Sinner, Alcaraz Meet for Third Straight Grand Slam Final as Trump Plans U.S. Open Attendance

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will meet Sunday in the U.S. Open men’s singles final — the third consecutive major championship to feature the same two men — and the winner will reclaim the world No. 1 ranking. President Donald Trump plans to attend the match, marking the first visit by a sitting U.S. president to Flushing Meadows since 2000.

The 24-year-old Italian Sinner and 22-year-old Spaniard Alcaraz have traded Grand Slam titles this season, with Alcaraz erasing three match points to beat Sinner in June at the French Open and Sinner defeating Alcaraz on the grass of Wimbledon in July. The U.S. Open showdown is the first time the same pair will contest three straight major finals within a single season, a sequence that underscores their dominance on the ATP Tour.

Sinner, the top seed and defending U.S. Open champion, said the frequency of their meetings has bred tactical familiarity. “We are aware of maybe more things, because him or me, we try to prepare the match tactically and in different ways,” Sinner said, adding that while detailed preparation can be beneficial, “sometimes, it’s also nice to not play against him.” He also downplayed concern about an abdominal muscle issue that surfaced during his semifinal win over Félix Auger-Aliassime.

Alcaraz said it would be a “privilege” to play in front of a sitting United States president and has faced Sinner multiple times this season across different surfaces, highlighting the contrast in styles that has produced tight contests and shifting outcomes.

The White House confirmed Trump’s attendance Thursday. He is expected to make a day trip to New York and return to Washington after the match, which starts at 2 p.m. local time. Trump was a frequent presence at the U.S. Open for years as a New York–area businessman and television personality but has not been in the stands at Flushing Meadows since he was booed during a 2015 quarterfinal match after launching his 2016 presidential campaign. No sitting president has attended the tournament since Bill Clinton in 2000.

The tournament has drawn a wide array of celebrity attendees this summer. Several high-profile figures from entertainment and sports have been visible in the stands, reflecting the U.S. Open’s longstanding appeal to a broad public and media audience. Among notable recent spectators was Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, and late-session broadcasts have highlighted well-known faces in the crowd.

Organizers and players have not linked the expected presidential attendance to any changes in match operations; the U.S. Open final will proceed under standard tournament procedures. The match will decide not only a Grand Slam champion but also the ATP’s top ranking, adding another layer of consequence to a matchup that has already produced dramatic swings across clay, grass and hard courts this year.

Both players enter the final with momentum from recent victories at the majors and on tour. Sinner’s baseline consistency and aggressive return game have been central to his run, while Alcaraz’s blend of power, speed and variety has enabled him to mount comebacks, including the pivotal French Open win that preserved his major count. Their contrasting strengths and repeated encounters have produced tightly contested matches and a season-long rivalry that will be on full display in New York.

Sunday’s final will be broadcast nationally and will close out the U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, capping a tournament that has combined top-level competition with a high-profile public and celebrity presence.