Carlos Alcaraz’s commanding 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Jannik Sinner in the 2025 US Open final on September 7, 2025, was a masterclass in tactical execution, propelling the 22-year-old Spaniard back to the world No. 1 ranking and securing his sixth Grand Slam title. The win, which ended Sinner’s 65-week reign as No. 1, was no fluke—it stemmed from a carefully crafted game plan honed by Alcaraz and his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, following a private request from Alcaraz after his Wimbledon final loss to Sinner in July 2025. Ferrero revealed the key edge Alcaraz holds over Sinner: a versatile, unpredictable game that disrupts Sinner’s rhythm, paired with a significantly improved serve.
The Private Request: A Plan to Beat Sinner
After Sinner defeated Alcaraz in the 2025 Wimbledon final, a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 match that halted Alcaraz’s bid for a third straight title on grass, Alcaraz privately approached Ferrero with a clear directive: identify and fix the weaknesses exposed in that loss to ensure victory in their next meeting. “I spent two weeks before Cincinnati just practising some specific things about my game that I felt like I need to improve if I want to beat Jannik,” Alcaraz told *The Athletic*. Ferrero, a former world No. 1 and 2003 French Open champion, took the request to heart, leading to an intensive analysis of Sinner’s game.
Ferrero disclosed to *Sportskeeda* that their preparation focused on exploiting Sinner’s predictability. “We prepared the match very good, watching some matches and seeing the specific details we had to play. Carlos did 100 per cent,” Ferrero said. He emphasized Alcaraz’s commitment to aggressive play, stating, “Carlos compromised himself to go for the match all the time, tried to put pressure on the rival sooner than Jannik. I think it’s one of the keys.” This approach leveraged Alcaraz’s versatility—his ability to mix slices, drop shots, topspin, and flat shots—to unsettle Sinner’s metronomic baseline game.
The Edge: Versatility and an Upgraded Serve
Ferrero pinpointed Alcaraz’s edge over Sinner as his “variety” in shot-making, which contrasts sharply with Sinner’s more predictable style. “Carlos has maybe more variety in his game, and he can do more, like slice, go to the net, and do more things than maybe Jannik,” Ferrero told *Sportskeeda*. This versatility was evident in the US Open final, where Alcaraz’s 42 winners dwarfed Sinner’s 21, and his use of skidding slices, drop shots, and net approaches kept Sinner off balance, as noted by *The Guardian*. Sinner himself admitted post-match, “I didn’t make one serve-volley, didn’t use a lot of drop shots, and then you arrive to a point where you play Carlos and have to go out of the comfort zone,” per *ATP Tour*.
The second critical component was Alcaraz’s revamped serve, which Ferrero identified as a game-changer. Historically a weak point—Alcaraz lost 24 service games en route to his 2022 US Open title—he transformed it into a weapon in 2025, dropping only three service games across the tournament. Against Sinner, Alcaraz won 84% of first-serve points and fired 10 aces to Sinner’s two, with zero double faults, per *ESPN*. “In this moment, it’s maybe the moment that he has more improvement in his serve, and it’s been very useful on the court,” Ferrero told *Sportskeeda*. The serve’s precision and power, culminating in a 131mph ace to clinch the match, allowed Alcaraz to dictate points early and neutralize Sinner’s aggressive returns.
Execution in the Final: A “Perfect” Performance
Alcaraz’s preparation translated into what Ferrero called a “perfect” performance. From the opening game, Alcaraz broke Sinner with blistering forehands, setting the tone for a 6-2 first set. Despite Sinner’s tactical shift in the second set, targeting Alcaraz’s backhand to level the match, Alcaraz regained control in the third, racing to a 5-0 lead with 11 winners to Sinner’s one, per *ATP Tour*. His ability to mix pace, spin, and trajectory—highlighted by a fake drop shot morphing into a forehand slice, as noted by *The Athletic*—prevented Sinner from finding rhythm.
Sinner’s abdominal issue from his semifinal, though downplayed by his team, may have limited his serving potency, with Alcaraz breaking him five times compared to Sinner’s one service break in his prior three matches. Alcaraz’s mental resilience also shone through. “There is nothing to be scared of. It’s just about smile as much as you can,” he told *ProFootballNetwork*, a mindset that helped him reset after the second set and dominate the fourth, sealing the win with a nerveless ace.
The Sincaraz Rivalry: A Catalyst for Growth
The 2025 US Open final marked the third consecutive Grand Slam final between Alcaraz and Sinner, a historic first in the Open Era, per *The Athletic*. Alcaraz now leads their head-to-head 10-5, including 4-2 in majors, per *Wikipedia*. Their rivalry, dubbed “Sincaraz,” has seen them split the last eight majors evenly, but Alcaraz’s 7-1 record in their past eight meetings underscores his current edge. Sinner acknowledged Alcaraz’s superiority, telling *ATP Tour*, “He was a bit cleaner today. The things I did well in London, he did better today.”
Sinner’s response—vowing to become “more unpredictable” by incorporating serve-and-volley and drop shots—reflects the rivalry’s role in pushing both players to evolve, as noted by *The Independent*. Alcaraz’s preparation, sparked by his private request to Ferrero, has set a new benchmark. “I know his style. I know what he’s going to do or his main weapons,” Alcaraz said, per *The Independent*, highlighting his strategic study of Sinner.
Looking Ahead: A Career Grand Slam in Sight
Alcaraz’s US Open triumph, celebrated with a champagne-soaked locker room party and a star-studded night at Chez Margaux, positions him for further dominance. With six Grand Slams at 22, he’s the second-youngest man to reach this milestone, behind only Bjorn Borg, per *The Independent*. His next goal is the 2026 Australian Open, where a title would complete a career Grand Slam. “It’s my first goal, to be honest,” he told *ProFootballNetwork*.
Ferrero’s revelation of Alcaraz’s edge—versatility and a bolstered serve—underscores the impact of their targeted preparation. As Alcaraz prepares for the Laver Cup (September 19-21, 2025) and the Shanghai Masters (October 6-12, 2025), his ability to adapt and dominate under pressure ensures the “Sincaraz” rivalry will continue to captivate. For now, Alcaraz’s strategic masterstroke, born from a private request, has given him the upper hand in tennis’s defining duel.
