Jannik Sinner will face Carlos Alcaraz in their third consecutive Grand Slam final this season as the tennis rivals prepare for Sunday's U.S. Open championship match. The high-stakes encounter at Flushing Meadows won't just determine the tournament winner—it will also decide who claims the world number one ranking on Monday.
These two young stars have dominated men's tennis in 2024, creating what many consider the sport's most compelling rivalry. Their previous Grand Slam finals this year produced contrasting results, with Alcaraz staging a remarkable comeback at Roland Garros after Sinner held triple championship point in the fourth set.
"It doesn't get any bigger than this in tennis right now," noted one analyst watching their rivalry unfold throughout the season.
Sinner, however, rebounded at Wimbledon with a more straightforward four-set victory (4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4). The 24-year-old Italian now seeks to equal his Spanish rival's major title count at five.
Their head-to-head record stands at 9-5 in Alcaraz's favor, though their most recent meeting in Cincinnati can't be considered representative as Sinner retired after just five games due to illness.
Interestingly, the hard court surface at Flushing Meadows might give Sinner a slight edge. He's won the last three hard-court Grand Slams—back-to-back Australian Open titles and last year's U.S. Open championship.
The rivals have a history of playing marathon matches that become instant classics. Their 2022 U.S. Open quarterfinal stretched to five sets and 56 games, with Alcaraz eventually prevailing 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-3. They've also battled through five sets at the French Open semifinals and went to a final-set tiebreaker in Beijing later that season.
One potential concern for Sinner fans: he appeared to deal with a minor abdominal issue during his semifinal victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime. While not decisive in his four-set win, it did impact his serving performance, with just 53 percent first serves landing in.
Will this physical concern affect Sunday's championship match? Or will we witness another legendary battle between the two finest players of their generation? Tennis fans worldwide are eagerly awaiting the answer.
