After US Open final loss to Alcaraz, Sinner vows to shift his game, sacrifices wins for unpredictability

Jannik Sinner, just dethroned world number one, emerged from his US Open final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday not with excuses, but with a profound and startling self-assessment: he has become too predictable, and is prepared to lose matches in his quest to become a more complete player, he said in his post-match press conference.

The Italian, who had won two of the year’s three previous Grand Slam finals before falling to Alcaraz in a four-set masterclass, acknowledged that the Spaniard had been the superior player, echoing a sentiment that has become the new normal in this captivating modern rivalry.

“I felt he was doing everything slightly better today, especially serving both sides, both swings very clean,” Sinner said of Alcaraz. “I’ll give lots of credit to him, because he handled the situation better than I did. He raised his level when he had to. He played better than me today.”

“I was very predictable on court today”

The 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory for Alcaraz was a hard-court masterclass, a stark contrast to Sinner’s own powerful, but at times one-dimensional, brand of tennis during the tournament. Sinner conceded that while his formula for success had propelled him through the draw, it was a style that ultimately fell short against the relentless variation of his rival.

“I was very predictable on court today,” Sinner admitted. “He changed up the game. That’s also his style of how he plays. Now it’s going to be on me if I want to make changes or not.”

Sinner : “My main goal”

The 24-year-old, who had claimed the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles this season, then laid out a plan that few elite athletes would openly discuss. To break out of his “comfort zone” and evolve his game, Sinner stated he is ready to take risks and even accept defeats in order to become a more unpredictable and well-rounded opponent.

“I’m going to aim to maybe even losing some matches from now on, but trying to do some changes, trying to be a bit more unpredictable as a player,” he said. “Because I think that’s what I have to do, trying to become a better tennis player. At the end of the day, that’s my main goal.”

Sinner’s remarkable 2025 season saw him reach all four Grand Slam finals, winning two and losing two to Alcaraz in what has become an era-defining battle for supremacy. However, his run to the US Open final, while dominant on paper, lacked the tactical variety needed to defeat a player like Alcaraz. He pointed out that he hadn’t attempted a single serve-and-volley or used many drop shots before qualifying for the final.

“It’s not like it comes from now and then in Beijing I’m going to be a lefty”

“It also I feel like depends how you arrive to play against Carlos, Sinner said. Matches before ours are comfortable, but you always do the same things, you know, like I did, for example, during this tournament.”

The Italian also addressed the mental shift that comes with losing the top spot in the rankings. Having held the world number one position for 65 consecutive weeks before this final, he will now find himself in the unfamiliar role of the chaser.

“Something new is now I’m not number one anymore, so it also changes a little bit that you chase,” he said. “It’s different.”

While Sinner’s service game was a point of struggle, he acknowledged that his new path forward is not just about correcting one flaw. It is about a fundamental evolution that will take time and patience, a process he plans to tackle with the same meticulous dedication that has defined his career so far.

“It’s not like it comes from now and then in Beijing I’m going to be a lefty,” he joked. “It’s going to take time, and then we’ll see. Maybe it’s just a small thing, maybe I can change big, I don’t know. We’ll see.”