Simone Vagnozzi Tries to Read Carlos Alcaraz’s Mindset Ahead of his Clash With Jannik Sinner in the US Open Final

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will clash in a third successive Grand Slam final.

Simone Vagnozzi Tries to Read Carlos Alcaraz’s Mindset Ahead of his Clash With Jannik Sinner in the US Open Final

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Simone Vagnozzi (via Wimbledon/ATP Tour)

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In the US Open final, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are set to meet for the 15th time in their careers. It will also be their fifth clash this season in a major final, following battles in Rome, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, and Cincinnati. Their rivalry has quickly become one of the most intense in modern tennis.

Before the match, Simone Vagnozzi, the coach of world number one Jannik Sinner, shared his thoughts. He reflected on how these repeated encounters have shaped both players. The Italian coach stressed that every match brings new challenges, especially when played on different surfaces. Vagnozzi said on Ubitennis:

I hope he says the same thing on Sunday. It will definitely be a very complicated match, as always. Carlos will certainly try to do something different compared to the Wimbledon final, so we have to prepare. It will be important to put some tactical ideas in place. Then we have to play, enjoy, go on court with the serenity of having had an excellent tournament, push and see how it goes.

At Wimbledon, Alcaraz admitted to his team that he struggled with Sinner’s power. He reportedly said he could not match the pace and felt overwhelmed by the intensity of Sinner’s shots. That moment revealed how much pressure Sinner’s aggressive style can put on even the best players.

Asked about how this experience might affect the US Open final, Vagnozzi suggested that surface changes matter a lot. Hard courts can balance out the exchange of power and speed in a different way. He hinted that both players would have to adjust quickly, making this clash another test of adaptability and resilience.

Prize money earned by US Open semifinalist

Felix Auger-Aliassime and Novak Djokovic both exited at the semi-final stage of the 2025 US Open. Auger-Aliassime was beaten by defending champion Jannik Sinner, while Djokovic fell to Carlos Alcaraz. Their losses set up another Sinner–Alcaraz final on the hard courts of New York.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic

For Auger-Aliassime, this was only his second Grand Slam semi-final. He pushed hard but could not stop Sinner, who won 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach his fifth straight major final. Djokovic, on the other hand, struggled throughout his match against Alcaraz. The Spaniard controlled the key moments and sealed a 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2 win to book his seventh Slam final.

Both players leave New York with mixed emotions. Auger-Aliassime’s run was unexpected and gave him a much-needed boost in confidence and ranking points. Djokovic, however, had entered the tournament with hopes of adding another major title, so the defeat will sting despite his rise in the standings.

Djokovic moved from world No. 7 to No. 4 thanks to the 800 ranking points awarded for a semi-final appearance. He also passed the $190 million mark in career prize money after collecting $1.26 million in New York. Auger-Aliassime, who had earned just under $16 million since turning pro, will nearly double his 2025 earnings after his deep run at the US Open.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz to decide World No.1 ranking

The US Open final on Sunday between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will decide both the last Grand Slam of the season and the world No. 1 ranking. The clash adds extra weight to an already fierce rivalry between two of the sport’s biggest young stars.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner (via Punto de Break)

Sinner has been at the top of the rankings since June 2024, holding the position for 65 straight weeks. The Italian became his country’s first world No. 1 and now faces the challenge of defending that spot in a winner-takes-all final. For him, the stakes are as high as they come.

New York also carries special meaning for Alcaraz. It was at the 2022 US Open that he won his first Grand Slam title and became the youngest world No. 1 in history. That final against Casper Ruud also determined the top ranking, a scenario repeating itself two years later.

Alcaraz last held the No. 1 spot in September 2023 and has accumulated 36 weeks at the summit in his career. He already finished one season as the year-end No. 1 in 2022. Heading into this final, the Spaniard leads their head-to-head 9–5, with their last two Slam finals split — Alcaraz winning in Paris and Sinner triumphing at Wimbledon.

Also Read: Novak Djokovic Shows Optimism to Continue Fighting for Grand Slams After US Open Semifinal Defeat to Carlos Alcaraz