Carlos Alcaraz is the US Open champion! The 22-year-old faced Jannik Sinner in the final at Arthur Ashe Stadium and earned a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory in two hours and 42minutes for his second crown in New York.
Carlos outplayed his rivals in sets he won, clinching his sixth Major crown at such a young age and becoming world no. 1 for the first time in two years. The Spaniard has played in eight straight finals since April, lifting six titles, including two Majors.
They played under a closed roof, which should have favored the defending champion. However, Jannik struggled to provide his A-game, losing a hard-court Major match for the first time in two years.
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The Spaniard was off to a flying start. He fired 11 winners in the opening set, served well and provided two breaks for a boost. Carlos stole Jannik's serve in the first game and provided three fine holds for 4-2.
The Italian missed a volley in the seventh game, dropping serve for the second time. Alcaraz served for the opener at 5-2 and held at love with a service winner, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 37 minutes.
Jannik raised his level in the second set and outplayed his great rival behind the second serve. World no. 1 saved a break point in the first game and clinched his first break at 2-1 with a forehand winner.
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The defending champion served well in the next three game and wrapped up the set after Carlos' drive-volley mistake at 5-3, leveling the overall score after an hour and 19 minutes.
Alcaraz left that setback behind and returned at his best in set number three. The Spaniard landed 11 winners and avoided break points to keep the pressure on the other side.
Jannik lost the ground and experienced back-to-back breaks in games two and four. World no. 1 missed a routine forehand in the second game to fall behind and sent a forehand wide two games later to fall 4-0 behind.
Carlos served for the set at 5-1 and landed a powerful serve to seal it in style and move closer to the finish line after an hour and 50 minutes. Sinner faced a massive test at the begging of the fourth set.
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The defending champion saved two break points and avoided an early setback. However, Alcaraz provided comfortable holds in games two and four and stepped in on the return at 2-2.
Sinner hit a double fault at 30-30 and got broken after sending a routine forehand beyond the baseline. The Spaniard cemented the break with an ace in game six, moving 4-2 in front and placing one hand on the trophy.
World no. 1 landed an unreturned serve in the seventh game, holding at 15 and remaining within one break deficit.Carlos played a flawless game at 4-3, landing four winners for a hold at love and moving a game away from the title.
Jannik served to stay in the match at 3-5 and held at 30 after the rival's backhand error to reduce the deficit and extend the battle. Alcaraz served for his second US Open crown in game ten.
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The Spaniard landed a forehand winner for 30-0 and generated two match points after the Italian's backhand error at the net. Sinner denied them, including a backhand down the line return winner on the second.
World no. 2 generated the third match point with a fine attack and a winner at the net and converted it to celebrate his sixth Major title at 22!
