Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner meet in US Open final for historic Grand Slam trilogy in New York - 'Our rivalry started here'

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are set to face off in their third successive Grand Slam final as they clash in the US Open final in New York, continuing to set themselves apart from the rest of the field. Sinner looked back to their match at Flushing Meadows in 2022, when their rivalry began with a thrilling quarter-final that gave the world a glimpse into the future.

'Great for the sport having rivalries' - Sinner on facing Alcaraz in US Open final

Video credit: SNTV

With every passing Grand Slam, the rivalry between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz grows, and Sunday's US Open final sees them return to Arthur Ashe Stadium and contest a third successive major final.

The pair split wins at the French Open and Wimbledon, with Alcaraz prevailing in Paris and Sinner taking down the Spaniard in London.

Now they face off once again in the final Grand Slam of the year, three years after their rivalry truly kick-started at Flushing Meadows.

Tennis

How Sinner can become world No. 1 at Paris Masters

6 hours ago

A thrilling quarter-final at the 2022 US Open gave the world a glimpse into what the two would become, with 'Sincaraz' fully succeeding the 'Big Three' as tennis' premier rivalry.

"I feel like our rivalry started here playing an amazing match," said world No. 1 Sinner. "We are two different players now, with different confidence too. Let's see what's coming."

Alcaraz has flown at the US Open with an improved measure of maturity, cutting down on his unforced errors, and bettering his serve and consistency.

"I feel like he's serving much better with the better pace, but the percentage is very high all the time," Sinner explained.

"He is much more solid because maybe before there were more ups and downs. Now he's very consistent."

The two have fully set themselves apart from the rest of the men's singles field and if that was not already apparent at the start of 2025, three Grand Slam finals in a row for the pair confirm it.

Their determination to improve themselves has in turn pushed the other to new heights. Both suffered their first defeats in a Grand Slam final this season and both bounced back at the next opportunity.

Sinner has progressed relentlessly in New York and is now on a 27-match winning streak on hard courts at the major level, becoming only the fourth man to reach all four Slam finals in a single season.

"His matches are really demanding physically," Alcaraz said about Sinner. "That he's able to play at his 100% during two, three or four hours, that's the biggest improvement he has made in the last years.

"I'm just getting to know myself much better, what I need on, off the court. The things that I'm doing off the court I think I'm doing really, really well, which help a lot, and to play my best tennis. I think it's getting better."

Watch and stream top tennis action live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+

Davis Cup