Speaking after losing the US Open final and the world number one ranking, Sinner admitted his disappointment but remained positive. The match revealed much about himself and his opponent after a year of top-level competition and major showdowns.
"My game was quite predictable today," Sinner said in the post-match press conference after losing 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6. "Alcaraz did a lot of things; he changed his game. This is also Alcaraz's adaptable style. Now it's up to me whether I want to change. We will have to improve and try to prepare better for the next match against Alcaraz."
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Sinner at the 2025 US Open final, on Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York, USA on 7/9. Photo: Reuters |
Sinner at the 2025 US Open final, on Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York, USA on 7/9. Photo: Reuters
Sinner was outmatched for most of the US Open final, contrasting with his somewhat dominant performance against Alcaraz at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. The Spanish player effectively deployed various weapons, such as drop shots, deep lobs, net approaches, and especially his serve. Alcaraz finished Sinner with a thunderous serve to the backhand. Throughout the tournament, the Spaniard only lost three service games and one set.
Compared to previous Grand Slams, Alcaraz upgraded his serve into a new weapon despite not having a height advantage. "In this tournament, I didn't execute any serve-and-volley plays or use many drop shots," Sinner admitted his shortcomings. "Against Alcaraz, you have to leave your comfort zone to find opportunities. I didn't manage to do that."
According to Sinner, his next goal is to change his playing style to become more unpredictable, even if it means accepting major defeats. "You always have to pay a price for self-improvement," he said. In the US Open final, Sinner only managed 21 winners, half as many as Alcaraz.
Sinner had been almost unbeatable on hard courts for the past year until his loss to Alcaraz on the evening of 7/9. He had built the second-best hard-court Grand Slam winning streak of the Open Era with 27 matches, equaling Novak Djokovic's best and only trailing Roger Federer's legendary 40-match streak.
"Overall, Alcaraz played more efficiently, from his serve to his forehand and backhand shots," Sinner commented. "I appreciate what Alcaraz displayed on the court. I'm still proud of myself; clearly, I've had a good season and am still in the process of building."
This season's 4 Grand Slam events concluded with titles split evenly between Sinner and Alcaraz, reaffirming their dominance. Sinner demonstrated remarkable consistency by reaching all four finals, despite a three-month suspension.
"From now on, I'll be the hunter, instead of being hunted," the Italian player joked about losing the ATP number one spot to Alcaraz.
Vy Anh
