Carlos Alcaraz Reflects on the Improvements in Jannik Sinner’s Game Ahead of Their Blockbuster US Open Clash

Carlos Alcaraz leads Jannik Sinner 9-5 in their head-to-head record ahead of the final clash at the US Open.

Carlos Alcaraz Reflects on the Improvements in Jannik Sinner’s Game Ahead of Their Blockbuster US Open Clash

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner (Image via US Open)

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Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are set to take on each other in a dream final on Sunday (September 7), at the US Open. The two best players on the men’s circuit will contest their third consecutive Grand Slam final in New York and are in their fifth consecutive tournament final they have both featured in.

Alcaraz booked his place in his second US Open final after overcoming Novak Djokovic without much hassle. The Spaniard claimed a 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2 win over the Serbian legend in what was expected to be a very tough clash. On the other hand, Sinner had battled hard to beat Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second men’s semi-finals.

The Italian star dropped his second set at the New York Grand Slam, but bounced back finely to beat his Canadian counterpart 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to set up a clash against Alcaraz in the final of the US Open. Sinner and Alcaraz have shown unique improvements in their game, which have made them stand above the rest on tour.

Also, their rivalry has made them improve on tour. For instance, Sinner has been to the final of all the tournaments he has played this season, except the Terra Wortmann Open. He has also reached the final of all four Grand Slam events this year. For Alcaraz, this is the first time in his career that he has reached the final of eight consecutive tournaments.

The 22-year-old is yet to drop a set at the US Open this season. During his post-match press conference in New York, Alcaraz praised Sinner for his exceptional improvement on tour in the past two seasons. He pointed out that the Italian star has made significant improvements in his physicality.

I think he, in the way– I think physically he has improved a lot, and that’s obviously. I mean, it wasn’t a secret. He has spoken about the physical conditions that he has to improve, and I think the last year, the last two years, he has improved a lot physically. You know, his matches are really demanding physically that he’s able to play at his 100% during two, three, four hours, and I think that’s the biggest improvement he has made in the last years.

What Alcaraz said is indeed true, as Sinner has been a better player on the court since the 2024 season. He has dominated Grand Slam tournaments, winning four of the last seven major titles. The Italian ace has also won ten titles on tour since last year. He’s seeking to become the first man to defend the US Open singles title since Roger Federer (2004 to 2008).

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner meet for the third consecutive Grand Slam final

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have met fourteen times on the court, and four times this season. The former leads their head-to-head record 9-5 and holds a 3-1 record against the World No. 1 this season. The last time they met was at the Cincinnati Open last month, which ended on an unfortunate note as Sinner retired from their clash after just five games.

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K, Jannik Sinner HQ)

The only single victory Sinner had against Alcaraz this season came at the Wimbledon Championships, where he came from a set down to beat the 22-year-old. But a month earlier, Alcaraz produced an excellent comeback at the French Open, beating Sinner in five sets after five hours and 29 minutes on the red dirt.

Sinner is seeking to win his third Grand Slam of the season at the US Open, which will see him hold his place as World No.1. He’s also aiming to take his major title tally to five in just two years. On the other hand, Alcaraz is bidding to win his second US Open title, which will take his tally to six.

The Spaniard is in better form at the US Open compared to Sinner. He has not dropped a set in his six matches in New York and has lost just 58 games in 18 sets, which means he has lost an average of just more than three games per set. Also, he only needed two tie-breaks at the tournament.

Also read: Jessica Pegula Left Short of Words to Explain her US Open Semifinal Defeat to Aryna Sabalenka