The US Open final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz writes the next capital of a permanent duel, which, despite his young protagonists, is already unique in tennis.
There have always been great rivalries in tennis. John Mcenroe and Björn Borg in the 1980s. Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi in the 1990s. Or, of course, the big three for almost two decades at the beginning of the 2000s: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Tennis lives from these teaked duels, which sometimes even like a feud. But what Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are currently delivering is driven to the extreme duels. Nine of the last twelve Grand Slam titles have been going to one of the two since 2023. They are just 24 and 22 years old.
“Sincaraz” – Part 3
At the US Open in New York, the two face each other on Sunday (from 8 p.m. in the live ticker at Sportschau.de) for the third time in a row and within just one year in the final of a Grand Slam tournament. That is why there is of course already its own title for this meeting: “Sincaraz”. To Paris and Wimbledon now part 3.
There has been no such thing in the “Open Era”, as the tennis time calculation has been called since 1968. Only at the Australian Open 2025 was Alcaraz in the quarter -finals against Novak Djokovic.
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer faced each other in a Grand Slam final in their careers nine times.
Both with dominant balance sheet
The numbers of the two alone for 2025 are impressive. Sinner won 31 of his 35 matches on the tour. At Alcaraz, the balance is 54: 6. The fact that the Spaniard has so many more matches is because Sinner had to serve a three -month doping lock at the beginning of the year.
In the Grand Slam tournaments this year, Sinner only gave 8 sets in 27 matches. Alcaraz had to fight significantly more, but at 13 tournament starts in 2025 reached the final nine times.
Praise and respect instead of verbal skirmishes
Epically, the five-set final duel of the two was over 5:29 hours at the French Open when Alcaraz came back against themselves in 0: 2 sets and match balls. The fans now no less expect the US Open, the last Grand Slam event of the year.
Alcaraz consoles the visibly disappointed Sinner after the marathon final of Roland Garros 2025.
The opponents are ready – and very politely to each other. “He pushes me to my limits”says Sinner before the final. “There are always big games against him”is Alcaraz ‘description for the 15th meeting of the two (so far 9: 5 for the Spaniard).
Title and World ranking tip wave
So now in New York, Flushing Meadows with 24,000 spectators at Arthur Ashe Stadium – a match that takes an incredible tennis year for Sinner and Alcaraz. The winner not only waves the next Grand Slam title-for Sinner it would be the fifth, for Alcaraz number six, but also the top of the ATP world rankings.
The roles – as it should be for a great rivalry – are clearly distributed: Sinner, the strategic, precise and dominated ball machine. Alcaraz, the strong will, creative, tireless free spirit.
Even Novak Djokovic, who fought legendary duels with a Federer and Nadal and is highly decorated with 24 Grand slam titles, gives: “No question, the two are currently the best players in the world by far.”
No third man in sight
The prospects that this will change are low. This year Sinner lost no other current top ten player except Alcaracz, the Spaniard only against Sinner and in the semi-finals of Indian Wells against Jack Draper.
In 2026, the men’s tennis in terms of rivalry could still advance in completely new dimensions. But first the tennis world in New York is eagerly awaiting the next chapter of this dynasty that has already been unique.