The five great moments of Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open

Carlos Alcaraz on a tennis court represents joy, vitality, creativity, and showmanship. This understanding of the sport as an oil painting to draw inspiration from, but also to create, daring to step off the script, seeking victory while connecting with the audience. This philosophy fits very well with certain venues on the ATP circuit, places where the atmosphere can become street-like, where the public appreciates those who put on a show. His style is perfect for New York, for the noise of the city that never sleeps, for the madness that erupts during night sessions... and all of this has created an inseparable bond with the last Grand Slam of the season.

Now, the Murcian returns to competition, and few places seem more suitable for him than the US Open 2026. Carlitos connects wonderfully with the American audience: he offers them that conception of sport as entertainment, so prevalent in the United States, and he never loses his smile or competitiveness along the way. Since arriving at the elite, the player from El Palmar has provided a plethora of unforgettable moments at Arthur Ashe: let's review the five best, moments that marked his career and turned him into a star in the eyes of the American public.

These are the five best moments of Alcaraz's career in New York

5 - Total dominance to regain control of the wolf

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have starred over the last few years in one of the most spectacular rivalries in tennis history of this century. A constant back and forth beyond the age difference in which both have taken a privileged place in the history of their rivalry. Nole was Carlos's victim at his first Wimbledon; Carlos was Nole's victim in his Olympic square of the circle in Paris... and before the US Open 2025 semifinals, it was the Serbian who had once again tamed his 'pupil'.

The context of the rivalry had turned towards a dominant Djokovic, capable, even, of regaining that mental dominance over an Alcaraz who doubted his playing patterns with the Serbian on the other side. He had just defeated him in the Olympic final and had gotten inside his head in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open... but none of that was repeated in an excellent semifinal, sober, with an imposing Alcaraz from the serve and without any hint of doubt in the important moments (including the tiebreak of the second set). An imperial performance to recover from past wounds and arrive absolutely launched to the final against Sinner.

4 - The most complete Alcaraz conquers his second US Open

And if the match against Djokovic served to recover him mentally, the final against Jannik Sinner, just two days later, unleashed the best Alcaraz from a tennis perspective. In the supposed territory of the Italian, defending champion, he played wonderfully, showcasing that 'serve 2.0' that gave him the advantage from the very first point of the match.

US Open, 2022 / 2025 pic.twitter.com/ZSnZsUkkxt

— alcaraz archive (@alcarchive) August 23, 2026

The impressive improvement of the Murcian in short points and in free points thanks to the serve was the containment dam against Sinner, who barely managed to take a set but was always trailing behind his rival. Winning your second US Open feels very good; when you snatch it from your greatest generational rival, of course, it feels even better. A flawless coronation in which, moreover, he took revenge for his last Major final against the Italian (Wimbledon), demonstrating that these duels have turned into a great game of chess.

3 - The debut to the public in 2021

Sleepless nights glued to the television, the anticipation of seeing a star emerge from the shell, the magic of experiencing an emergence live. Carlos Alcaraz made his debut in society at that magical US Open 2021, when at just 18 years old he reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinals in an absolutely magical week and a half. He had given some prior warnings, winning his first ATP title months earlier in Umag... but what he did in that tournament surpassed everyone's expectations.

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With Juan Carlos Ferrero in the box, a teenager took over the Big Apple. His presentation to the public took place in the third round when Arthur Ashe became too small for him in a nail-biting match against Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek, the third seed and recent finalist at Roland Garros, was surprised by a hurricane that already showed hints of his good performance under pressure: he lifted a 5-2 and 40-15 deficit in the third set and faced the final super tiebreak with the calm of a veteran, proving from the start that he was born to win the important points. The birth of a star... and the warning of what was to come.

2 - The first great dagger on Sinner in an unforgettable match

In 50 years, we will write articles recalling what the US Open 2022 was. After defeating Marin Cilic in the round of 16, in a match with the scent of a classic night session in New York, the organization rubbed its hands with a diamond destined to leave the audience on their feet under the madness of Flushing Meadows. On the other side of the net, an emerging redhead eager to claim his place in the elite: there was no better setting for a new night session for a quarterfinal that went around the world.

No one knew at that moment what would happen in the future, but that night Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner gave us the first great course of a rivalry that would have many more dishes. The future of tennis was presented in society on U.S. soil: a total display of bravery, strength, and precision, with constant changes, tennis of the highest level and that dramatic and tense component that every good match needs. Five hours and 15 minutes in an epic eclogue that ended close to 3 AM, the match that elevated Alcaraz to a new competitive level, saving a match point and coming back from a two sets to one deficit. Unforgettable.

1 - Alcaraz reaches the top of the planet

There are few feelings more special than conquering your first Grand Slam. If the achievement comes with an ascent to number one, the triumph is worth double and has a sweeter taste: when you achieve it at 19 years old and become the youngest number one in history, you can imagine the magnitude in which such a triumph places you.

The top spot in the rankings was at stake in a final where Alcaraz ignored the status of a big player like Casper Ruud. He had beaten him in Miami, and his playing style seemed favorable to the Murcian, determined to attack the Norwegian's backhand, but the final reached a turning point where Carlos showcased his greatness once again: Casper had a set point to take the third set and put himself up 2-1 in the final. Another 19-year-old would have succumbed, in his first Slam final, with pressure at an all-time high... but Carlos is not just anyone, and he came back from that disadvantage, took another great tiebreak, and headed to the top of the planet. New York, the city that never sleeps, a firsthand witness to an unrivaled coronation.

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