On a quiet evening in Manhattan last week, Carlos Alcaraz was leaving an Italian restaurant with his team when he spotted a familiar figure. Across the room, Jannik Sinner was dining alone. It was the second time during the US Open that the two players had coincidentally been at the same restaurant at the same time. Both shared a laugh as they greeted each other warmly.
Given how often they cross paths, one might think Sinner and Alcaraz would grow tired of seeing each other. "On the court, we like these matches—it shows we're playing well in the tournament. Off the court, we run into each other sometimes. I don’t know if we’re happy about that or not," Sinner joked.
Another showdown awaits them in New York. Their first US Open final together is also a historic moment—the first time in the Open era that two men have met in three major finals in a single season, consecutively. This marks their fifth straight final, following their Cincinnati clash last month, where Sinner withdrew due to illness while trailing 5-0. The stakes are high—if Alcaraz wins, he will overtake Sinner as world No. 1.
The gap between them and the rest of the field continues to widen. Though the Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry had already taken shape, with the pair sharing all four major titles in 2024, they did not face each other in a Grand Slam final until June.
After their Italian Open final—Sinner’s return from a three-month suspension—a rematch at the French Open seemed likely. At Wimbledon, another final between them felt almost certain. At the US Open, despite the challenges of a Grand Slam draw, this final appeared inevitable unless injury intervened. The past few weeks have felt unusual, with anticipation for this clash building from the very first round.
A month after Alcaraz staged an unforgettable comeback at Roland Garros, showcasing his brilliance under pressure, Sinner’s revenge at Wimbledon ended Alcaraz’s five-match winning streak and provided a blueprint for defeating his rival.
Sinner overwhelmed Alcaraz with aggressive, precise hitting from both wings. His strong serving and improved second-serve pace kept Alcaraz from taking control.
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