Carlos Alcaraz secured another major triumph on Sunday, overcoming Jannik Sinner in four sets to clinch the US Open title in New York.
The 22-year-old Spaniard triumphed 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, lifting his second US Open trophy and adding a sixth Grand Slam championship to his growing collection. The victory also avenged his defeat to Sinner in the Wimbledon final earlier this year.
Alcaraz’s win means he will once again take over as world number one, replacing Sinner at the top of the rankings. This return marks his first time reclaiming the position since September 2023. In the process, he ended Sinner’s remarkable 27-match unbeaten run at hard-court Grand Slams. Speaking after the match, Sinner admitted, “I tried my best today. I couldn’t do more,” reflecting on another setback against Alcaraz, who had also bested him in a thrilling French Open final in June.
The Italian’s loss continues the longest stretch in the Open era without a successful men’s title defense at any of the four Grand Slam events. No player has retained the US Open title since Roger Federer’s streak of five consecutive victories between 2004 and 2008.
The anticipation for this latest showdown between the sport’s top two players was intensified by the attendance of President Donald Trump. The American leader, who has recently been making appearances at major sporting events including February’s Super Bowl and July’s FIFA Club World Cup final, entered Arthur Ashe Stadium before the playing of the national anthem. His arrival was met with a combination of loud boos and scattered cheers. Later in the evening, when the stadium screens again showed Trump, the crowd responded with even stronger jeers.
A number of celebrities also turned out for the final, among them Bruce Springsteen, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Douglas, and NBA superstar Stephen Curry. The start of the match was delayed by half an hour due to the heightened security measures surrounding Trump’s visit, leaving the stadium only partially filled when play began.
Once the action was underway, Alcaraz wasted no time asserting control. He broke Sinner in the opening game and soon went up 5-2, closing out the set with confidence. However, Sinner regrouped in the second set, breaking Alcaraz’s rhythm and moving ahead 3-1 before leveling the match at one set all.
The Spaniard responded emphatically in the third, producing a series of powerful shots, including a standout baseline smash, to seize momentum once again. He raced to a 6-1 set win and carried his form into the fourth. Although Sinner resisted with grit, saving two early break points, Alcaraz broke through in the fifth game. From there, he never faltered, sealing the win and cementing his place among the sport’s most versatile champions. He now joins an elite group of men who have captured multiple Grand Slam titles on hard court, grass, and clay.
This year’s US Open men’s champions list reflects the game’s changing landscape: Carlos Alcaraz (2025), Jannik Sinner (2024), Novak Djokovic (2023), Carlos Alcaraz (2022), Daniil Medvedev (2021), Dominic Thiem (2020), Rafael Nadal (2019), Novak Djokovic (2018), Rafael Nadal (2017), and Stan Wawrinka (2016).
On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka successfully defended her US Open crown on Saturday, defeating Amanda Anisimova in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3). For Sabalenka, this victory was particularly sweet, as she had suffered painful defeats in the finals of both the Australian and French Opens earlier in the year. Her win brought her tally of Grand Slam titles to four and made her the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to retain the US Open championship.
Sabalenka’s commanding performance against Anisimova underscored her dominance, especially against an opponent who had previously won six of their nine encounters. “It’s crazy, all those tough lessons were worth it for this one. I’m speechless right now,” Sabalenka said afterward. Anisimova, however, admitted that she struggled under the arena’s closed roof, saying the lighting made it difficult for her to serve effectively. “There was no way of adjusting, because I could not see the ball when I was serving, and that was a huge shock to my system,” she explained.
Both finals showcased the contrasting fortunes of established stars and rising challengers, reinforcing the US Open’s reputation for drama, resilience, and history-making performances.
What You Should Know
Carlos Alcaraz’s victory at the 2025 US Open not only restored him as world number one but also further established his reputation as one of tennis’s most versatile champions.
His triumph came amid a politically charged backdrop with President Donald Trump’s attendance, which added to the spectacle.
Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka’s successful title defense on the women’s side marked a historic achievement, making her the first since Serena Williams to repeat as US Open champion. Both matches highlighted the high stakes and shifting narratives at the top of world tennis.
