2025 US Open F: [1] Jannik Sinner vs [2] Carlos Alcaraz

[ppmishra]

I think it will be easier for outsiders to win the odd Slam here and there if we happen to have a "big 2" era in the next few years.
Even with the big 3 (and the ridiculous "big 4") there were chances for the likes of Del Potro, Cilic and Wawrinka, and it's much more difficult to distribute all four Slams between two people without a leak here or there.
But with the media being so eager to attribute "big 4" status to Murray, however, we can imagine a player winning two Slams to Alcaraz and Sinner's 10+ Slams... and there we have it again: a big 3.

i am curious to see how Carlos handles the heavier tennis balls and lower bouncing night conditions at the AO next year. I believe he could have won against Novak at AO this year had he retained focus, but that loss was on him. the AO surface speed is not the issue, but the lower bouncing conditions could be. that being said, if he serves anything like he did at USO 2025, he will be a solid favorite if not the top favorite. Sinner loves the night conditions like Novak and has proven as much

 

[jm1972]

Carlitos difficulty at AO is not the balls or conditions. It's the fact that it's too early in the season. Christmas for the Spanish is January 6 and off-season ends that day.

 

[tennis24x7]

Federer won 40 consecutive matches on hard courts at Grand Slam tournaments—a record-setting streak that spanned from the 2005 US Open through the 2008 Australian Open.

During this run, he captured five hard-court Slam titles, defeating legends like Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Marcos Baghdatis, Fernando González, and Novak Djokovic. His streak was finally broken in the 2008 Australian Open semifinals, where Djokovic beat him in straight sets.

It remains the longest hard-court Grand Slam win streak in men’s tennis history, placing Federer at the top of the all-time list

Marcos, Roddick and Fernando are legends now?

 

[tennis24x7]

For last two years these two have spilt the slams at 2-2. Total domination like Big players..

Time for Alcatraz to step up and win 3 next year.

 

[tennis24x7]

That part was also mirrored from Wimbledon. Alcaraz seemed very cheery after the match, didn't seem bothered at all by the loss.

Are we thinking these may be fixed, anything's possible these days

 

[Djokovic2011]

So I avoid my youtube feed like the plague for the best part of 48 hours so as not to see who won then when I type in "Alcaraz v Sinner 2025 US Open full match" there's a picture of Alcaraz holding the trophy in the thumbnail, completely spoiling it for me. I can't for the life of me understand why these websites don't just show a picture of both players before the match starts, at least that way there's no indication of who came out on top.

Anyway belated congrats to Carlos, at least Djokovic lost to the eventual champion but it must be very concerning for Sinner and his fans the amount of times he's now lost to his biggest rival on HC, even though he's overall the better player on the surface. Should hopefully be an exciting finish to the season.

 

[StrongRule]

So I avoid my youtube feed like the plague for the best part of 48 hours so as not to see who won then when I type in "Alcaraz v Sinner 2025 US Open full match" there's a picture of Alcaraz holding the trophy in the thumbnail, completely spoiling it for me. I can't for the life of me understand why these websites don't just show a picture of both players before the match starts, at least that way there's no indication of who came out on top.

Anyway belated congrats to Carlos, at least Djokovic lost to the eventual champion but it must be very concerning for Sinner and his fans the amount of times he's now lost to his biggest rival on HC, even though he's overall the better player on the surface. Should hopefully be an exciting finish to the season.

Told you that will happen.

 

[marc45]

full match up...

 

[ppmishra]

Yes, that's cool. The better player won decisively yesterday, which Sinner graciously acknowledged
in his presser. Let's see how he responds, game-wise.

I was stunned to see his response in a way. he was definitely gracious in defeat at the net and post match interview but i was also somewhat surprised to see him admit he couldn't have done more. but maybe that's true which is why he was talking about changes to his game long term and losing more initially but fixing/ improving strokes etc. it will be fascinating to watch. for sure

 

[Mark Anderson]

Sinner going to experiment and lose matches to become less predictable?? Won two of the big four and played in all finals. Alcatraz has him going nuts. Change your game because of one player? Maybe he should rethink that thought.

 

[Vincent-C]

Sinner going to experiment and lose matches to become less predictable?? Won two of the big four and played in all finals. Alcatraz has him going nuts. Change your game because of one player? Maybe he should rethink that thought.

Not so much whether Sinner should slightly change his game, but whether he can. Could be interesting.

 

[McGradey]

Sinner going to experiment and lose matches to become less predictable?? Won two of the big four and played in all finals. Alcatraz has him going nuts. Change your game because of one player? Maybe he should rethink that thought.

 

[Spielgame]

People accuse Sinner of doping but ignoring how Carlos is hitting with crazy pace ?? Smh

How can people accuse Sinner of doping if he was tested positive twice and got suspended ?

 

[MichaelNadal]

My favorite thing about the match is that Sinner only got to fistpump a few times

 

[Tallawah Tennis]

Charlie was a possessed monk all fortnight long. Nothing was stopping him. The roof crashing down is the only thing that would have.

Yah man. Focused, determined, outstanding - dude in the zone. Good to 'see' you again @FeroBango. Bet you're enjoying the percieved 'wisdom' on this board getting a kick in the balls....

• Carlitos can't find his way around a hard court..... [apparently the fact that his first slam was on Ashe; 4 of his 8 Masters 1000 are on hard is somehow deemed irrelevant]
• He has no chance with the roof closed ....... [oh dear! The dude beggared up that one too].
• He wouldn't know consistency if it bit him in the neck ...... yeah man, bleddy audacity to call winning 23 tour level titles to date at 22, consistent. Let's skip over the fact that he's won at least a slam a year since 2022, at least 2 slams on all 3 surfaces, and has already won more titles this year to date (7) than in the previous years by winning 2 slams, 3 Masters 1000, Rotterdam & Queens, despite struggling in form up to Miami.

Nice pressers from both dudes. Bang on target from both - they need to keep evolving, which includes learning from each other.
Don't know about you, but despite it being a certainty that nothing is certain, there seems to be a momentum shift somehow,with this win. Intriguing.Let's see.

 

[ALCARAZWON]

Are we thinking these may be fixed, anything's possible these days

Players being friendly off-the-court is the norm these days, in most sports.
NBA basketball especially, rivals from opposing teams are best buddies as soon as the game finishes.
And they smile at each other during the game often too, its the norm.
Tennis has had many cases, even in the 90s and early2000s where high-ranked players were friendly off-the-court.
Hingis and Kournikova were best buddies, Novotna and Hingis were best buddies too.
Nadal and Murray played video games together all year...

 

[Third Serve]

Tennis Abstract just posted match stats: https://tennisabstract.com/charting/20250907-M-US_Open-F-Jannik_Sinner-Carlos_Alcaraz.html

Yeah, Sinner's first serve percentage is pretty woeful. Didn't start off too bad in set one but his match-long stats are severely dragged down by two sets where he served at 46.7% and 36.1%. Also hit only one winner in the third set lol

 

[Vincent-C]

Tennis Abstract just posted match stats: https://tennisabstract.com/charting/20250907-M-US_Open-F-Jannik_Sinner-Carlos_Alcaraz.html

Yeah, Sinner's first serve percentage is pretty woeful. Didn't start off too bad in set one but his match-long stats are severely dragged down by two sets where he served at 46.7% and 36.1%. Also hit only one winner in the third set lol

Pretty bad from Carrot, but the serve was looking shaky for much of the tournament. Hope he can make improvements
there- and a couple of other places. For now Alky's in the driver's seat..

 

[ALCARAZWON]

1ST SERVE % IN
1st Set = Sinner 60, Alcaraz 63
2nd Set = Sinner 47, Alcaraz 53
3rd Set = Sinner 56, Alcaraz 50
4th Set = Sinner 36, Alcaraz 72

https://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/completed_matches/index.html

 

[intrepidish]

1ST SERVE % IN
1st Set = Sinner 60, Alcaraz 63
2nd Set = Sinner 47, Alcaraz 53
3rd Set = Sinner 56, Alcaraz 50
4th Set = Sinner 36, Alcaraz 72

https://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/completed_matches/index.html

I highly doubt most of the people who focus almost exclusively on the serve realize that Sinner won a set with a lower percentage and lost one with a higher 1st serve percentage than Carlos with the 1st set being basically even.

Carlos was going to win that match no matter what Sinner did.

 

[FeroBango]

I highly doubt most of the people who focus almost exclusively on the serve realize that Sinner won a set with a lower percentage and lost one with a higher 1st serve percentage than Carlos with the 1st set being basically even.

Carlos was going to win that match no matter what Sinner did.

Carlos in any case was winning 43 pc of the first serve points on RETURN! I don't think higher percentage would have made much of a difference for Sinner. The gulf was too large that night.

 

[ALCARAZWON]

Carlos in any case was winning 43 pc of the first serve points on RETURN! I don't think higher percentage would have made much of a difference for Sinner. The gulf was too large that night.

Yep i hate to sound greedy but Alcaraz missed a great opportunity to win in straight sets, which would have been incredibly historic.

I remember reading Brad Gilbert's old book "Winning Ugly" and the most memorable lesson was "the happy camper must beware of the wounded bear".
And the use of the word "wounded" has nothing to do with injury... rather its about winning the 1st Set and being too happy with yourself, while your opponent's pride is wounded and they come back and eat you in the 2nd Set.

No matter how motivated Carlos was, his level dropped off in the 2nd Set, and he began netting some regulation groundstrokes.

 

[Aabye5]

Sinner needs to beat Carlos more than 1 time in a blue moon

As long as it is in majors, that is the key.

 

[MichaelNadal]

I'm watching highlights again, sooo good

 

[ChrisJR3264]

As long as it is in majors, that is the key.

Aww now discounting the 1000’s and 500’s huh?

 

[Aabye5]

Aww now discounting the 1000’s and 500’s huh?

For h2h, I do think majors count a bit more. But in terms of titles, I think the point system matters.

 

[ChrisJR3264]

For h2h, I do think majors count a bit more. But in terms of titles, I think the point system matters.

If you’re playing the tournament, they matter

 

[Aabye5]

If you’re playing the tournament, they matter

Of course they matter. The overall count matters also. But if you had to pick your wins who wouldn't pick all the matches in majors?

 

[ChrisJR3264]

Of course they matter. The overall count matters also. But if you had to pick your wins who wouldn't pick all the matches in majors?

Majors are important. And quite sure Carlos owns that H2H as well.

The sinner clan has become super annoying though even when he tarnished the game by doping.

 

[Aabye5]

Majors are important. And quite sure Carlos owns that H2H as well.

On that front you're right

 

[CarlitosWay]

Beanpole is done, stop talking about him. There isn't even a "rivalry." Carlitos has no rival.

 

[FeroBango]

Fascinating

 

[Humble forehand]

Carlitos difficulty at AO is not the balls or conditions. It's the fact that it's too early in the season. Christmas for the Spanish is January 6 and off-season ends that day.

Christmas in Spain is December 25th. January 6th is nativity. I guess the confusion arises from the fact that January 6th marks the end of the winter holidays for kids (but not for adults)

 

[jm1972]

Christmas in Spain is December 25th. January 6th is nativity. I guess the confusion arises from the fact that January 6th marks the end of the winter holidays for kids (but not for adults)

I'm not confused.

 

[Red Rick]

Tennis Abstract just posted match stats: https://tennisabstract.com/charting/20250907-M-US_Open-F-Jannik_Sinner-Carlos_Alcaraz.html

Yeah, Sinner's first serve percentage is pretty woeful. Didn't start off too bad in set one but his match-long stats are severely dragged down by two sets where he served at 46.7% and 36.1%. Also hit only one winner in the third set lol

Serving in general is the one area where there's been very little improvement among top players outside of the Achilles treatment of bathing kids into a river of growth hormones while holding them by the ankle.

So they all serve kinda big cause they're tall, but the main selection criteria winds up being movement, and much less ball striking than it used to be.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Beanpole is done, stop talking about him. There isn't even a "rivalry." Carlitos has no rival.

Exactly

 

[TheVenom1234567]

Going to bed.

I did say how Jannik Sinner ' s serve will decide who wins the match. Unfortunately as of now it's not up to the mark.

Still feel Sinner can beat Alcaraz easily even from here on. But there is not enough focus.

I don't even like any of these guys. No favourites.

But the commentators fawning on Alcaraz make it so hard to not want him to lose

Going to bed.

I did say how Jannik Sinner ' s serve will decide who wins the match. Unfortunately as of now it's not up to the mark.

Still feel Sinner can beat Alcaraz easily even from here on. But there is not enough focus.

I don't even like any of these guys. No favourites.

But the commentators fawning on Alcaraz make it so hard to not want him to lose

Sinner is 1-7 against Alcaraz since 2024 his only win against Alcaraz was in Wimbledon and honestly Alcaraz lost that match by making only 53% of hid first serve.. keep being Delusional.. the only way Sinner can beat Alcaraz is if Alcaraz plays terrible like in Wimbledon but when Alcaraz brings His A game Sinner has no shot which is why he's 1-7 against Alcaraz since 2024.... Alcaraz Peak Level is significantly higher than Sinner...