The highly anticipated US Open final did not quite produce the epic spectacle some had envisioned, but Carlos Alcaraz hardly seemed to mind. On Sunday, the 22-year-old Spaniard overpowered Jannik Sinner 6–2, 3–6, 6–1, 6–4 to lift the US Open 2025 trophy, securing his sixth Grand Slam title in the process. With the win, Alcaraz also regained the world No. 1 ranking from his rival, capping off a fortnight of near-flawless tennis.
While this final may not enter the annals of legendary matches like his Roland-Garros triumph, it nonetheless cemented Alcaraz’s dominance over Sinner. Across four sets of intermittent brilliance, Alcaraz displayed the composure, power, and precision that have become his hallmarks, leaving the Italian struggling to find answers.
The story of the match
From the very first game, Alcaraz set the tone. Despite a brief delay of more than 45 minutes due to security concerns linked to the visit of former President Donald Trump to Flushing Meadows, there was no slow start from “Carlitos.” He immediately established control with a first-game break that lasted nearly ten minutes, signaling his intent to dominate from the outset.
Throughout the fortnight, Alcaraz had shown remarkable focus and determination, never wavering from his mission. Sunday was no different. His blend of aggressive baseline play, penetrating forehands, and explosive serve left Sinner consistently on the back foot.
Jannik Sinner, who had shown signs of vulnerability on serve in his semi-final against Félix Auger-Aliassime, struggled even more in the final. Broken five times, twice in the first set, twice in the third, and once in the fourth, Sinner won fewer than 50% of his first-serve points and only 48% on second serves. The equation quickly became insurmountable.
Yet Sinner offered a glimmer of hope in the second set. Early in the set, he earned a surprise hold and then converted a break to level the match at one set apiece. Fans briefly imagined a turning point, but Alcaraz’s response in the third set was decisive.
The third set was a one-way march. Alcaraz was too precise, too powerful, and too aggressive, while Sinner’s usually potent forehand seemed blunted. A break at 2–2 in the fourth set sealed Sinner’s fate, and although he saved two match points, Alcaraz closed out the contest with a final ace.
Whereas Roland-Garros had required grit to overcome adversity, this final showcased Alcaraz at his peak: commanding, relentless, and dominant from start to finish.
“I studied the Wimbledon final”
After the match, Alcaraz revealed the tactical secret behind his victory: “As I said, I spoke with my coaches, and we saw the Wimbledon final, and yeah, we spoke about what we would have done better in that match just in case I’m going to face him in another time. We watch it. We put everything, or we note everything, and we work on it. We just played that game. It doesn’t matter. At the beginning, we thought, okay, it doesn’t matter if you lose or he wins or I win. I just wanted to do the right things. If I’m doing the right things and he plays unbelievable match and he beat you, it’s okay, but at least you did the right things. I think today worked really well. I did everything they told me that I had to do, and it worked. It worked pretty well.”
Sinner also offered a very clinical explanation: “I felt like was a bit cleaner today. The things what I did well in London, he did better today. I felt like he was doing everything slightly better today, especially serving, both sides, both swings very clean…I give lots of credit to him, because he handled the situation better than I did. He raised his level when he had to.”
The rivalry continues
Alcaraz and Sinner have now split the four majors between them for the second consecutive year, but Alcaraz has extended his dominance, winning seven of their last eight encounters. The head-to-head advantage raises the stakes for Sinner as he seeks to close the gap in this burgeoning rivalry.
At just 22, Alcaraz is already a six-time Grand Slam champion and world No. 1. Questions inevitably swirl about how far he can go: 15, 20, or even 25 majors? His performance in New York offers a glimpse of the extraordinary career that may lie ahead. The Spanish star continues to redefine the limits of men’s tennis, and the world will be watching closely as he embarks on the next chapter of his journey.