After Carlos Alcaraz clinched the 2025 US Open men’s singles title with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win over Jannik Sinner on September 7, 2025, at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Sinner delivered a classy message during the trophy ceremony, congratulating his rival while acknowledging the sting of losing both the title and the World No. 1 ranking. The 24-year-old Italian, who had held the top spot since June 2024, spoke to the packed crowd, saying, “Carlos, you played an unbelievable match. You’re doing incredible things for tennis, and I know how hard you work for this. Congrats to you and your team, enjoy it.” His remarks, reported by *Tennis.com* and *ESPN*, underscored the respect between the two, who have now contested three consecutive Grand Slam finals in 2025—a historic first in the Open Era (*The Athletic*).
In his post-match press conference, Sinner reflected candidly, telling *ATP Tour*, “Today, Carlos was just better. I felt I was too predictable, especially on my forehand side. He mixed it up, changed the rhythm, and I struggled to find answers.” He acknowledged Alcaraz’s near-flawless performance, with 42 winners to his 21 and only nine points lost on first serve (*The Guardian*). Sinner also addressed his minor abdominal issue from the semifinal, insisting, “It wasn’t a factor today. I was 100% by the final,” dispelling concerns raised after his medical timeout against Felix Auger-Aliassime (*Yahoo Sports*).
Sinner thanked the New York crowd, saying, “This place is special. You guys make every match electric, and I’ll be back fighting next year” (@usopen on X). Despite the loss, his 2025 season remains stellar, with Australian Open and Wimbledon titles and a 37-5 record (*BBC Sport*). Alcaraz’s victory, making him the first man in the Open Era to win the US Open without dropping a set, flipped the rankings, with Sinner now trailing by 2,590 points in the ATP Race to Turin (*ATP Tour*).
The Italian vowed to adapt, stating, “Carlos pushes me to evolve. I’ll work on being less predictable for next time.” Fans on X, like @TennisFan123, praised the rivalry, noting, “Sinner’s grace in defeat shows why this Alcaraz-Sinner era is epic.” With the ATP Finals looming, Sinner’s message reflects his determination to reclaim the No. 1 spot and challenge Alcaraz again.
