Sinner vs Alcaraz: How US Open 2025 final will settle race for World No. 1

The US Open final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will not only decide the season’s last Grand Slam champion but also determine the World No. 1 in the ATP rankings. Sinner, who battled past 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semi-final, has held the World No. 1 spot for 65 consecutive weeks since first capturing it on 10 June 2024. The Italian top seed will now face Spain’s Alcaraz with the chance to extend his reign at the summit.

It is a fitting stage for the moment, as Carlos Alcaraz first rose to World No. 1 at the US Open in 2022, when he defeated Casper Ruud in a winner-takes-all final to claim his maiden Grand Slam title and become the youngest No. 1 in history.

Alcaraz last held the top spot on 10 September 2023 and has spent a total of 36 weeks at the summit of the PIF ATP Rankings. In 2022, he also secured the ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honour.

The 22-year-old enters Sunday's showdown with a 9-5 lead in the ATP Head2Head series against Jannik Sinner. The pair have contested the past two Grand Slam finals - Alcaraz saving three championship points to triumph at Roland Garros, before Sinner struck back to capture the Wimbledon crown.

Sinner booked his place in the US Open final by overcoming Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in Friday's semi-final, setting up yet another blockbuster with Alcaraz and extending one of the sport's most compelling rivalries.

Earlier, Alcaraz produced a dazzling performance to dismantle 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. By contrast, the usually clinical Sinner misfired at times but showed resilience to ensure a third straight Slam final against the Spaniard.

Sinner's hard-fought victory also placed him in elite company, as he became only the fourth man in the professional era, after Rod Laver, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, to reach all four Grand Slam finals in a single season. "Amazing season. The Grand Slams are the most important tournaments we have and finding myself again in another final, especially the last one this season, with an amazing crowd ... it doesn't get any better," Sinner said.

"Felix and I played in the last tournament (in Cincinnati). He's a completely different player. He was serving much better, hitting every shot much better so it was a tough match but I'm obviously very happy.

"I saw he was injured at some point so hopefully it's nothing bad. I wish him only the best. He's an amazing player and an amazing person so it's always nice to share some nice matches with him."