Jannik Sinner Beats Felix Auger-Aliassime to Set Up US Open Final With Carlos Alcaraz

Jannik Sinner defeated a spirited Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday to reach the US Open final and set up a third straight Grand Slam title match against Carlos Alcaraz.

Sinner, who battled discomfort during the tournament, withstood a blistering second set from Auger-Aliassime before regaining control in the third and fourth sets to prevail in straight sets of the match. The win means Sinner and Alcaraz, who met in finals at the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this season, will become the first pair in the Open Era to contest three major finals in a single year.

Auger-Aliassime produced a near-perfect second set, ripping five aces and landing roughly 76 percent of his first serves, temporarily taking the ball out of Sinner's range and forcing errors from the top-ranked Italian. Sinner slowed the Canadian's momentum by raising his own first-serve percentage and turning a series of extended rallies to his advantage in the third set, then closed out the fourth with a decisive break to seal the victory.

Earlier in the tournament, Sinner dropped two sets — both to Canadian opponents — including one against Denis Shapovalov in the third round. He advanced to the final despite physical issues that required him to manage his movement and point construction more carefully than usual.

Alcaraz reached the final with a straight-sets victory over Novak Djokovic on Friday, becoming the first player since Roger Federer in 2015 to make a US Open title match without dropping a set. The Spaniard, the current world No. 2, delivered a composed performance on Arthur Ashe Stadium and arrived in Sunday’s final having beaten Djokovic in three straight sets.

Alcaraz acknowledged the unusual public focus on Sunday’s match after plans emerged for former U.S. President Donald Trump to attend the final in New York City. When asked about the prospect of the president's presence, Alcaraz said he would work to put it to the back of his mind and avoid letting it affect his preparation and nerves.

The final will revive a rivalry that has defined much of the season. Alcaraz mounted a five-set comeback to beat Sinner at Roland Garros, while Sinner returned the favor with a win over Alcaraz at Wimbledon two months later. Their contrasting styles and mental resilience have produced closely contested clashes on the game’s biggest stages, and both players arrive at Arthur Ashe with momentum and recent Grand Slam final experience.

Tournament organisers and players have spoken of the rarity of three meetings at major finals in one year, underscoring the significance of Sunday’s match for tennis history. With both men having taken a major from the other this season, the final promises a high-stakes decider after a year of shifting momentum between two of the sport’s leading figures.

Sinner’s victory also marks a notable day for Italian men's tennis, which has seen a steady rise in Grand Slam success in recent seasons. Auger-Aliassime leaves the tournament having produced one of his most competitive runs at a major, exposing vulnerabilities and strengths among the sport’s top contenders.

Sunday’s final at the US Open will determine whether Alcaraz can add another major to his tally or whether Sinner will close the season by claiming the title that would tie the pair further in their season-long rivalry.