Carlos Alcaraz reclaimed the US Open crown for the second time on Sunday with a commanding victory over Jannik Sinner, a win that underlined his transformation from a fearless young talent into a composed and calculated six-time Grand Slam champion. The Spaniard defeated Sinner 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-4 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, bouncing back from his Wimbledon final loss to the Italian in July.
The 22-year-old, who first won the Flushing Meadows title in 2022, also returned to the top of the world rankings for the first time since 2023. Speaking after his victory, Alcaraz expressed his pride in achieving one of his biggest goals. “The number one (ranking) is a goal that I had set myself almost at the beginning of the year and to see that I have achieved it is something incredible,” he said. “Doing it the same day as getting another Grand Slam feels even better.”
Reflecting on his growth as a player, Alcaraz highlighted the maturity he displayed throughout the tournament. “It has been two spectacular weeks, at a very high level tennis-wise, but above all mentally, which I am very proud of,” he said. “The first US Open (title) was about my youth and this one is more maturity. Little by little I’m growing, I’m knowing how to deal with certain situations.”
After his Wimbledon heartbreak, Alcaraz admitted he had to elevate his game to overcome Sinner. “Right after the Wimbledon final I just thought that I need to improve if I want to beat him,” he said. “If I want to win the US Open, if I want to beat Jannik, I have to play perfect.”
His performance in New York was close to perfection, as he dropped just one set in the entire tournament – against Sinner in the final – and now leaves the city with a 13-match winning streak and his seventh title of the season. “I feel like this is the best tournament so far that I have ever played,” Alcaraz said. “The consistency of my level during the whole tournament has been really high, which I’m really proud of.”
His coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, praised his evolution since winning his first major in 2022. “Back then, he was still playing on impulse, almost unconsciously,” Ferrero said. “Today you see a player with much more experience, who knows how to read the big moments, who arrives on court calmer, clearer about what he needs to do.”
Ferrero, however, noted that there is still more work to be done. “Like any player he has weaknesses, but he’s improving them all the time,” he added. “There’s still plenty of room to grow. If we ever think he’s perfect, that’s when we’ll be making the biggest mistake.”
Looking ahead, Alcaraz has set his sights on completing a career Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open. “It’s my first goal, to complete a career Grand Slam. It’s always been in my mind,” he said. “I’ll try to complete it next year, but if it’s not next year, then in two, three, or four. I just want to complete it.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
Follow us on:
