Alcaraz reclaims No. 1 ranking, beats Sinner to win second US Open Title

Carlos Alcaraz claimed his second US Open crown on Sunday, defeating Jannik Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in a thrilling men’s final that saw former US President Donald Trump receive a mixed reception from the New York crowd.

The 22-year-old Spaniard avenged his Wimbledon final defeat to Sinner, clinching his sixth Grand Slam title and reclaiming the world number one ranking for the first time since September 2023, ending Sinner’s 27-match winning streak on hard courts at major tournaments.

The high-stakes clash, their third consecutive Grand Slam final, was delayed by 30 minutes due to heightened security measures surrounding Trump’s attendance.

The former president, who appeared before the national anthem, was greeted with a combination of cheers and loud boos, which grew more pronounced when he was later shown on the big screens.

Alcaraz dominated early, breaking Sinner twice to take the first set, but the Italian fought back to level the contest.

The Spaniard regained control in the third set with an impressive baseline smash to secure a double break, before sealing victory in the fourth, becoming only the fourth man to win multiple majors on all three surfaces.

Sinner’s defeat extends the Open Era drought of successful US Open men’s title defences, with Roger Federer being the last to retain the crown between 2004 and 2008.

Earlier, Belarusian world number one Aryna Sabalenka successfully defended her US Open title, beating Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) in Saturday’s women’s final.

The victory marked her fourth career Grand Slam and her first title defence at Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams in 2014.

Anisimova, who had defeated Sabalenka at Wimbledon earlier this year, struggled with serving under the closed roof’s lighting, while Sabalenka showcased her resilience after back-to-back Grand Slam final losses in Australia and France.

“It’s crazy, all those tough lessons were worth it for this one. I’m speechless right now,” Sabalenka said after her triumph.

The star-studded final also drew celebrities including Bruce Springsteen, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Douglas, and NBA star Stephen Curry, capping off a dramatic weekend of tennis in New York.