Carlos Alcaraz defeats Jannik Sinner score, result, highlights, who won? video, head-to-head

Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz is on top of the world once again after securing a second US Open title with a sizzling display against arch-rival Jannik Sinner in a battle of the tennis titans in New York on Sunday.

Three years after becoming the youngest ever world No.1 with a success at Flushing Meadows, Alcaraz dethroned Sinner at the top of the rankings when defeating the reigning champion 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-4 in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

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Alcaraz is the second youngest man ever to own six grand slam titles behind Bjorn Borg and his success in Queens saw the two dynamos at the top of the sport split honours throughout the major season.

The pair were the first men in the open era to play against each other in three grand slam finals in a season and, having split the past eight major titles between them, are the new standard bearers in the sport.

Sinner was supreme at the Australian Open in a tournament where Alcaraz, who was beaten in a quarterfinal by Novak Djokovic, is yet to produce his best form.

But the Spaniard, who has made at least the final in his past eight tournaments, bounced back in an extraordinary final at Roland Garros when saving three match points to edge Sinner in one of the all-time classics.

Sinner rebounded to win a maiden Wimbledon title in stylish fashion when denying Alcaraz a three-peat at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

But Alcaraz had presented as the superior player on the slick hard courts in New York over the past fortnight and was able to end Sinner’s 27-match winning streak on the surface in majors, which dated back to the 2023 US Open, with a sublime serving performance.

Alcaraz praised Sinner for a remarkable season in which he featured in all four major finals, the first player to manage that feat since Djokovic, who he defeated in a semi-final, in 2023.

“I wanted to start with Jannik. It is unbelievable what you are doing through the whole season,” he said.

“It is a great level through ever tournament you are playing. I am seeing you more than my family and it is great to share the court, share the locker rooms, share everthing with you, watching you improve ever day with great people around you.

“My team, my family, I am lucky. I really lucky to have you guys, to be honest. The hard work you are making to make even better … I am really proud with the people I have around.

“Every achievement I am having because of you. I am really lucky to have part of my family here as well. It is great support I am receiving from you, so thankyou very much.”

Sinner offered praise to his rival Carlos Alcaraz, to his own team and also to outgoing USTA chief executive Stacey Allaster during a classy speech on the stage.

“You are doing amazing. I know it is a lot of hard work behind this performance toda. Ou were better than me, so congrats. Enjoy it. It is a great moment,” Sinner said.

“It has been an incredible season. A lot of big season and matches we have played throughout this season. I tried my best today. I could not do more.”

This final, which was delayed for thirty minutes to enable fans to get into the stadium given the presence of US President Donald Trump at Flushing Meadows for the first time in a decade, was not a classic given the Spaniard’s dominance for most of the match.

But as one of the hottest rivalries in world sport, it is scarcely surprising it drew superstars from other arenas, with the former television host turned polarising President — yes, he was booed when showed on screen — far from the only big name in attendance.

Actor Danny DeVito, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, singer Pink and superstar basketballer Steph Curry were among those in Arthur Ashe Stadium for their third grand slam final meeting this year.

There was tennis royalty watching on as well, with former world No.1s Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Stefan Edberg, Martina Navratilova and Marin Safin in attendance, so too Martina Navratilova, while Juan Carlos Ferrero coaches Alcaraz.

If the security lines outside the Billie Jean King Tennis Centre seemed static for hours given the enhanced security measures in place due to the presence of the President, there was been little static about the final early on with some wild momentum swings.

Alcaraz entered the final without dropping a set and was brilliant in the infancy of the match, carrying his phenomenal form throughout the major into the decider against the now-dethroned world No.1.

Using his drop shot with a flourish, he was able to disrupt the rhythm of the Italian, who has been the supreme hard court player in the world for the past two years, to snare two breaks.

Alcaraz gave himself time to settle into the final when opting to receive after winning the toss and it reaped an immediate reward when the reigning Wimbledon champion erred repeatedly in rallies to drop serve.

He struck his forehand, in particular, at full throttle and this had Sinner scrambling, which is quite the feat given how remarkably well the 24-year-old moves on hard courts.

A statistical assessment matched what the eye was suggesting, with Alcaraz thumping 11 winners for the set while making just two unforced errors.

But Sinner, who has clinched two Australian Opens and a US Open his 27-match winning streak on hard courts in majors, struck back in the second set, which is scarcely surprising given his quality.

In a final paid at a rapid pace after the delayed start, the right-hander went toe-to-toe from the baseline with Alcaraz and was able to secure just the third service break for the tournament against the Spaniard. It was to be his only break point for the match.

This proved the catalyst for Alcaraz dropping a set for the first time in the Open. It also preserved some Australian history, with the nation’s former Davis Cup-winning captain Neale Fraser the last man to win a US Open in 1960 without dropping a set.

The Italian was far better on return through the second set when making his rival play regularly, lifting the percentage of points he clinched on his second serve from 14 per cent to 67 per cent in the set, while Alcaraz erred more frequently under pressure in rallies.

After 1hr 20min, the decider was on level pegging and the prospect remained this might become a classic to match their decider at Roland Garros back in early June.

It was a test for Alcaraz as well, for having won the first set in the Wimbledon decider, Sinner was able to rattle off the next three in a complete performance.

He responded to the challenge in phenomenal fashion with a third set blitz that, until the Italian was able to hold serve in the final game, shaped as the first love set between them.

It was partly due to the brilliance of Alcaraz, who frequently struck the Sinner second serve on the rise from inside the baseline in an aggressive move, which rattled the Italian.

Sinner is metronomic in his rallies but he made for more errors when pressing, with an overcooked forehand on break point in the second game a case in point.

With his nose back ahead, the 22-year-old Spaniard when for the jugular and raced through what was an extraordinary third set given the dominance from Alcaraz.

The start of the fourth set became an arm wrestle as the Italian, who required off-court treatment in his semifinal triumph, tried to stay with his Spanish foe.

It led to some scintillating tennis, which included some remarkable volleying from Sinner when facing a second break point in an opening game that stretched nearly ten minutes.

But the pressure applied by Alacaraz, which had been impeccable throughout the entirety of the fortnight, continued and ultimately got the better of Sinner.

Once again it was his forehand which faltered as the intensity lifted further at 2-all.

Alcaraz won an extended exchange and drew a backhand volley error from his arch-rival, before securing his fifth service break for the final when Sinner overhit a forehand.

The Italian was able to save two match points with some superb shots, with a backhand return in particular blinding in its brilliance, before Alcaraz closed out the triumph with another booming serve wide to the backhand wing.

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