Firmly, without ever doubting, Carlos Alcaraz recovered his crown. The Spanish tennis player returned to success in New York, three years after his first title at the US Open, thanks to his victory against Jannik Sinner last night (6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4) in the final, a tournament, from Roger Federer in 2008, managed to win two years in a row. Thanks to this success, Carlos Alcaraz has also become world number 1 again. New York crowned its king and the public is delighted with the identity of the new monarch, this Spanish that the smile never leaves and whose spectacular game corresponds so well to the city that never sleeps.
In the stands, the spectators attend, standing, at the coronation of a somewhat embarrassed player when he is awarded, on stage after the match, the $ 5 million check promised to the winners. Almost everyone stayed in the stadium, and not only because many of them missed the start: the presence of the American president, Donald Trump, caused the addition of security checks, via porticos and searches of bags, which deprived many spectators of the first set and even part of the second.
Before the meeting, in the compact crowd trying to access the Arthur-Ashe Stadium, we plague against this sudden access that has become difficult, while the American public is used to arriving at sporting events at the last minute. “I understand that the presence of the president has the consequence of security measures, but I had to spend almost an hour, tight in the middle of hundreds of other people, while the excavations could have been made more quickly,” plague Julian, a New York forty-year-old.
The Alcaraz plan… from Wimbledon
In the enclosure, Donald Trump is whistled during each of his appearances on giant screens. The numerous stars present in the stands (Spike Lee, Sting, Anna Wintour, Guardiola, etc.) are acclaimed, including singer and musician Bruce Springsteen, who has become fierce opponent to the current tenant of the White House in recent months. The start of the meeting is repelled half an hour. Players adapt. “They warned us for a long time before we would not play right away,” says Jannik Sinner. We didn’t have to warm up a second time, we just shifted everything. »»
It is Carlos Alcaraz who goes best in the meeting, perhaps because he has been preparing it for two months. “As soon as I defeat in Wimbledon (Editor’s note: early July in the face of Sinner in the final), at the end of the match, I felt that I had to improve certain things if I wanted to beat him,” explains the Spaniard. I have established a list of things to work and I spent two weeks to work only on that. »»
With his coach, former player Juan Carlos Ferrero, he then sets out to bring more variety in his game, to be more aggressive in his attack, and to develop his service. “We watched the last two finals (facing Sinner) to see what we could improve and we spent 15 days training,” adds Ferrero. I will not say what we have changed, but Carlos is impressive in his work. He has progressed enormously. It is incredible to be able to learn so quickly and as much at your age. »»
Sinner: “I will have to be less predictable”
Faced with Sinner yesterday, the blow was boundless, so much so that the Spanish coach qualified the match as “perfect” foal. “It’s great to hear it from the mouth of his coach, because it is not easy: he didn’t tell me often !, Pleasant Alcaraz. But he is right: I played perfectly. I have reached the best version of myself at this stage of my career, but I have not yet reached 100 % of my abilities. I still have things to improve. At 22, Alcaraz has an impressive maturity. Tells him about “consistency in the very high level” and should be that this US Open is his “best tournament so far here”.
The care that the Iberian camp has put to prepare this revenge in the face of Sinner says everything about the intensity of the rivalry which animates the two best current players. The next deadline, the Australian Open in January 2026, is already salivating. Because Carlos Alcaraz has made it a goal (he only misses that one): “When I speak to my coach of what I have to do, win the Australian Open comes first, because I want to have won the four Grand Slam tournaments as quickly as possible. »»
But also because Jannik Sinner also already seems to think about the answer to give to the Alcaraz problem: “I will have to be a little less predictable, warns Italian. Against Carlos, you must get out of your comfort zone. The change will take time, I will not come back in a few weeks and be left -handed! But there are small details to improve that can make great differences. »»
Where will they be, both, in a year when they come back to the heckled shorts of Flushing Meadows, named after this Queens district, in New York, where the US Open takes place? How far will they have pushed their rivalry, which promises to be as promising as others in the past? “I don’t know if Carlos will win 20 Grand Slam tournaments, but he has the potential,” warns his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. The crown on the head but always at the mercy of having his throne delighted.
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