Jannik Sinner Looks Back on ‘The’ Match that Revolutionized his Rivalry With Carlos Alcaraz

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz share an intense rivalry, with the Spaniard leading the head-to-head record 9-5.

Jannik Sinner Looks Back on ‘The’ Match that Revolutionized his Rivalry With Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner (image via US Open)

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One of the most exciting sporting rivalries today is that of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. For tennis fans it marks a new chapter to enjoy after the Big 3 era. Alcaraz and Sinner, who have now shared the last seven Grand Slams, first met in the round of 32 at the Paris Masters, where Alcaraz prevailed in straight sets. Since then they’ve met 13 times, with the Spaniard winning 8 of those encounters.

After his opening round match at the US Open, defending champion Sinner shed light on his rivalry with Alcaraz throughout the years at the press conference. The World No. 1 also highlighted the key match that revolutionized his rivalry with Alcaraz – the epic five-set 2022 US Open quarterfinal:

It’s everything different, because, you know, in the past three years, we faced each other many times, and every match we play is different, if we watch the tactical side. So we make adjustments. But for sure it was an important match [their US Open 2022 match] to see also that our peak is very interesting to see also from the outside. It was for sure one of the key matches, even if we were very young.

Alcaraz was 19, and Sinner 21, with the Italian reaching the quarterfinal of the tournament for the first time. Clocking five hours and 15 minutes, it marked the second-longest US Open match ever. The Spaniard saved a match point in the fourth set and eventually sealed the win with a score of 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-3. Alcaraz went on to win the US Open, claiming his maiden Grand Slam title and becoming the youngest men’s World No. 1 in the Open Era.

The race for the US Open title between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner will be looking to be the first person since Roger Federer to defend his US Open title. Federer had won five consecutive US Open titles from 2004 to 2008. The 24-year-old will also be aiming to tie his archrival Carlos Alcaraz for five Grand Slam titles.

Jannik SInner US Open 2025
Jannik Sinner (image via X/Jannik Sinner)

Alcaraz holds a 6-2 edge over Sinner on hard court. The World No. 2 will be aiming for his second US Open title. A triumph at Flushing Meadows would mean that Alcaraz dethrones Sinner as World No. 1, ending the Italian’s year-long streak. If they both meet at the championship match, it would mark their sixth consecutive meeting at a final and third one at a Grand Slam final.

Jannik Sinner will meet Alexei Popyrin in the second round of the US Open

Jannik Sinner swept past Vit Kopriva comfortably with a scoreline of 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 to reach the second round of the US Open. The Italian looked fresh and dominant throughout the match, which marked his first appearance since he was forced to retire due to illness in the Cincinnati Open final against Carlos Alcaraz last week.

Jannik Sinner US Open 2025
Jannik Sinner (image via Corrine Dubreuil)

Sinner, who took a brief medical timeout in the first-round match to address an issue on his finger at the final stages of the third set, will face Alexei Popyrin in his next round. The winner of this match will meet either Valentin Royer or Denis Shapovalov in the third round of the US Open.

Also Read: Jannik Sinner Gives Hilarious Response to Carlos Alcaraz’s New Haircut at the US Open