Carlos Alcaraz powered past Novak Djokovic in straight sets on Friday to book his place in the US Open final, where he will face world number one and defending champion Jannik Sinner in what promises to be another classic showdown.
The Spanish second seed delivered a commanding performance to end Djokovic’s quest for a record 25th Grand Slam crown, winning 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 in two hours and 23 minutes.
Soon after, Sinner followed his rival into Sunday’s final by overcoming Canadian 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in four sets, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The result sets the stage for a third consecutive Grand Slam final this year between Alcaraz and Sinner, with US President Donald Trump confirmed to be among the 23,000 spectators expected at Flushing Meadows to witness the next chapter of the “Sincaraz” rivalry.
Their previous encounters have been nothing short of epic. Alcaraz triumphed in a five-hour marathon at the French Open in June before Sinner took revenge by beating him in the Wimbledon final a month later. Alcaraz’s win against Djokovic, however, showed he is ready to challenge for another major and reclaim the top ranking.
‘Beating Novak Is Special’
The 22-year-old Spaniard, already a five-time Grand Slam champion, has yet to drop a set on his way to the final but says he is still focused on improvement.
“Beating Novak is always special. But I don’t feel like I’ve won anything more than a Grand Slam semi-final,” Alcaraz remarked. “It was an important match, but it was just a ticket to the final.”
Djokovic, 38, admitted after the defeat that while he is satisfied with his level of play, he can no longer physically compete with younger rivals like Alcaraz and Sinner.
“I’m happy with my level of tennis, but you know, it’s just the physicality of it,” Djokovic said. “That’s something I, unfortunately at this point in time in my career, can’t control.”
Sinner, meanwhile, initially looked set for a straightforward win against Auger-Aliassime after taking the first set with ease. The Canadian responded in the second, but the Italian reasserted control to seal his place in the final.
‘An Amazing Season’
The 23-year-old Italian, who won the Australian Open in January, made history by becoming only the fourth man to reach all four Grand Slam finals in a single season, joining Rod Laver, Roger Federer, and Djokovic in that exclusive group.
“It’s been an amazing season. The Grand Slams are the most important tournaments we have throughout the year,” Sinner said.
Sunday’s match will also be a nod to their unforgettable 2022 US Open quarter-final, a five-set thriller that ended at 2:50 a.m.—the latest finish in tournament history.
“Sunday is a very special day and an amazing final again. I feel like our rivalry started here playing an amazing match,” Sinner reflected. “We are two different players now, with different confidence too. Let’s see what’s coming. We’ve played each other a lot; we know each other very well.”
Adding to the spectacle, President Trump will be in attendance, marking another high-profile appearance at a sporting event this year following his presence at the Super Bowl and the FIFA Club World Cup final.
“For me, playing in front of him… I will try not to think about it,” Alcaraz said. “I don’t want myself to be nervous because of it, but I think, attending the tennis match, it’s great for tennis to have the president at the final.”
Meanwhile, the women’s singles final will be contested on Saturday between world number two Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champion, and American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova. In Friday’s women’s doubles final, Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe lifted their second US Open title in three years after defeating Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova 6-4, 6-4.
What You Should Know
Carlos Alcaraz’s straight-set win over Novak Djokovic has set up a thrilling US Open final against Jannik Sinner, marking their third consecutive Grand Slam clash this year.
Both players are fighting for the number one ranking, with Trump’s attendance adding a political spotlight to the tennis showdown.
Sinner’s achievement of reaching all four Slam finals in 2024 underscores his remarkable rise, while Djokovic admits the physical demands of the sport are catching up with him.
