Alcaraz, Sinner Set Up Blockbuster US Open Title Match For No. 1

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (photo: Jürgen Hasenkopf)

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, September 6, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)

It’s never a certainty in tennis that the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds will rise to top of a two-week Grand Slam and meet for the final after enduring through six rounds just to set up the title match. However, when the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds are Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, it’s become a certainty – at least this season. 

For the third-straight major, the World No. 1 Sinner from Italy and No. 2 Alcaraz of Spain will play in the men’s singles final of a Grand Slam. It marks the first time in the Open Era that two players have faced each other in three major finals in the same season. Earlier this year, Alcaraz won an epic 5-setter over Sinner to win the French Open in June, Then, Sinner beat Alcaraz to win the Wimbledon title in July.

Now, after both players posted impressive semifinal victories on Friday, Alcaraz against four-time US open champion Novak Djokovic and defending US Open champion Sinner over two-time semifinalist Felix Auger-Aliassime, it’s on to the championship match of the US Open on Sunday with the No. 1 ranking at stake, a position that Sinner has held for 65 consecutive weeks.

Alcaraz reaches second US Open final with Djokovic win

In the first semifinal, the World No. 2 and 2022 US Open champion Alcaraz defeated four-time US Open champion Djokovic, 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-2, in two hours and 23 minutes for his first win over the Serbian great on a hard-courts surface to reach his third straight Grand Slam final this season – and seventh career major final. He will take a 5-1 win-loss record in Grand Slam finals into Sunday’s title match against the World No. 1 and defending champion Sinner, who held off the No. 23 seed Auger-Aliassime, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, in three hours and 21 minutes, in the second semifinal Friday evening.

In their ninth career meeting, in which Alcaraz and Djokovic have now faced each other at all four Grand Slam events, the 22-year-old Spaniard took charge early and never relinquished the upper hand for long despite being broken once by Djokovic, in the second set and trailed 0-3 before turning matters around. To his credit, Alcaraz controlled the tempo of the match throughout, and by the end Djokovic appeared to be struggling physically.

By the end, Alcaraz had outpointed Djokovic 101-81. He struck 31 winners – including seven aces – and won 84 percent (42 of 50) of his first-serve points. Alcaraz won 15 of 22 points at the net, made 30 unforced errors, and converted four of seven break points. By comparison, Djokovic hit 15 winners to 30 unforced errors, won just 66 percent (37 of 56) of his first-serve points, and converted his only break-point opportunity.

“It’s a great feeling. Once again in the final here at the US Open, it feels amazing,” Alcaraz said during his on-court interview. “It means a lot to me. Today, I’d say — it wasn’t the best level of the tournament for me, but I just kept a good level from the beginning until the last point. I served pretty well, I think that was really, really important. Trying to play a really physical match and I think I did it. In general, I played really good tennis and I’m just really happy to be able to play in my second final here.”

The 38-year-old Serbian, who did not win a single set in any of his four major semifinals this season, battled and competed valiantly against Alcaraz. Despite still being able to play at a high level, the 24-time major champion just wasn’t able to overcome the youthful and athletic Alcaraz, 16 years his junior. Djokovic still maintains a 5-4 career head-to-head against the Spanish star, including 3-1 on hard courts. However, Friday’s loss denied Djokovic from reaching a record-extending 38th Grand Slam final and 11 US Open title match. He would have been the oldest Grand Slam men’s finalist since Ken Rosewall in 1974.

Djokovic spoke frankly during his post-match news conference. He said: “I’m happy with my level of tennis, but it’s just the physicality of it. As I said after the quarterfinals, the press conference when I spoke to you guys, I said I’m going to do my very best to get my body in shape to sustain that level and that rhythm for as many hours as it’s needed. But it wasn’t enough. That’s something I, unfortunately at this point in time in my career, can’t control.”

Although Djokovic earlier this season won his 100th career ATP Tour title, he finishes 2025 without adding to his total of Grand Slam titles for the second straight season. “I’m not giving up on Grand Slams. … I’m going to continue fighting and trying to get to the finals and fight for another trophy, at least. But, you know, it’s going to be a very difficult task,” he said.

“It comes with time and with age,” Djokovic added. “I still enjoy the thrill of competition. Today I received amazing support again on the court from the crowd. Very thankful for that. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Yeah, that’s one of the biggest reasons why I keep on going. The love that I’ve been getting around the world has been amazing the last couple of years.”

Next, Alcaraz moves on to Sunday’s championship final against Sinner after winning 18 straight sets during the New York fortnight with losing a single set. With his latest triumph, Alcaraz leads the ATP Tour in wins (60) – he’s won 44 of his last 46 matches – and he’s reached eight straight finals on the ATP tour this season, winning five titles. He will take a 9-5 win-loss record in head-to-head meetings against Sinner. 

Alcaraz has become the first player since Roger Federer in 2015 to reach the US Open final without losing a set. He’s also the youngest man (22) to reach three straight major finals since Jim Courier in 1991-92.

Sinner survives Auger-Aliassime scare

Sinner took on the World No. 27 Auger-Aliassime of Canada, who earlier knocked out No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany and No. 8 seed Alex de Minaur of Australia to reach his second US Open semifinal. Against Sinner, the 25-year-old aimed to become second Canadian men’s Grand Slam finalist in history after Milos Raonic at Wimbledon in 2016 Wimbledon and to earn his third win over a World No. 1. After winning the second set to level the match at 1-set all, Sinner looked ripe for an upset.

While the 24-year-old Sinner, who came in on a 26-match winning streak on hard courts at the Grand Slam level – and attempted to tie Djokovic for the second-longest win streak in history – was tested by Auger-Aliassime, he ultimately prevailed in more than three hours of exciting tennis to continue his title defense. He finished with 33 winners – 11 of them aces – and committed 22 unforced errors. Sinner converted four of 11 break points and outpointed Auger-Aliassime 120-100. By comparison, Auger-Aliassime amassed 36 winners – including nine aces – and made 41 unforced errors. He broke Sinner just once in 10 opportunities.

Sinner’s triumph was the 300th win of his career and he became youngest man in the Open Era to reach all four Grand Slam finals in one season. 

“[It’s been an] amazing season, obviously,” Sinner said during his on-court interview with ESPN‘s James Blake, who reminded him that he’s the fourth man in the Open Era to reach the final of all four majors in a single season. “Grand Slams are the most important tournaments we have throughout the year, and finding myself again in another final this year, especially the last one of the season, with an amazing crowd, doesn’t matter when you play. It doesn’t get any better.”

Dabrowksi and Routliffe win second US Open doubles title

No. 3 seeds Gabriela Dabrowksi of Canada and Canadian-born Erin Routliffe, who now represents New Zealand, won their second major title at the US Open Friday afternoon.

Dabrowski and Routliffe beat top seeds Katerina Siniakova of Czechia and Taylor Townsend of the United States, 6-4, 6-4, in an hour and 29 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The loss prevented Siniakova and Townsend from winning their third Grand Slam title as a team after winning the Wimbledon Championships title in 2024 and the Australian Open crown earlier this year.

The Canadian/Kiwi duo, who won the 2023 US Open women’s doubles title, converted their first break-point opportunity in the opening set and broke their opponents to close out the match. They are the fifth team in the Open Era to win multiple US Open women’s doubles titles. By winning this year’s event, they will split $1 million (USD) in prize money – equal to the men’s doubles champions. Dabrowksi will rise to World No. 3 in the WTA Rankings and Routliffe No. 4. Townsend will remain No. 1 and Siniakova No. 2.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won 75 percent (27 of 36) of their first-serve points, hit 26 winners, made just nine unforced errors and converted four of seven break points. They outpointed Siniakova and Townsend 68-57.

“What a wild wide, we’ve been through so much together,” said Dabrowksi, who underwent treatment for breast cancer last year, to Routliffe during the on-court trophy ceremony. “I feel extremely grateful to be standing here as a champion alongside you today.

“It means the world. Thank you for sticking by me. Thank you for the support.”

Routliffe added: “Definitely a lot of people here today cheering for women’s doubles, and we absolutely loved every moment.”

Since teaming up in the summer of 2023, Dabrowksi and Routliffe have accumulated an 84-32 win-loss record. They have now won seven WTA Tour titles as a team. Dabrowksi has won 20 doubles titles overall and Routliffe 12.

Around the US Open

• On Saturday, defending champion and this year’s top seed Aryna Sabalenka will face No. 8 seed Amanda Anisimova of the United States, for the US Open women’s singles title on Arthur Ashe Stadium beginning at 4 p.m. local time (10 p.m. Central European, 9 p.m. London).

Early Friday morning, Anisimova battled past four-time major and two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka of Japan, seeded 23rd, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3, in a match that did end until nearly 1 a.m. local time.

The 24-year-old Anisimova, who was born in New Jersey and raised in Florida, wrapped up her victory on her third match point after two hours and 56 minutes to reach her second-straight major final after losing to Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon in July.

“I wasn’t sure I would make it past the finish line and I tried to dig deep,” said Anisimova, who hit 50 winners to 45 unforced errors and outpointed Osaka 122-112. “It was a huge fight out there today.”

Sabalenka, who is just the third woman since 1988 to reach six consecutive hard-court major finals, joining Hall of Famers Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis, will be playing in her third major final this year looking to win for the first time after reaching two Grand Slam finals in 2024 and winning both (Australian Open and US Open). She defeated No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, in Thursday’s other semifinal.

• With their respective semifinal victories Thursday, the men’s doubles final on Saturday afternoon (12 noon local time, 6 p.m. Central European, 5 p.m. London) will be the second time this season in a major final that No. 5 seeds Marcel Granollers of Spain and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina have faced No. 6 seeds Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski of Great Britain.

Their first meeting this year was in the Roland-Garros title match, which the Spanish/Argentine pair won. They also have met this year at Wimbledon, which Granollers and Zeballos won in the quarterfinal round.

Salisbury is a three-time US Open doubles titlist – all with Rajeev Ram of the United States (2021-23), while Granollers and Zeballos finished runner-up in 2019. Skupski was a finalist in 2022, teamed with Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands.

Friday’s US Open results

Saturday’s US Open order of play

By the numbers

• Saturday’s US Open women’s final, matching World No. 1 and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka against No. 8 seed Amanda Anisimova, is the fifth consecutive women’s final at a major involving an American woman: Jessica Pegula (2024 US Open), Madison Keys (2025 Australian Open), Coco Gauff (2025 French Open), and Anisimova (2025 Wimbledon, 2025 US Open).

• Jannik Sinner is the fourth man in the Open Era to reach finals of all four Grand Slams in a single season after Rod Laver (1969), Roger Federer (2006-07, 2009) and Novak Djokovic (2015, 2021, 2023).

“Quotable …”

“I mean, honestly I don’t feel sad. It’s really weird. Well, it’s not weird, because I just feel like I did the best that I could. Honestly, it’s kind of inspiring for me, because it makes me just want to train and try to get better, and hopefully, just give it my very best shot again and see what happens. But I think I can’t be mad or upset at myself.”

– Four-time major and two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka of Japan, during her post-match news conference early Friday, after losing her semifinal match against Amanda Anisimova, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3, in two hours and 56 minutes. Osaka took a series of mental health breaks from tennis beginning in 2021 and was away from the WTA Tour in 2023 while giving birth to a daughter.

 

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