Carlos Alcaraz overcame Jannik Sinner in the US Open final to regain the top spot in the world rankings.

Carlos Alcaraz once again became the US Open champion, and his impressive victory over Jannik Sinner not only earned him a Grand Slam title but also helped him retake the No. 1 ranking in a memorable night in New York.

For most of 2025, Sinner was considered the top player after winning the Australian Open and defeating Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final. However, this "explosive" version of Alcaraz was clearly superior, with powerful serves, unstoppable forehands, and versatile play, proving he could overpower Sinner.

18-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova stated that Alcaraz answered a major question with this performance. She shared on Sky Sports: “Alcaraz always delivers his best tennis when it matters most. I believe he didn’t feel pressured facing Sinner because he knew he had to play excellently, and if he lost, it wouldn’t be the end. Carlos has a slightly more complete skill set than Jannik, and when he’s in rhythm, he is nearly unbeatable. The stats don’t lie; Alcaraz outperforms in every aspect.”

This view was reinforced after the 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win, where Alcaraz showed that at his peak, he truly had the upper hand against the Italian opponent.

Former world No. 1 Briton Tim Henman also commented on Sky Sports that Alcaraz’s serving was the weapon that gave him the advantage.

He remarked: “That was a top-level serving display. I have never seen Alcaraz serve like that before. When you talk about players with great serves, I now have to include Alcaraz in that group. Against one of the best returners like Sinner, Alcaraz could still deliver serves that were precise, fast, and remarkably consistent. He hardly gave Sinner any chances on serve games, which allowed him to freely unleash his attacking game and enjoy himself on court. It was a flawless performance.”

Meanwhile, Annabel Croft, former British No. 1, also emphasized that Alcaraz set the tone from the start and maintained constant pressure on Sinner. “Alcaraz established control from the very first rallies. It was a tactical masterclass where we witnessed the full range of his skills. After losing a set, he came back strong with decisive forehands. His courage and composure were incredible; he kept his mental focus perfectly. Meanwhile, Sinner seemed distracted between points, as if he was overthinking the challenge he faced.”