Carlos Alcaraz Clinches U.S. Open Title, Reclaims No. 1 Spot

Carlos Alcaraz captured his second U.S. Open title with a four-set victory over Jannik Sinner, winning 6–2, 3–6, 6–1, 6–4 in New York. The 22-year-old Spaniard, who already owns six Grand Slam titles, reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking with the win, ending Sinner’s 65-week stay at the top of the ATP standings. Alcaraz now begins his fifth spell as the sport’s top-ranked player, extending his tally to 37 weeks overall in the position.

The match highlighted the growing rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner, marking the third consecutive Grand Slam final in which they have faced each other in the same season—an achievement without precedent in men’s tennis. While Sinner delivered stretches of commanding play, Alcaraz maintained control in key moments, especially in the third and fourth sets, to secure the victory.

Alcaraz also became the third man in the Open Era, after John McEnroe and Pete Sampras, to win multiple U.S. Open titles before turning 23. In addition, he joined Mats Wilander, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic as the only men to have captured major championships on clay, grass, and hard courts before the age of 23.

For Sinner, who now drops to world No. 2, the defeat underscored the challenge of overcoming Alcaraz in high-stakes contests. Despite consistent success over the past year, his inability to close out this final raised questions about adjustments needed in his tactical approach.

The victory not only strengthens Alcaraz’s position as one of the sport’s defining figures of the new generation but also signals a continuation of his push to challenge long-standing records in men’s tennis.

Sources: BBC Sport, ESPN, Sky Sports, The New York Times, ATP Tour, The Guardian, TalkSport, AP News, Town & Country.