Alcaraz and Sinner go back-to-back-to-back-to-back on Major titles this year – US Open Final

The world No.1 and 2 match each other in major title wins for the second year running. What we learnt from the US Open final.

Everything came down to this matchup. Would the Italian powerhouse take home his third major of the year, or would the Spanish bull take home his second? It was Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s fifth meeting of the season, all of which had occurred in finals. Many believed after Sinner’s performance at Wimbledon that he would be too much to handle on his preferred surface of play. The defending champion had all the odds in his favour. But it wasn’t meant to be.

Coming into this final, Sinner was on a 27-match unbeaten run at majors on hardcourt surfaces and had only dropped 2 sets leading up to the final. Alcaraz, on the other hand, hadn’t won a US Open title since 2022 and was showing his desire to win, not dropping a single set on his way to facing Sinner.

The match began at a blistering pace, as all of these meetings do, with Alcaraz completely toying with Sinner, bashing the Italian’s forehand relentlessly with constant cross-court shots. Alcaraz recorded eleven winners to Sinner's two, winning 83% of his points on his first serve, inevitably finishing the first set in 38 minutes. However, Sinner was never going to go down easily.

The Italian bounced back quickly, firing a 6-3 win in the second set, setting us up for another blockbuster of a match, yet a problem still remained for Sinner. Alcaraz, although losing the second set, recorded 90% of his points on his first serve. Therefore, in order to win, Alcaraz’s first serve had to be taken down and quickly. Unfortunately, he wasn’t quick enough.

Alcaraz’s yet again went on to win 91% of his points on his first serve in the third set, recording five aces and, once again, nine more winners than Sinner was able to achieve. It was truly a spectacle to behold. Alcaraz was completely unstoppable, and in the end, there was nothing Sinner could do. The match ended 6-2/3-6/6-1/6-4 in favour of Alcaraz, which secured his place back at the World No. 1 spot for next season. With all the talk of Alcaraz's hair at this years tournament, it was Sinner who was left buzzed and cut by the end.

It would be wrong however to take anything away from Sinner after such an incredible season, winning two out of the four majors. It was sadly too much for him in his attempt to win back-to-back US Open titles.

Alcaraz stunned the tennis world once more, and who knows what’s next for him? He has stated that the ‘best is yet to come’, and if what we have seen so far isn’t even the peak of his powers, who knows if anyone other than Sinner will be able to stop him.

Right now, it's gods amongst men when comparing Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz to the rest of the pack.