Carlos Alcaraz celebrates his victory over Jannik Sinner in the men's singles final of the 2025 US Open at Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 7/9/2025. _Photo: Reuters_

Alcaraz discussed his recent US Open triumph and his rivalry with Sinner in a post-match interview. He addressed his emotions during the final, his preparation for facing Sinner, and his overall performance throughout the tournament.

When asked about his feelings during the match against Sinner, Alcaraz said, "I tried to stay as calm as possible. Before entering the court, the team noticed I was a little tense, but once I stepped onto the court, I felt very comfortable, as if it were just a normal match. My legs felt good, and that showed in my confidence. My heart was still racing in the final game, and my legs were a little shaky, but I was thinking about serving the last point like I did against Ruud at the 2022 US Open. I'm a tennis fanatic."

Regarding winning his sixth Grand Slam title, his second at the US Open, and returning to the world number one spot, Alcaraz stated, "It's amazing. I worked incredibly hard to lift this trophy, my second here. It's always been a dream of mine. Achieving the goals I set at the beginning of the year is an unparalleled feeling. Returning to number one was one of those goals. Reclaiming that position is also a dream, and doing it by winning a Grand Slam is even better. This moment is pure joy."

Addressing Sinner's comment in the press conference that he (Sinner) was too predictable while Alcaraz was unpredictable, Alcaraz explained, "That's my style. Each player has their own style. Mine is versatility. I feel like I can do everything on the court: slices, flat shots, topspin, drop shots, volleys... I'm confident in my physicality, I feel like I can return every shot." He continued, "Since I was very young, I've felt like I can do anything. I'm not saying I can read Jannik's game or that he's predictable, but I understand him. We've played each other many times. Jannik said he's watched many of my matches to study my game, and I do the same. Partly because I enjoy watching Jannik play, he’s truly excellent. And partly because I want to study his game. I know his style, what he'll do, and his main weapons. I focus on that. Even if Jannik feels predictable, maintaining the necessary level and facing him in long rallies is very difficult."

Alcaraz confirmed his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero’s statement that he trained specifically to defeat Sinner. "Right after the Wimbledon final, I told myself I needed to improve to beat Jannik. I took a week off, doing absolutely nothing. When I returned to training, I wanted to improve specific aspects to overcome Jannik. In the two weeks leading up to Cincinnati, I focused on those elements. My team and I reviewed the Wimbledon final, took notes, and worked based on what we learned. I played according to the plan my coaches set out. Win or lose, I wanted to execute what we had planned. I followed their instructions, and it worked effectively in today’s match.”

On Ferrero’s comment that he played a perfect match, Alcaraz said, "I'm happy my coach feels that way. It's not easy to impress him! He always wants me to play at my best. He rarely says I played perfectly, so this is a significant milestone. But I think he's right: I played perfectly (laughs). To beat Jannik and win the US Open, I had to play a perfect match."

Having lost only one set throughout the tournament, Alcaraz agreed that this was the best performance of his career. "Yes, I think so. This was the best tournament of my career, from the first match to the last. My consistency throughout the two weeks was maintained, which I'm very proud of because I worked extremely hard to achieve it. I realized in this tournament that I can maintain that incredible consistency."

Finally, on having time to enjoy his success, Alcaraz noted the downside of tennis. “One of the few downsides of tennis is that after winning a title, you have to immediately focus on the next tournament. Sometimes you only have a day, or not even a full day, to enjoy the victory. This year, I’ve learned to take time to savor my achievements with my loved ones and family. To look at the trophy, appreciate what I’ve done, cherish it, and move forward. I try to do that after every match, every tournament, and every title."

_Hoang Thong compiled this report._