Sinner and Alcaraz will face off at 1 a.m. on 8/9, Hanoi time.
Sinner received treatment for an abdominal issue after the second set of his four-set semifinal victory against Felix Auger-Aliassime. Although the 23-year-old appeared to ease up on his serve afterward, he maintained a high level of performance and secured the win.
"I felt a slight pull in my abdominal muscle after a serve in the second set," Sinner said of the discomfort. "After treatment, it felt much better, sometimes completely normal. I was serving at my normal speed again, so there's nothing to worry about."
Two weeks prior, Sinner trailed Alcaraz 5-0 in the Cincinnati Masters final before retiring due to fatigue. This raised concerns about his fitness for today's US Open final, a match where Sinner needs to defend his title to retain the world number one ranking.
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Sinner hits a backhand during his US Open semifinal match at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York on 5/9. Photo: Reuters |
Sinner hits a backhand during his US Open semifinal match at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York on 5/9. Photo: Reuters
Sinner has won three of the last four Grand Slams, including a victory over Alcaraz at Wimbledon in July. He is now aiming for his fifth major title on his preferred surface.
"Those numbers are amazing," Sinner added. "Reaching five consecutive Grand Slam finals is great, and I'm surprised by that consistency. But that's in the past now; my focus is solely on the upcoming final and what I can achieve there."
Sinner has lost 9 of his 14 career matches against Alcaraz. The Spaniard is considered his toughest current opponent. Sinner sees this as a significant challenge, but also a source of motivation for his career development.
"I enjoy this competitive situation because Alcaraz pushes me to my limits," Sinner stated. "We've played each other a lot recently, and we try to prepare tactically in different ways each time. Of course, it would be nice not to face him so frequently."
The winner of the US Open men's singles final between Sinner and Alcaraz will claim the world number one ranking and a record 5 million USD prize.
Vy Anh
