BarcelonaMillions have dreamed of having New York at their feet even if it is a single minute. Exactly what Carlos Alcaraz has achieved, that Murcian boy who, thanks to tennis, gets the city that never sleeps is his. Alcaraz proclaimed himself a U.S. Tennis Open champion for the second time in his career over his great rival, Jannik Sinner. An episode more of a rivalry that should be extended over time, as long as Alcaraz does not make it a tyranny. When he plays as he did yesterday, he looks far above everyone. Also Sinner, defeated in four sets (6-2, 3-6, 6-1 and 6-4).
No one wanted to lose the final. Neither Donald Trump, always ready to find a hole in his agenda to see sporting events. Now he imposes taxes, now negotiates with Putin and now delivering trophies. And in order to be able to do this, the final was launched 45 minutes late. The chaos to enter Flushing Meadows was great, while Alcaraz and Sinner extended the stretching in the belly of the largest tennis stadium in the world, the central court Arthur Ashe. They were facing face to face for the third Grand Slam consecutive, after two epic battles in Paris and Wimbledon. It was his third great consecutive final. This time in New York. Just where in 2022, when they were just two Morocco, they had already fallen in love with a quarter -final duel won by Alcaraz in five sets and more than five hours of play. That was the first of his battles. And this end, the fortnight. On the stands they were waiting for a lot of Vips, from Bruce Springsteen to Lindsay Lohan, through Stephen Curry, Pep Guardiola or film director Spike Lee.
A party that was generally a monologue by Alcaraz with the exception of the second set. The Italian player never felt comfortable, too slow, making a lot of mistakes and with a first less successful service than other days. It was not its best version on a surface, the fast track, which is usually dominated. In fact, he had won the last three end of the Grand Slam on a fast track, twice in Australia and a year ago in New York.
But this time La Gloria was reserved for an Alcaraz, which when you enter the rivals with its explosive style removed from the track. With these legs that allow you to reach balls that seem lost. It seems to enjoy the epic, Alcaraz. Instead, Sinner moves better if there is order. In this Open, an unstoppable Murcian has been seen who has just lost a thirst for the tournament. The one of the final, of course. When you enter, it seems to play at a higher speed of rivals, as if it were a game and someone, who knows where, click on a button to give Alcaraz more strength. The first set started with an even game in which the first Break of Espanyol arrived. Alcaraz won 6-2 with a firm service. In the second, however, Alcaraz lost control of the center of the court and the Italian was encouraged, and he got a service break that served him to equalize the final. It seemed that it would be a long final, as in Paris, but just as Sinner had to take a step forward. The third set was won by Alcaraz in three and nothing, in just half an hour, by 6-1. She was already putting the direct towards her sixth title of the Grand Slam with just 22 years. Sinner tried to defend himself in a fourth set that started with longer points, but Alcaraz already had the wind in favor.
Sinner could not win his fifth major title in a unique year, in which he had to stop for three months for a strange doping case, but has reached the four finals of important tournaments, of which he has won two, and has established itself as the only alternative to the Murcian. The South Tyrol-born player has become the fourth man capable of qualifying for five consecutive Grand Slam finals, imitating Federer, Djokovic and Nadal. But in the Grand Final, Alcaraz was a hurricane and he pushed him the world number 1.
Between Alcaraz and Sinner they have won the last eight Grand Slam tournaments. Its rivalry has been consolidated, although the Murcian dominates the direct duels and titles won. Now Sinner will be to think about how to return the blow. At the moment, its rivalry is elegant, sporting, throwing flowers and giving everything on the track. The Italian returns home with homework to do. And New York, even for a few hours, belongs to Alcaraz. It will not last long. In New York, every night they find a different king, on stage, a theater, a pavilion or a bar.
