Sinner pointed out the main reason for losing the US Open final, emphasizing that even if he loses more matches in the future, change is necessary.

Speaking of a plot twist, Alcaraz achieved just that on Monday early morning Beijing time at Arthur Ashe Stadium, facing more than 20,000 fans. Maybe this was revenge for the Wimbledon final—where his nemesis Sinner dethroned him on grass; this time, the Spaniard was back to conquer and regain his honor. For Sinner, the US Open title and the top world ranking were still up in the air. However, Alcaraz defeated him with a superior performance, ending the match faster than expected. That winning ace down the line was the clearest proof of his dominant control in this peak showdown.

After 2 hours and 42 minutes, Alcaraz emerged as the final winner, securing his second US Open title. This year’s hardcourt run in New York was undoubtedly a perfect comeback for the Spaniard, as his astonishing record—21 sets won to only 1 lost—speaks volumes. While adding another Grand Slam trophy to his cabinet, he also rightfully reclaimed the ATP world No.1 ranking, a position he held a year ago.

On the other side, Sinner struggled to hide his frustration after this heartbreaking defeat. In the post-match interview, when analyzing the issues in his performance, the Italian admitted, “Today, my game was easy for my opponent to predict. He changed the rhythm of the match, which is typical of his style. Whether I need to make adjustments next is up to me. We will definitely work on this aspect.” He also regretted not “using more drop shots, because when facing Carlos, you have to step out of your comfort zone.”

Trying to find some light beyond the shadow of defeat, he solemnly promised, “I will work hard… maybe I will lose some matches ahead, but I want to try to make changes and become less predictable. This is something I must do, to become a better tennis player. Ultimately, that is my main goal.”

Having suffered his seventh loss in eight encounters against Alcaraz, a defeat that also cost Sinner the world No.1 spot, he acknowledged it was time for change. The 24-year-old Italian reflected on their rivalry and expressed his intention to break the deadlock. In the post-match press conference, Sinner admitted he had become too “predictable” and stressed that if he wants to turn things around, his playing style must continuously evolve.

In recent years, Sinner has been nearly unbeatable on hard courts, entering the Flushing Meadows final with an impressive 27-match winning streak in Grand Slam hard-court matches. However, Alcaraz has now defeated him four times in a row on the very surface where Sinner excels the most.

Sinner’s long-standing dominance is based on his ability to aggressively control opponents from the baseline, a weapon that helped him beat Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final this July to claim his first Wimbledon title. But in the US Open final, with the world No.1 ranking at stake, Sinner was completely overwhelmed by Alcaraz. Over the 2-hour 42-minute battle, Alcaraz hit 42 winners, nearly double Sinner’s 21.

“He has definitely improved. I felt his game was cleaner today. What I did well in London, he did even better today,” Sinner said comparing the two finals. “That’s the result. I think he was slightly better in all aspects today, especially his serve and both wings, which were very clean and sharp.”

Failing to defend his US Open title and set to drop to world No.2 on Monday, he remains proud of his achievements in 2025. With titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, plus finals appearances at the French Open and US Open, Sinner became the fourth male player in the Open Era to reach all four Grand Slam finals in the same season.

“Overall, it’s been a fantastic season,” Sinner said. “Four Grand Slam finals this year. Two Grand Slam titles, two runner-ups—isn’t that incredible? I’m very happy, and now we will try to finish the year as strongly as possible.”(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)