The semifinal against Felix Auger-Aliassime wasn't easy for Sinner. After losing the second set, the Italian player requested a medical timeout, pointing to his abdomen.

"I felt a cramp after a serve at 4-3 in the second set. It was in my abdominal area. After treatment, I felt much better," Sinner reassured in the post-match interview on 6/9. "At one point, I didn't feel anything anymore. I served again at my normal pace, so everything was fine. Nothing to worry about."

Jannik Sinner during his semifinal match against Felix Auger-Aliassime at the 2025 US Open. Photo: Reuters

Jannik Sinner during his semifinal match against Felix Auger-Aliassime at the 2025 US Open. Photo: Reuters

Despite a noticeable drop in his serve speed early in the third set, the world number one maintained his composure to win in four sets, reaching his fifth consecutive Grand Slam final. In the Open Era, only Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have achieved this feat, and Sinner is the youngest among them.

"These stats are amazing," Sinner shared. "I never thought I could reach this milestone when I started my professional career, and now I'm here. Reaching five consecutive Grand Slam finals is truly great. The consistency and ability to put myself in the final stages of the biggest tournaments requires tremendous effort. But that's all in the past now. I will focus on the upcoming important final."

At Arthur Ashe on 8/9, the US Open defending champion's opponent is none other than the familiar face of Alcaraz, who holds a 9-5 advantage in their previous encounters. Sinner had three opportunities to win a championship against the 22-year-old in the Roland Garros final but fell short. He then successfully avenged those losses against Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final.

"This has been a great season," Sinner stated. "Grand Slams are the most important tournaments, and reaching another final here, in front of such a wonderful crowd, is truly unparalleled. Today's match was difficult, but I'm glad I got through it. The upcoming final will be special, even though Carlos and I know each other so well. I love these kinds of challenges. He's the one who pushed me to my limits, helped me grow. But sometimes not facing Carlos is also fun."

One of Alcaraz's victories over Sinner took place in the quarterfinals of the 2022 US Open – the tournament the Spaniard won – a match that lasted over five hours, sparking the rivalry between the two players now dominating the world of tennis.

"Our rivalry started here, in 2022. Now, we are different players, we are also much more confident. As I said, we have faced each other many times this year, so we understand each other well, and many things have changed a bit. Every time we step onto the court, we are more aware of our opponent because both of us prepare for the match with different tactics," Sinner explained.

Sinner (right) embraces Alcaraz after his victory in the 2025 Wimbledon final, held in London, England on 13/7/2025. Photo: Reuters

Sinner (right) embraces Alcaraz after his victory in the 2025 Wimbledon final, held in London, England on 13/7/2025. Photo: Reuters

If he defeats Sinner in the final, Alcaraz will reclaim the world number one ranking. Since the start of the tournament in New York, the Spaniard has consistently demonstrated stability and progress in many aspects. This has not gone unnoticed by Sinner, but he too has improved.

"Carlos has improved a lot in his serves. I think he serves better, more rhythmically. Before, he was a bit inconsistent, but now he's much more stable in this shot. There are other aspects where Carlos has also improved, but when you're young, in just a year or two, you can make a big difference. I feel the same way. I've improved my net game, although not to the level I want, but my team and I are working on it. I've also improved my movement and fitness. Let's see who prepares best for the final," Sinner emphasized.

Compiled by Hoang Thong