Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the US Open final on Sunday in New York, claiming his second US Open title and sixth Grand Slam championship overall, while former President Donald Trump’s presence at the match drew mixed reactions from the crowd.The victory allows 22-year-old Alcaraz to reclaim the world number one ranking from Sinner, marking his return to the top spot for the first time since September 2023. The win also ended Sinner’s impressive 27-match winning streak at hard-court Grand Slams.“I tried my best today. I couldn’t do more,” Sinner said after his defeat, which marked his second Grand Slam final loss to Alcaraz following their French Open encounter in June.The match continued the trend of unsuccessful title defences in the men’s US Open, with no player managing to retain the crown since Roger Federer’s five consecutive victories from 2004 to 2008.
President Donald Trump (R), Steve Witkoff, (C), and US Attorney General Pam Bondi watch the 2025 US Open final in New York. (AP)
Trump’s attendance added an extra dimension to the highly anticipated third straight Grand Slam final between the sport’s top two players. His appearance alongside other celebrities, including Bruce Springsteen, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Douglas, and Steph Curry, drew attention from the crowd.The former president’s presence necessitated enhanced security measures, causing a 30-minute delay to the match start time. When Trump arrived before the national anthem, the crowd responded with a mixture of cheers and boos, with the negative reaction intensifying when he was shown again on the stadium screens later.The enhanced security measures resulted in the 24,000-capacity Arthur Ashe Stadium being only three-quarters full when the match began, with Alcaraz breaking Sinner’s serve in the opening game.Alcaraz dominated the first set, securing a second break for a 5-2 lead before serving out to love. However, Sinner fought back in the second set, taking a 3-1 lead as Alcaraz’s serve momentarily faltered.
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After Sinner levelled the match at one set each, Alcaraz regained control in the third set with an early break. He showcased his skills with a remarkable baseline smash that helped him establish a 3-0 lead.Alcaraz maintained his momentum, securing another break to take the third set. He continued his strong play into the fourth set, breaking Sinner’s serve in the fifth game.The Spanish champion held onto his advantage to close out the match, becoming only the fourth player in history to win multiple major titles on hard court, grass, and clay surfaces.
