NEW YORK. — Carlos Alcaraz clinched the US Open crown for the second time with a big win over Jannik Sinner on Sunday (Monday in Manila), a victory which showcased the Spaniard’s evolution over the last three years from the impulsiveness of youth to the measured maturity of a six-time Grand Slam winner.
After losing the Wimbledon final to Sinner last July, Alcaraz bounced back with flair and authority to beat the Italian 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 at the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 22-year-old, who won his first Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows in 2022, also returned to the top of the rankings for the first time since 2023 with the win over his great rival.
“The No. 1 (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,” a smiling Alcaraz told reporters.
“Doing it the same day as getting another Grand Slam feels even better.
“It has been two spectacular weeks, at a very high level tennis-wise, but above all mentally, which I am very proud of.
“The first US Open (title) was about my youth and this one is more about maturity. Little by little, I’m growing, I’m learning how to deal with certain situations.”
The transformation from his Wimbledon heartbreak showed Alcaraz’s remarkable adaptability.
“Right after the Wimbledon final, I just thought that I needed to improve if I wanted to beat him,” the Spaniard said.
“If I want to win the US Open, if I want to beat Jannik, I have to play perfectly.”
His performance at Flushing Meadows was indeed close to perfection.
The Spaniard dropped just one set—against Sinner—en route to the championship, and he leaves New York on a 13-match winning streak and with his seventh title of the season in the bag.
