ANALYSIS

US Open: Alcaraz aims to take the crown and world No. 1 spot from Sinner

The qualifying rounds for the final Grand Slam of the season begin this Sunday, with the Spanish and Italian players considered clear favorites to win.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik SinnerVOZ/Cordon Press.

Published by

Alejandro Baños

22 de agosto, 2025

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After the tournament’s qualifying rounds conclude, the first round of the US Open—the final Grand Slam of the season—begins this Sunday, featuring two clear favorites for the title, both of whom already know what it takes to win on New York’s hard courts.

Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner,who just turned 24, is not only aiming to lift the trophy he won last year—defeating Taylor Fritz in three sets in the 2024 US Open final—but also to defend his No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings.

For Sinner—who opens the tournament against Czech player Vit Kopriva—his main threat is Carlos Alcaraz. The 22-year-old Spaniard is looking to redeem himself on the Billie Jean King Court, after last year’s surprising second-round loss to Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp in three sets.

Alcaraz—who will open the tournament against American Reilly Opelka—has the chance to win his second US Open title (his first came in 2022), marking the sixth Grand Slam of his career. He is also aiming to claim the ATP No. 1 ranking from Sinner.

Alcaraz and Sinner monopolize the Grand Slams

Sinner and Alcaraz are emerging as the new great rivalry on the courts, achieving milestones at their age that rival those of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic—the last great generation of tennis.

Their records and titles so far support the view that Sinner and Alcaraz are the new masters of the racket. Together, they have won the last seven Grand Slam tournaments.

Sinner claimed his first Grand Slam at the 2024 Australian Open and followed it up with victory at the US Open later that year. This season, he successfully defended his Australian Open title and added his first Wimbledon win, bringing his total Grand Slam count to four.

Alcaraz has one more. He lifted his first Grand Slam trophy at the 2022 US Open, followed by Wimbledon in 2023.

In 2024, he won his first Roland Garros and repeated his Wimbledon triumph. This season, he captured another Roland Garros title.

Djokovic: the biggest question mark

Alongside Sinner and Alcaraz, another major figure on the New York courts will be Novak Djokovic. The 38-year-old Serbian enters the US Open without having competed in prior tournaments on the same surface, showing signs that age is taking its toll and that he may have already given his all in tennis.

However, Djokovic is aiming for his 25th Grand Slam and will fight tooth and nail to win the 2025 US Open. To start, he must defeat his compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round. It was in New York that Djokovic claimed his last major title, in 2023.

Sabalenka: the favorite

In the women’s draw, Aryna Sabalenka aims to defend the title she won last year—a feat no player has accomplished since Serena Williams captured three consecutive US Open titles from 2012 to 2014.

Sabalenka is the clear favorite, but the Belarusian—currently No. 1 in the WTA rankings—will face strong competition from other top contenders, including Poland’s Iga Swiatek and America’s Coco Gauff.