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Jannik Sinner Admits Carlos Alcaraz Played Better Than Him After Being Outplayed in US Open Final

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Gouri Das | Last updated Sep 8, 2025 11:05 AM ET

Carlos Alcaraz did things better than Jannik Sinner when the two faced off in the US Open final on September 7. Sinner admitted the same during the press conference, giving full credit to his arch-rival for the way he performed.

Alcaraz downed Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in two hours and 42 minutes to clinch his second US Open title as well as reclaim his No.1 ranking, ending Sinner’s 65-week reign. He stopped Sinner from becoming the first man since Roger Federer (2008) to defend the crown at Flushing Meadows.

He has improved. I felt like it was a bit cleaner today. The things I did well in London, he did better today. I felt like he was doing everything slightly better today. Especially serving. Both sides, both wings very clean. I think that’s it.
Jannik Sinner said at the press conference

Alcaraz’s winners tally was 42, half of which Sinner hit. Only once did Sinner break Alcaraz in the match, while the latter converted five of his 11 break points. Throughout the tournament, Alcaraz dropped a set only in the final.

I give lots of credit to him. He handled the situation better than I did. He raised his level when he had to. I’m still proud of myself and the season I’m playing and making. He played better than me today.
Jannik Sinner added

Sinner now trails 5-10 in the head-to-head matchups. In New York, they clashed for the fifth time this season following their meetings at the Italian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and Cincinnati Masters. The only time the Italian clinched the win was at Wimbledon, while in Cincinnati, he gave a walkover as he was ill.

Alcaraz reached the top of the rankings after his first Grand Slam victory at the 2022 US Open, but was dethroned the following year in September. The US Open win has made him the second-youngest man to take home six Grand Slam titles in the Open Era after Bjorn Borg. Alcaraz also broke Sinner’s 27-match winning streak in hard-court Grand Slam events.

Jannik Sinner on facing Carlos Alcaraz versus other players

Since last year’s Canadian Open, Jannik Sinner suffered defeat against only one player who was not Carlos Alcaraz. It was Alexander Bublik, the eventual winner of this year’s Halle Open, who beat Sinner in the second round.

Sinner is nearly invincible against other players, but Alcaraz has become his Kryptonite. Last year, he lost just six times, half of which were to Alcaraz alone. This year, he holds a 37-5 win-loss record, with four of his defeats coming from the now six-time Grand Slam champion.

He’s just a different player. It’s very simple. He’s different player. He doesn’t have weakness, for example, which maybe some players…they have weaknesses than… You try to play tactically in a way. But I feel like mostly we have some history, some head-to-head, some different surface battles now. And I think that’s makes it quite interesting.
Jannik Sinner said at the press conference

The Spaniard has also increased his Big Titles tally to 14, while Sinner has nine of them. Alcaraz also denied Sinner his third Major as well as his third title of the season. Sinner would have become the seventh man in the Open Era to win three Major singles in a calendar year had he defended the title.

The World No.2 defended his Australian Open crown by defeating Alexander Zverev and later suffered a five-set defeat to Alcaraz in the French Open final. Reaching these finals has made the four-time Grand Slam champion the youngest man to play all four Major finals in a season.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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