Carlos Alcaraz defeated defending champion Jannik Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 on Sunday to win the US Open men’s singles title at the Arthur Ashe stadium in New York on Sunday.
Sinner’s 65-week reign at the top of the tennis world rankings came to an end as the Spaniard expanded his win-loss record over the Italian to 10-5, making it seven wins in their previous seven meetings, in a dominant performance that earned him his sixth Grand Slam title.
In June, Alcaraz had made a stunning comeback against Sinner, saving three match points to win the French Open again. A month later, the world number one reacted by winning the Wimbledon title from his major adversary. The 22-year-old Spaniard won his second title at Flushing Meadows after two hours and forty-two minutes in the final on Sunday. His first victory was in 2022, and the drama in Paris was unmatched.
Alcaraz was all praise for Sinner when he spoke on the court following the final.
“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,” he said.
“It’s great to share a court, to share the locker room, to share everything with you. I’m just really proud about the people I have around. Every achievement I’m having is because of you, thanks to you … this one is yours.”
Sinner said he “tried my best, but couldn’t do more”.
Sinner scored a backhand in an eight-minute first game to give Alcaraz the early advantage in the match between the two top men’s tour players competing in their third consecutive Grand Slam final.
The Spaniard served out the set 6-2 after making it two breaks in the seventh. Early in the second set, Sinner dictated terms. In the fourth game, Alcaraz went for broke and ran up to the net, and he broke to love with a forehand pass.
Alcaraz lost his opening set of the US Open when Games went on service and the Italian finished the set 6-3 with his usual efficiency. But as anticipated, Sinner missed a huge forehand attempt in the second game, and the Spaniard rallied to take the early break in the final set.
After the Italian made a few careless mistakes, he broke again in the fourth to take a 4-0 lead. Alcaraz led 5-0 and won the set for the ninth time in a row. Before the second seed ended the set (6-1), striking 11 winners against only two unforced errors and limiting Sinner to just one victory, all Sinner could do was hold in the next.
Having served the first four games before Alcaraz broke in the fifth after Sinner double-failed, the players were cautious in the fourth set.
Sinner battled back to produce two winners to keep the match going despite Alcaraz having two championship points. The Spaniard then sent down an ace for the tenth time in the match to secure victory after making an overpowering net volley to set up match-point number three. For the record, throughout the entire match, Sinner only had break-point.
