OAfter a quiet evening in Manhattan last week, Carlos Alcaraz made his exit from an Italian restaurant alongside his considerable support team when he unexpectedly stared at a familiar face. There, in another part of the restaurant, Jannik Sinner was quietly enjoying his own dinner. This was actually the second opportunity during the US Open that Alcaraz and Sinner coincidentally dine in the same restaurant at the same time. Neither of the players could hide their entertainment while they greet each other warmly.
Given the frequency of their meetings on and next to the court, it would not be unreasonable if Sinner and Alcaraz started to get sick of each other: “On the field we like each other, because it means that we do our ranking well in the tournament. From the court we sometimes bump into each other.
There is at least one meeting in New York. The first US Open -Final of their rivalry also represents a historic moment. This is the first time in the open era that two male players have confronted each other in three Grand Slam finals in one season and in successive major tournaments. This also marks their fifth consecutive final, their most recent meeting that will be in the Cincinnati final last month, where Sinner retired while lagging 5-0 due to illness. As if the bet is not high enough, Sinner’s ranking is also at stake. If Alcaraz wins, he will replace the Italian as the New World No. 1.
They are not only so much better than the rest of the field, but the gap also gets bigger. While the Alcaraz Sinner era had been going on for a long time, with the two players who split all four large titles between them in 2024, they did not have opposite each other in a Grand Slam final until June.
After the couple forced into the final The Italian Open, Sinner’s Comeback tournament of his three -month doping ban seemed probably a rematch at the French Open. At Wimbledon it was difficult to present something else than another final between them. Because of the US Open, although they had six games to win and the difficulty in navigating a Grand Slam draw, it would never have to be underestimated, this final seemed inevitable except for injury. It has actually made a strange men’s tournament in recent weeks, with so much expectation of this final of the first round.
A month after Alcaraz demonstrated his unparalleled power to produce his best tennis at the most difficult moments by ploting one of the biggest comebacks of all time at Roland Garros, Sinner’s revenge win at Wimbledon broke a series of five victories for Alcaraz and Sinner showed a blueprint for success against his rivals.
The Italian stiffer Alcaraz with its destructive, ruthless ball that slammed both wings. He also served well and kept the attacking return position of Alcaraz remotely by injecting more pace into his second service. Afterwards the Spaniard admitted that he had been surpassed. He just didn’t have enough time on the ball to disturb Sinner’s game.
It is for this reason that although grass benches are supposed to be Alcaraz’s turf in this rivalry and the sinner has started with an era of dominance on the surface, Alcaraz may prefer to prefer Sinner on a Hard Hof medium. In addition to having a little more time on the ball, this surface helps the stairs of the Spaniard and the heavy top spider in his forehand, which are essential for his goal to constantly vary the trajectory of the ball to disturb the sinner.
In Wimbledon, under such a stifling pressure on the basin line of Sinner, Alcaraz’s service abandoned him. In New York, however, his improved Serve has been one of the main reasons why he was able to roll through the field and reached a Grand Slam final without having a set fall for the first time in his career. It is clear that he must serve extremely well against the most effective returner in the world. With these players who compete so often, every match is a chance to adjust, and it is still to be seen what Alcaraz has learned from his most recent defeat.
Three years after Alcaraz’s 2:50 am five set victory over Sinner after saving a match point, an immediate classic that positions this rivalry as the future of sport, the couple will close that circle in New York.
While they walk through the tunnel and continue to Arthur Ashe Stadium, it is worth saving a thought for the rest of the top players. After years of beating bags from the Big Three – Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer – it has been assumed for so long that the fall of the big three would lead to a transition age where, at least for a short time, many more players would have the chance to win the biggest titles in the world.
Instead, two new legends have taken the baton seamlessly and although they are opponents on the field, they have also tensioned to ensure that no one else in the world has a chance.
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