Defending US Open champion Jannik Sinner faces a two-front battle in New York — fitness concerns and the relentless Carlos Alcaraz. With their rivalry heating up, Sinner’s title defence could hinge on his recovery as much as his tennis.
Over the past year, men’s tennis has largely revolved around Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The two rising stars have split every Grand Slam since early 2024, trading titles and the No.1 ranking in a rivalry many compare to the Federer–Nadal era, blending skill, intensity, and generational change.
The rivalry stats tell their own story. Each of the last five encounters between Sinner and Alcaraz has come in a final, underlining just how consistently the two have separated themselves from the pack. Alcaraz leads 6-1 in their previous seven matches, holding a clear edge on hard courts at 6-2, while Sinner has reigned supreme on grass, winning both their Wimbledon title clashes in 2022 and 2025.
But as the 2025 US Open begins, Sinner’s greatest opponent isn’t just Alcaraz. It’s his own body.
The defending champion arrives in New York battling fitness concerns after a summer marked by interruptions. He was forced to retire from the Cincinnati final against Alcaraz just five games in due to illness, skipped the mixed doubles event at Flushing Meadows, and still carries the after-effects of an elbow injury first sustained at Wimbledon. Though he overcame that setback to defeat Alcaraz in the SW19 final, Sinner admits he’s far from peak condition.
“Physically I feel good. I have recovered mostly, not 100% yet, but we are aiming to be there in a couple of days,” Sinner said before his opening match against Czech player Vit Kopriva. “It’s the last Grand Slam of the season, so the motivation is very high.”
