NEW YORK (BN24) — Carlos Alcaraz reaffirmed his dominance over Jannik Sinner on Sunday night with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory in the U.S. Open men’s singles final, securing his second title at Flushing Meadows and sixth Grand Slam overall. The win marked the third consecutive major final contested between the two rising stars, cementing a rivalry that has reshaped men’s tennis.
The match at Arthur Ashe Stadium was played under heightened attention, with President Donald Trump attending as the first sitting U.S. president to appear at the tournament since Bill Clinton in 2000. Trump drew a mix of cheers and boos when acknowledged by fans, and his presence contributed to extra security measures that delayed the start of play by about 30 minutes.
Alcaraz, 22, entered the final intent on avenging his July loss to Sinner at Wimbledon. From the outset, he displayed superior consistency and shot-making, dominating with his forehand and breaking Sinner’s serve five times. The victory gave Alcaraz a 10-5 career edge in their head-to-head meetings, a 6-4 advantage in Grand Slam titles, and a 2-1 lead in U.S. Open championships. It also returned him to the world No. 1 ranking, dethroning Sinner, 24, of Italy.
“This win means everything,” Alcaraz said. “Every time I play Jannik, I need to give my best. He pushes me like no one else.”
The rivalry has become historic. Sunday’s clash marked the first time in men’s tennis that the same two players met in three consecutive Slam finals within a single season. The streak began with Alcaraz’s dramatic five-set victory at the French Open, followed by Sinner’s Wimbledon triumph, and concluded with Alcaraz’s hard-court win in New York. Together, the pair have claimed 10 of the last 13 Grand Slam titles, with Novak Djokovic accounting for the other three.
Sinner, who entered with a 27-match unbeaten streak on hard courts at majors, showed flashes of brilliance in the second set but struggled to match Alcaraz’s power and precision across four sets. Alcaraz finished with 42 winners to Sinner’s 21, overwhelming the defending champion during key moments.
“Carlos was just better tonight,” Sinner said. “He deserved this win. I will keep working and I know I will come back stronger.”
The numbers underline the rivalry’s imbalance in recent years: since the start of 2023, Sinner is 1-7 against Alcaraz and 109-4 against everyone else. Meanwhile, Alcaraz has won 37 of his last 38 matches since May, with his only loss coming to Sinner at Wimbledon.
Sinner attempted tactical adjustments in the final, targeting Alcaraz’s backhand to blunt the Spaniard’s ferocious forehand. The strategy worked briefly in the second set, when Alcaraz’s errors piled up, but it was not enough to halt the Spaniard’s relentless aggression.
The win capped a remarkable season for Alcaraz, who now owns a tour-leading seven titles in 2025 alongside a 61-6 match record. At just 22, he continues to carve a legacy as the defining player of his generation.
Fans in New York largely sided with Alcaraz, cheering his every winner under the closed roof on a rainy evening. For Sinner, it marked his second loss to Alcaraz in a Slam final this year, underscoring the Spaniard’s growing edge in their rivalry.
With two U.S. Open titles now to his name and the world No. 1 ranking secured, Alcaraz leaves New York not just as a champion but as the undisputed leader of men’s tennis.
