U.S. Open adds fuel to Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry

Brandon Esek, Staff Writer • September 8, 2025

REUTERS/via SNO Sites/Geoff Burke

Sep 7, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) celebrates after his match against Jannik Sinner (ITA) (not pictured) in the men’s singles final of the 2025 US Open tennis championships at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner on Sunday in New York City to become the 2025 US Open champion. But their rivalry goes much deeper than that.

Just this year, the two have met in a final a total of five times. In four out of the five meetings, Alcaraz took home the victory, but that doesn’t show how closely matched they two are.

They first met this year in the Italian Open final, with Alcaraz besting Sinner 7-6, 6-1 on May 18 in front of Sinner’s home country fans. The win for Alcaraz ended Sinner’s 26-match win streak, and it gave Alcaraz his first Italian Open title.

They next met at the French Open final on June 8, and this match was one to remember.

The five-hour, 29-minute final match was the longest in French Open history, requiring five sets to complete. The scores were 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, and 7-6, with Alcaraz winning his fifth career Grand Slam after a hard-fought battle with Sinner.

Their next meeting, the Wimbledon final on July 13, was also memorable.

Playing on Wimbledon’s signature grass court surface, Sinner won 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, and 6-4 to claim his first Wimbledon title and fourth career Grand Slam win. The two players were in a dead heat for most of the match and there was no clear favorite until Sinner pulled off the win.

The Cincinnati Open was up next for the two, and this match, held on Aug. 18, was not the match that fans were looking for.

The two players again played at an even skill level for the beginning of the match, until it was apparent that something was off with Sinner. It was soon discovered that Sinner was unable to play at 100 percent because of an illness, and he was forced to retire from the match. Even though Alcaraz won, 5-0, he said it was not the way that he wanted to win a final.

The next chapter took place on Sunday at the US Open.

It was again a match to remember, with a score of 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, and 6-4. Alcaraz and Sinner once again looked very evenly matched, with long rallies and huge points from both players. The match was exactly what fans needed to supercharge this rivalry.

Tennis fans definitely will be looking forward to future matches featuring these two.