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6 Sep 2025 | 16.30
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will face each other once again in a Grand Slam final. The US Open 2025 will witness a new match for the history books, the third time two tennis titans meet in a major duel for the title in 2025. Spanish and Italian players evenly split the Grand Slams in 2024, each winning two major titles... and now it is the task of the player from Murcia to achieve the same feat just a year later; for that, of course, he must thwart the champion of the last three Grand Slams played on hard courts.
It is by no means an easy task, as various considerations favor the player from Murcia, including the fact that no one in 17 years has managed to defend the title won at Flushing Meadows. The last one to do so was Roger Federer (2008), a not insignificant pressure that, however, has never seemed to break the fierce determination of the Italian player in recent days. The spectacle and virtuosity of Carlos against the cold excellence of Jannik; each match between them is like a chess game with subtle adjustments that can make all the difference. Tomorrow's match, of course, will be no exception.
ESTABLISHING HIMSELF AS THE BEST AND DEFENDING HIS TERRITORY
Jannik Sinner approached this US Open 2025 with the tranquility of having previously overcome his 'curse' against Carlos. The victory at Wimbledon provided a cushion in the interesting rivalry dynamic and, from the fans' 'balance' perspective, almost necessary: there was a risk that only one would dance to the same tune. After each of Sinner's triumphs, a significant adjustment from Alcaraz followed shortly after... and that's what the Italian will want to avoid at all costs: Alcaraz's set of tricks becoming more extensive and valuable than ever.
The Formula? It seems clear, but Jannik has not been able to replicate it as much as he would like in the last twelve days. He struggled against two resurgent Canadians named Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime, capable of capitalizing on a slightly less than optimal serving performance; in the semifinals, in fact, he seemed somewhat below the ideal physical condition when facing Carlos Alcaraz. These nuances are concerning and must be taken into account before conferring the favorite label, a title he has undoubtedly earned due to his hierarchy, status, and performance when the hard court turns blue.
In terms of tennis, few make Alcaraz feel more uncomfortable. Sinner will need to increase his first serve percentages, a key element to prevent Carlos from being creative on the return; his second serves (and increasingly first serves) at the feet already pose a challenge to the Murcian player from the get-go, and on this surface, the serve/return battle takes on even more significance. From the baseline, hammering diagonally across both sides of the court (with a flat, fast pace that prevents Alcaraz from having time to change the type of shot he faces), without fixating too much on one side (Carlos has significantly improved his backhand and is becoming more capable of changing with cross-court shots; even that area was not as successful as desired against Aliassime) appears to be the quickest path to victory.
Of course, attention must be paid to an impressive aspect that, given the narrow margins of this encounter, could be crucial: Sinner's ability to elevate his performance in critical moments of the tournament. Up to 88% of break points saved by the San Candido player, an astonishing statistic that highlights that his best services come under pressure, showing that his game remains solid when the opponent's heartbeat accelerates. Being a relentless force to stifle the creative capacity of his rival: no better stage for that... but, for the first time in a long time, the question of whether that is sufficient looms larger than ever.
ALCARAZ, A GENIUS WHO FOUND CONSISTENCY
Relying on a specific aspect that Carlos Alcaraz already feels comfortable with could be fatal. Never before have we seen Alcaraz handle the various situations and ups and downs throughout an entire tournament with such mastery: he had never reached a Grand Slam final without dropping a set. The overwhelming superiority he displays on the court reflects a total hunger to close the gap, to show that his way is more than valid and to establish himself as the greatest talent of his generation, a response to the incredibly high bar set by Sinner in the last year and a half.
His tennis is the best remedy to neutralize an opponent who drove him crazy in the Wimbledon final. There, the most direct precedent completed between them, Jannik not only matched - or won - the serve-return battle: he was vastly superior from the baseline, finding the parallel shots first and trapping Carlitos in his web. What was missing in Carlos's racket? Surely his team, with JC Ferrero at the helm, will have taken note and worked on it for this final.
Traces were seen in Cincinnati, but the Arthur Ashe will be the stage to unleash all the variables with which Alcaraz has always troubled Sinner. Low sliced balls, diagonal slices, 3/4 shots to lure Jannik into the net, rhythm changes with cross-court shots while playing with second serves... all of that, of course, enhanced and allowed thanks to Alcaraz's aggressive returns at Jannik's feet: the Italian is struggling to find the central zone when playing with second serves (Aliassime punished him on numerous occasions, and his return is far from world-class).
Applying that suffocation formula that the Italian often put on him seems a resounding success: it can raise many doubts and leave Sinner shaken, who has not been averaging excellent percentages on his serves. Carlos has also managed the crucial moments of the match very well, setting up a very evenly matched battle, on paper, in the mental duel. Will Carlitos be able to sustain his bag of tricks for more than three hours, considering that perhaps he has a slight physical advantage and, to top it off, the match will be played at a time that greatly benefits his type of play? We will see the answer in just a few hours, but in the meantime let's make sure to have snacks and supplies for tomorrow, because everything indicates that history of this sport will be made again on Sunday. And here we are to witness it.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, US Open 2025. Análisis de la final masculina, Sinner vs Alcaraz: Algo más que un título
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