Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, left, and Jannik Sinner, of Italy, right, embrace after their men’s singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, holds up the championship trophy after defeating Jannik Sinner, of Italy, in the men’s singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Jannik Sinner, of Italy, reacts during the men’s singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships against Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Jannik Sinner, of Italy, returns a shot to Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during the men’s singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Jannik Sinner says after his US Open loss he wants to be less predictable against Carlos Alcaraz
NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 Not long after his loss in the U.S. Open final on Sunday, Jannik Sinner already was thinking about how he can become a better player and how he can more frequently beat his only true rival at the top of men’s tennis, Carlos Alcaraz.
Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, left, and Jannik Sinner, of Italy, right, embrace after their men’s singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 Not long after his loss in the U.S. Open final on Sunday, Jannik Sinner already was thinking about how he can become a better player and how he can more frequently beat his only true rival at the top of men’s tennis, Carlos Alcaraz.
In sum, Sinner explained that he wants to figure out a way to present the sort of variety in his game that Alcaraz displayed during his 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium 鈥 a result that ended Sinner’s reign as the champion at and also took away his No. 1 ranking.
鈥淭oday, there were two or three things that weren鈥檛 where I wanted them to be. I was too predictable in my play today. Sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone,鈥 said Sinner, a 24-year-old Italian. 鈥淧ractice differently. Accept, maybe, that you might lose some matches in some tournaments because you try something new. This is how I can become more of a complete player, let鈥檚 say.鈥
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Asked later whether he thinks that’s true about Sinner’s game, Alcaraz responded: 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 say he鈥檚 predictable, but I know his style. I know what he鈥檚 going to do (and the) main weapons (in) his game.鈥
Sinner lamented a few particular issues Sunday.
His first-serve accuracy, which was just 48%, contributing to 11 break points for his opponent, five of which were converted.
His returning, which produced just one break point all match.
His lack of serve-and-volleying attempts 鈥 there were zero.
Sinner said, with a sigh, that those are the sorts of 鈥渓ittle things鈥 that, if worked on in other matches, would 鈥済ive you the confidence to do when you are under pressure,鈥 something he noted Alcaraz is better equipped to do.
At least Sinner could crack a joke in the aftermath of this defeat, saying with a chuckle that while he anticipates switching things up, no one should expect him to show up at the Beijing Open in late September as a left-hander.
It’s worth mentioning some stats that make up Sinner’s record over the last two seasons.
This was his fifth consecutive final at a Grand Slam tournament, dating to his . His win-loss mark in those five events is 33-2 鈥 with both losses to Alcaraz, in the final at the French Open in June on red clay, and then Sunday’s on a hard court. That stretch also includes a win over Alcaraz for Sinner in the Wimbledon final on a grass court in July.
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, and Sinner is 1-7 against Alcaraz, while going 109-4 against every other foe combined.
Sinner entered Sunday having won 27 consecutive hard-court contests at majors; only Roger Federer, with a 40-match run, ever has done better.
鈥淚 felt like he was doing everything slightly better today, especially serving. ... I give lots of credit to him, because he handled the situation better than I did,鈥 Sinner said. 鈥淗e raised his level when he had to. I鈥檓 still proud of myself, about the season I鈥檓 (having), but he played better than me today.鈥 ___
Howard Fendrich has been the AP鈥檚 tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: . More AP tennis:
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