The 2025 U.S. Open men’s singles final is set to serve up another electrifying chapter in the burgeoning rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Tennis fans around the world are buzzing as these two young superstars prepare to clash on Sunday, September 7, at 7 p.m. ET at the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City. If you’re looking for a matchup loaded with history, recent drama, and family pride, this one’s got it all.
Friday’s semifinals delivered everything a Grand Slam should: tension, athletic brilliance, and a sense of destiny. Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Spanish phenom and current world No. 2, dispatched Novak Djokovic in straight sets—6-4, 7-6, 6-2—in just under two and a half hours. It was a performance brimming with confidence and poise, as Alcaraz’s relentless baseline aggression and deft touch repeatedly left Djokovic scrambling. On the other side of the draw, Italy’s Jannik Sinner, the top seed, faced a much sterner test from Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime. Sinner ultimately prevailed in four sets—6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4—after a marathon encounter that stretched well over three hours.
With these results, Alcaraz and Sinner are set to meet in their third consecutive Grand Slam final, a streak that’s quickly becoming one of the sport’s most compelling storylines. Their head-to-head in major finals is split: Sinner triumphed at Wimbledon earlier this summer, while Alcaraz edged Sinner in a five-hour, 29-minute epic at Roland Garros, the longest French Open final in history. Who will claim the upper hand in New York? The tennis world is holding its breath.
The venue for this high-stakes showdown is the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, specifically the legendary Arthur Ashe Stadium. With a seating capacity of 23,771, it’s the largest tennis stadium on the planet and has played host to countless unforgettable moments since opening its doors in 1997. Located in Flushing Meadows, Queens, the center is a crown jewel for American tennis and a fitting stage for a rivalry of this magnitude.
For Alcaraz, the 2025 season has been another whirlwind of success and personal milestones. Since capturing his first Grand Slam at the U.S. Open in 2022—becoming the youngest man in the Open Era to do so—he’s added four more major titles to his name, tallying an impressive 21 singles trophies overall. But despite the solo nature of tennis, Alcaraz is quick to credit his tight-knit family for keeping him grounded and focused amid the glare of the spotlight.
“His family has a very important role to play in keeping him grounded,” coach Juan Carlos Ferrero told Vogue in 2023. That support system is ever-present, from his father, Carlos Sr., who was a nationally ranked player in Spain before turning to coaching and club management, to his mother, Virginia, whose home-cooked paella and Andalusian dishes are the stuff of legend in the Alcaraz household. “There’s no food like my mother’s anywhere in the world. That’s for sure,” Alcaraz shared in his Netflix docu-series, Carlos Alcaraz: My Way.
Alcaraz’s journey began on the red clay courts of the Real Sociedad Club de Campo de Murcia, a facility established decades ago by his grandfather, Carlos Alcaraz Lerma. The decision to build red clay courts—a pricier but more prestigious option in Spain—proved prophetic. Today, the club stands as a testament to the family’s commitment to the sport and to each other.
Then there are his three brothers, each playing a unique role in Carlos’s rise. Álvaro, the eldest, was a nationally ranked junior and now serves as Carlos’s hitting partner. The two often share hotel rooms on tour, and their sibling antics are never far from the surface. Just before the U.S. Open kicked off this year, Álvaro tried to help Carlos trim his hair, only for things to go hilariously awry. “Suddenly my brother just misunderstood with the machine. He just cut it and the only way to fix it is just to shave it off. To be honest it’s not that good… it’s not that bad I guess,” Carlos told reporters at Flushing Meadows.
Sergio, aged 16, is still at home but frequently appears in Carlos’s player box at major tournaments, soaking up the atmosphere and learning from his big brother. Jaime, the youngest at 14, is already making waves on the junior circuit, having won his first-round qualifying match at the prestigious Les Petits As event in France earlier this year. “I love tennis but I love even more being the older brother of my little ones,” Carlos told The Times in 2024. “Being the role model for them, not as a tennis player but a person. That is the most important thing—to help them learn about the things that matter in life.”
This sense of family and humility is part of what makes Alcaraz such a compelling champion. After winning Wimbledon in 2023, his first thought wasn’t of parties or endorsements, but of home. “Honestly, to go back home and be with my family, to be with them again and eat with them. I miss it. I miss those routines of being in my village and with my friends, being at home; not doing much, you know? Just enjoy having that feeling of being at ease with them and having a few laughs.”
Across the net, Jannik Sinner brings his own brand of quiet intensity and steely resolve. The Italian’s 2025 campaign has been nothing short of remarkable, with a successful defense of his Australian Open title and a hard-fought victory over Alcaraz at Wimbledon. Sinner’s consistency and unflappable demeanor have made him a fan favorite and a formidable opponent for anyone, including Alcaraz.
Meanwhile, the women’s side of the draw has been equally dramatic. Amanda Anisimova, after a stunning semifinal upset over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon, found herself on the receiving end of a 6-0, 6-0 “double-bagel” from Iga Świątek in the final. Yet Anisimova bounced back at the U.S. Open, toppling Świątek in the quarterfinals and earning a shot at redemption in Saturday’s final.
As the final Grand Slam of the year reaches its crescendo, the anticipation is palpable. Will Alcaraz avenge his Wimbledon defeat, or will Sinner assert his recent dominance? One thing’s for certain: with their families watching from the stands, and a global audience tuned in, both men are poised to deliver another classic under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
With history on the line and a rivalry that’s just getting started, Sunday’s final promises to be a match for the ages. Stay tuned—this story is far from over.
