The new order of world tennis no longer obeys three powers, but two. Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, 22, and Italian Jannik Sinner, 24, made, on Sunday (7), the third Grand Slam final followed together – the first time that such a repetition happens in a single season in the open era.
At the 15th meeting of the pair, at US Open, Alcaraz left with the victory, for 3 sets to 1, in 2 h 42 minutes, resuming the number one post in the world. Both have about 5,000 points of advantage over the third place, the German Alexander Zverev.
With this, all the major (or Grand Slams, the four most important tournaments of the tenistic season), for the last two years have been won by the Italian or Spanish. Alcaraz adds six (Roland Garros 2024/25, Wimbledon 23/24, and US Open 22 and 25). SINNER, four (Australian Open 2024/25, Wimbledon 25 and US Open 24).
The two players alternated, throughout the match, ups and downs, without both finding their best moments at the same time until the fourth set.
Alcaraz took the front, breaking the service of the rival in the first game. With peace of mind, firmness in the loot and only two errors, closed the partial in 6/2 in 37 minutes. In the second set, Sinner seemed to meet in the match, and, better fitting the withdrawals and more winning balls, won the stage 6/3.
The third set had one owner only: Alcaraz opened a advantage of 5/0, and closed on 6/1, having won 25 points against 13 of the opponent. The Italian again complicated the opponent’s life in the fourth stage, with the two using more approximations to the net and prolonging the ball exchanges. But it was not enough – it ended the match in its third point of the championship with 6/4.
“I tried my best today, I couldn’t do it anymore,” said Sinner, resigned. “It’s amazing what you have been doing throughout the season,” Alcaraz replied, trying to encourage him. “I see you more than my family.”
As in the women’s tournament, the champion pocketed $ 5 million (about $ 27 million) and the deputy, $ 2.5 million ($ 13 million).
In the semifinal, Alcaraz went through the last of the “Big Three” members still active, Novak Djokovic, 38 years old and number 7 of the world, dominantly: in direct sets, with partials 6-4, 7-6 (3) and 6-2, having broken service only once.
The Serbian, owner of 24 major titles, still resists retirement, but the assertiveness of the Spanish in the duel had a taste of definition. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the other members of the crack that dominated the sport for years, have already hung the rackets.
Alcaraz reached the final without losing sets, and having given only two breaks. He leads the ATP circuit with 60 wins in the year and seven titles.
Already Sinner comes from the year with best results in Majors: raised the trophies of the Australian Open – to overthrow Zverev – and Wimbledon, by overcoming Alcaraz, who had defeated him in the final of Roland Garros.
This is was the sixth final of Slam from Italian in eight tournaments. He is the fourth man to reach five consecutive major endings in the open era, behind Federer, Djokovic and Nadal.
In New York, Sinner had lost only two sets in the six matches prior to the final. Canadians Denis Shapvalov, in the third round, and Felix Auger-Anassime, in Semi, were the only ones to even start from the Italian more than seven games in a game.
United States President Donald Trump was at the Billie Jean King tennis complex on Sunday to follow the final. His visit, confirmed by the press on Thursday (4), caused a lot of controversy.
A statement from the American Tennis Federation (USTA) has asked the match broadcasts not to call attention to any reaction that the republican appearance in the big screens could cause the crowd. The document was revealed by journalist Ben Rothenberg and confirmed by the New York Times.
The complex security scheme was reinforced, causing large lines at the entrance and postponing the beginning of the final, scheduled for 15h, in more than 30 minutes. The first ball was struck at 3:48 pm (Brasília time).
The Brazilian broadcast on ESPN did not show the arrival of the president, but the news agency Reuters reported that by greeting the few spectators who had already managed to enter Arthur Ashe Stadium, which has a capacity of more than 23,000 fans, Trump was received with a mixture of boos and applause.
The reaction was repeated the other times the Republican appeared on the big screen, as during the execution of the US National Anthem and between the first and second sets, according to AFP agency.
Trump watched the departure of the Rolex cabin, one of the tournament sponsors and various tennis players, such as Roger Federer, Jannik Sinner, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek. He was accompanied by Pam Bondi, Secretary of Justice, and Jared Kushner, his son -in -law, among others.
The last time the Republican was at US Open was in 2015, when he was still a candidate for the presidency. At the time, he watched the quarterfinals between Venus and Serena Williams and was strongly booed. Trump was a frequent attendant of the New York tournament until that moment.
