Sinner outlasts resurgent Auger-Aliassime, sets up third straight Slam final vs. Alcaraz
Jannik Sinner defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a hard-fought semifinal, setting up a historic US Open final against Carlos Alcaraz where both the title and the world No. 1 ranking are on the line.
Jannik Sinner, US Open 2025 | © Zuma / PsNewz
World No. 1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner secured his place in the US Open final on Friday, overcoming a determined Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a match that lasted 3 hours and 21 minutes. The hard-fought victory sets the stage for a historic, winner-takes-all showdown against Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday— the first time two men have met in three consecutive Grand Slam finals in a single season.
Sinner, the top seed, came into the match looking to continue a magnificent run that has seen him reach the final of every major this season. His opponent, the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, ranked No. 27, had found a new lease on life at the US Open, reaching his second career semifinal in New York after knocking out a string of higher-ranked players. Though Auger-Aliassime held a 2-1 head-to-head advantage prior to this match, Sinner had won their most recent encounter, and the reigning champion was on a 26-match winning streak on hard courts at Grand Slam level.
“Amazing. Amazing season”, Sinner said. “Grand slams are the most important tournaments we have throughout the year. Finding myself in another final here, with an amazing crowd, doesn’t matter when you play. It doesn’t get any better. Me and Felix played the last tournament. He’s a completely different player. Serving much better. Hitting every shot much better. It was a tough match today. Obviously very very happy. I saw him maybe a bit injured at some point. Hopefully it’s nothing bad. I wish him all the best. He’s an amazing player and amazing person. Always nice to share a match with him.”
Sinner dominant on the return
The first set was all Sinner. The Italian came out firing, breaking Auger-Aliassime twice and racing to a commanding 6-1 lead. Sinner’s serve was the engine of his early dominance, winning an impressive 76% of his first-serve points during the match, while his opponent struggled to find his rhythm. The pressure was immediately on the Canadian, who made 5 double faults and won just 46% of points on his second serve throughout the match.
But the narrative shifted dramatically in the second set as Auger-Aliassime, altered his strategy. He understood that a baseline battle of attrition would favor the world No. 1, and so he began to take more risks. This led to a high-risk, high-reward game, as evidenced by his 36 winners in the four sets, but also his staggering 41 unforced errors. This bold approach paid off, and he claimed the second set 6-3, securing his only break of the match in a key moment, 4-3 for him, that showed he could challenge Sinner’s dominance.
Sinner with Laver, Federer and Djokovic
However, the tide turned for good in the third and fourth sets. Sinner’s relentless return game, particularly his pressure on the Canadian’s second serve, proved to be the decisive factor. While Auger-Aliassime’s gamble on a high-risk game led to flashes of brilliance, it also resulted in too many unforced errors at crucial moments. Sinner was far more efficient, hitting 33 winners to just 22 unforced errors overall. He was a master of efficiency, converting four of his break points while saving nine of the ten break points he faced throughout the match, a testament to his mental fortitude under pressure.
With the win, Sinner cements his place in history as only the fourth man – after Rod Laver (1969), Roger Federer (2006, 2007), and Novak Djokovic (2015, 2021, 2023) – to reach all four Grand Slam finals in a single season. It also sets up a much-anticipated rematch against Carlos Alcaraz, in what will be their third consecutive major final. The stage is now set for a winner-takes-all match for the 2025 US Open title and the world No. 1 ranking.
