NEW YORK — In a highly anticipated and historic showdown, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are set to face each other in the final of the US Open for the third consecutive Grand Slam final this year. This unprecedented event in the Open Era solidifies their rivalry, dubbed “Sincaraz,” as the defining one of their generation. The winner will not only claim the final Grand Slam title of the season but will also take the coveted World No. 1 ranking.
The final at Arthur Ashe Stadium will be a rematch of their epic encounters at this year’s French Open and Wimbledon. Alcaraz came out on top at Roland Garros, while Sinner exacted revenge at Wimbledon, becoming the first Italian man to win the singles crown at the All England Club. Their rivalry extends beyond this year, with Alcaraz currently holding a 9-5 lead in their overall head-to-head record. However, their Grand Slam rivalry is close, with Alcaraz leading 3-2. Their last meeting at the US Open, a five-hour, five-set quarterfinal thriller in 2022, is widely regarded as the match that ignited their legendary rivalry.
Both players enter the final in peak form. Defending champion Sinner has been on a dominant run, with a 27-match winning streak on hard courts. He has dropped only two sets en route to the final, with both coming against Canadian opponents, Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semi-final and Denis Shapovalov in an earlier round. His performance in the semifinal, where he overcame a brief injury scare to defeat Auger-Aliassime, demonstrated his resilience. Alcaraz, meanwhile, has been flawless, not dropping a single set on his way to the final. The Spaniard’s powerful and consistent play has seen him break his opponents’ serve just twice in six matches.
The magnitude of the final is further elevated by the presence of US President Donald Trump, who is expected to attend the match. This will be Trump’s first appearance at the stadium in a decade and his latest at a major sporting event. The USTA has stated it has a standard policy of instructing broadcasters not to showcase any off-court disruptions.
The winner of Sunday’s final will also secure the No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings. Sinner, who has held the top spot for 65 consecutive weeks, will be looking to defend his US Open title, a feat last achieved by Roger Federer in 2008. Alcaraz, aiming for his sixth Grand Slam title, seeks to reclaim the top ranking he held for a significant period.
When asked about facing Alcaraz once again in a high-stakes match, Sinner expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “I love these challenges. I love to put myself in these positions. He’s someone who pushed me to the limit, which is great because then you have the best feedback you can have as a player.”