Jannik Sinner is heading back to the US Open final – but it took a bit of grit, patience, and recovery to get there. The Italian world No. 1 defeated Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Friday night in New York, advancing after three hours and 21 minutes of high-stakes tennis under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights.
The win puts Sinner into his fifth consecutive Grand Slam final and sets up another clash with Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, the No. 2 seed who beat Novak Djokovic earlier in the day. It will be the third time in a row the two young stars square off for a major title this season – something men’s tennis has never seen before.
For a moment, though, it looked like the story might go differently.
Auger-Aliassime Strikes Back
Sinner came out flying, racing through the opening set with relentless power and near-perfect timing. But Auger-Aliassime, who had already knocked out three top-15 opponents on his way to his first US Open semifinal, raised his level in the second. His forehand caught fire, snapping Sinner’s streak of 38 straight service holds. A 117 mph ace sealed the set, and suddenly the Canadian had all the momentum.
That’s when Sinner briefly left the court for a medical timeout. While he didn’t reveal specifics afterward – only saying it was “nothing too bad” – his return was swift and decisive. With sharper shot selection and fewer errors, he quickly reasserted control.
Eyes on Alcaraz
From the third set on, Sinner looked every bit the reigning champion. He saved nine of ten break points in the match and used clever variety to blunt Auger-Aliassime’s power. When the Canadian’s last forehand drifted long, Sinner lifted his arms in quiet relief.
The Italian’s victory keeps his astonishing hard-court run alive: 27 straight Slam matches without a loss on the surface. He now carries a 33-1 record across his past 34 majors, numbers that echo the dominance of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic at their peaks.
Now comes the real test. Alcaraz and Sinner have traded blows all season – Alcaraz at Roland Garros, Sinner at Wimbledon – and Sunday will be the tie-breaker. With the No. 1 ranking also on the line, the US Open final has all the ingredients of a classic.
“Amazing season,”Sinner said afterward with a grin. “It’s a very special day. It’s a very amazing final again.”
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