Tennis
U.S. Open
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Updated 50s ago
Carlos Alcaraz is closing in on victory over Jannik Sinner in the men’s final of the 2025 U.S. Open.
Alcaraz is a break of serve up in the fourth set after dismantling the defending champion in the third. The score is Sinner* 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, 3-5 Alcaraz.
President Donald Trump is at today’s final and drew boos with a smattering of cheers from the crowd. The final was delayed because “of the security measures in place” because of Trump’s attendance.
Loud roar from the crowd as Carlos Alcaraz prepares to serve for the U.S. Open title.
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Sinner 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, 4-5* Alcaraz
Sinner holds and does what he can to delay things.
Can he break Alcaraz to save the match? It will need something special.
Sinner 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, *3-5 Alcaraz
And he is one game away from winning a second U.S. Open title.
He moved through that service game with such consistency and ease.
There’s still time left but I’m struggling to remember such a clear-headed, controlled performance in a big match from Carlos Alcaraz.
The accepted wisdom on this rivalry is that Alcaraz has the higher floor but lower ceiling than Sinner, but today he has shown a level of solidity and focus we generally associate with his opponent.
Sinner 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, 3-4* Alcaraz
Sinner looked on course for a first love service hold of this match but Alcaraz smacked a forehand winner with a grunt to stop that from happening.
As it is, he still holds his serve — but he is going to need to break his opponent to keep his hopes of retaining the U.S. Open alive.
Jannik Sinner’s serving just hasn’t been good enough today. It was a truly terrible time for a double fault in that game, which ultimately paved the way for Carlos Alcaraz to get the commanding break in this set.
A solid match from Alcaraz, who weathered the lull in the second set to play some terrific tennis in these third and fourth sets.
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Sinner 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, *2-4 Alcaraz
And it looks an awfully big ask for Jannik Sinner from here as the Spaniard holds.
Let’s see what he can do…
Jannik Sinner briefly roared into life in the second set but he has been nowhere near his formidable best this evening.
He needs to find his A-game — and fast — if he’s going to break back and force a decisive fifth set against an inspired Carlos Alcaraz.
Sinner 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, 2-3* Alcaraz
Now then.
Some of the best points in this match have come at the net and there was another stunning exchange in that game that went Alcaraz’s way.
Sinner’s team are on their feet in his box to encourage him on but a double fault made life difficult. Alcaraz has the upper hand now.
Sinner* 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, 2-2 Alcaraz
And that was another big serving game from the No. 2 seed.
A 131mph ace in the mix from Alcaraz there, as well as a few that simply were not returnable.
At this stage of the final, that is impressive.
This is one of Jannik Sinner’s many supporters in the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. Seated in the upper bowl, she’s wearing an orange hat and has a cutout poster in support of the Italian with a carrot on it.
Every time Sinner hits an incredible shot, she stands on her feet. Like all Sinner fans, she’s hoping for a fifth set.
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A bit of a lax return game from Alcaraz with one flubby second-serve return and one missed in the net.
All the pressure is on Sinner, but Alcaraz can't afford to give him an easy ride through the fourth.
Sinner 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, 2-1 Alcaraz*
Nothing too taxing for Sinner in that game, with another hold on the board.
He will not consider himself out of this yet and for good reason. The momentum has swung more than once already in this match.
Sinner* 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, 1-1 Alcaraz
It is going to take something special for one of these players to win this match and there have been glimmers from Alcaraz.
He played some big points in that game to hold, with the winner drawing applause from Steph Curry in the stands.
Sinner spoke this week about how he's improved his net game.
Good grief he showed it there with that mind-bending, potentially match-saving backhand drop volley down break point.
Sinner 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 Alcaraz*
Alcaraz is clearly up for this. He headed out to the baseline early at the start of the fourth set, presumably in a bid to keep his momentum rolling.
And it looked like it had worked as he got up to break point but Sinner denied him.
Alcaraz has bossed Sinner over this last set and a game, showing his ability to move forward at the net.
But a stunning Sinner backhand drop volley — which had the Italian waving his fingers in the air in celebration — saved him the game. He goes on to hold. Clipping the best points for the highlight reel is not going to be an easy job.
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What an astonishing game!
Jannik Sinner just generated an unbelievable amount of slice on his drop shot while facing break point. Are you kidding me?!
Carlos Alcaraz is somehow able to get that ball. But Sinner delivers the volley winner to save the break point chance.
Wow what a potentially match-saving point for the Italian!
And on and on this titanic game goes…
Sinner* 2-6, 6-3, 1-6 Alcaraz
The energy in this third set has completely dissipated. Jannik Sinner is just conserving energy at this point and so Carlos Alcaraz is able to wrap it up without ever really getting out of first gear.
He holds to 15.
If Sinner is going to defend his title at Flushing Meadows he’s going to need to do it in five.
Sinner 2-6, 6-3, 1-5 Alcaraz*
Does Jannik Sinner have the energy to starve off the bagel? Carlos Alcaraz isn’t easing up and the Spaniard wins the second point of the game in emphatic fashion, battering Sinner to the back of the court and then rushing forward to finish the point at the net. 15-all.
But Alcaraz then whistles three returns long as Sinner finally gets on the board in this peculiar third set.