Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner added another memorable chapter to their growing rivalry as the Spaniard clinched the 2025 US Open men’s singles title with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory. The win at Arthur Ashe Stadium marked Alcaraz’s second US Open triumph, following his 2022 breakthrough, and his sixth Grand Slam overall. At just 22, he becomes the second youngest man after Bjorn Borg to achieve this milestone.
The outcome also maintains their head-to-head encounters tightly contested in 2025, as Alcaraz conquered the French Open and US Open, while Sinner won the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
Trump’s Presence Postpones Final Kickoff
In a rare off-court twist, the men’s final was delayed by half an hour due to heightened security measures around US President Donald Trump, who returned to Flushing Meadows for the first time in a decade. Fans were left waiting in long queues at newly installed airport-style scanners.
Both Sinner and Alcaraz, used to weather-induced postponements in the sport, remained composed in the locker room Alcaraz stretching on a gym mat, whereas Sinner maintained his composure by kicking a mini-football.
Alcaraz’s Better Serving Proves to be the Deciding Factor
The moment play started, Alcaraz asserted his dominance right from the beginning. His back-of-the-court fireworks and unfaulty serves broken just twice throughout the tournament proved to be instrumental in dominating the first set. Sinner, traditionally a pressure-resilient player, could not arrest the Spaniard’s runaway start.
The Italian, however, dug deep for resilience in the second set. Increasing the tempo of his groundstrokes and enjoying better rhythm on returns, Sinner broke in the fourth game to tie the match. The match was poised for another five-set thriller, as their French Open and Wimbledon contests this year were.
But Alcaraz responded emphatically. Mixing power with variety, he broke Sinner’s serve early in the third set and raced to a commanding double-break lead. His net play and shot-making flair lit up Arthur Ashe, with the crowd fully engaged in the spectacle.
Sinner, who had been displaying signs of abdominal pain in his semi-final, wrestled with consistency. Uncharacteristic mistakes seeped into his game, and by the fourth set, Alcaraz’s unrelenting pressure was too much to handle. Securing the title with a 131mph ace, the Spaniard danced along the baseline with his trademark golf swing before embracing his opponent at the net.
Rankings Shift as Rivalry Intensifies
The victory not only gives Alcaraz the US Open trophy but also restores him as world number one, ending Sinner’s 65-week reign at the top. The Italian admitted he had no answers on the day: “I tried my best today—I couldn’t do more.”
For Alcaraz, this win reinforces his growing legacy. With both men splitting the four majors in 2025, their rivalry is beginning to define an era in men’s tennis, reminiscent of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. As the season heads into its final stretch, the sport has found two young giants pushing each other to unprecedented heights.
