six.
It made him the second youngest man in the professional era that began in 1968 to win six majors, after Bjorn Borg, and also snapped Sinner’s staggering 27-match winning run at hardcourt majors to dent the Italian’s sparkling season.
Alcaraz, who turned heads with his surprise buzz cut at the beginning of the slam and delighted fans with his golf swing celebrations, will depart as the toast of New York on a 13-match winning run with seven titles and six defeats in 2025.
“I want to start with Jannik, it’s unbelievable what you’re doing the whole season, great level during every tournament that you’re playing ... I’m seeing you more than my family,” said Alcaraz, who took his win-loss record with Sinner to 10-5.
“It’s great to share a court, to share the locker room and to share everything with you.
“I’m just really proud about the people I have around me. Every achievement that I’m having is because of you, thanks to you ... this one is yours.”
Sunshine Tennis
As grey clouds hovered over the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium, Alcaraz continued to deliver the sunshine tennis that has lit up Flushing Meadows over the last fortnight, consolidating an early break by faking a drop to hit a winner that wrong-footed Sinner.
He beamed after pulling off an outrageous half-volley at the net and wrapped up the opening set shortly afterwards, finishing it off with a big serve that Sinner crashed into the net as the Italian’s metronomic precision briefly deserted him.
With U.S. President Donald Trump watching from a luxury box in the stands and adding another layer of spectacle to the third straight Grand Slam final between the duo this year, Sinner hit back to take the next set after saving an early break point.
After dropping his first set of the Grand Slam, Alcaraz turned up the power and bludgeoned his way to a 5-0 advantage in the third set before Sinner got on the board, and the Spaniard closed it out with a monster serve.
Sinner conjured up two breathtaking volleys in the opening game of the fourth set to roaring applause and held serve after being pushed to the limit again, but he cracked under pressure and handed the crucial break to Alcaraz in the fifth game.
Resembling a flamingo in full flight in his bright pink vest, Alcaraz soared ahead to secure the victory on his third match point and celebrated by raising his fists before a warm embrace with his rival and wild celebrations with his team.
A dejected Sinner was left to contemplate another Grand Slam final loss to Alcaraz this season after coming up short in their French Open epic in June, although he beat the Spaniard to take his Wimbledon crown the following month.
“A lot of big stages and matches we’ve played this season,” Sinner, who began the Grand Slam season winning the Australian Open title in January before serving a short doping ban, said after quickly composing himself.
“I tried my best today, I couldn’t do more.”
Source: Reuters
--Agencies
