NEW YORK — The final that everyone anticipated has come to fruition. The top two seeds will clash for the title at Flushing Meadows.
Jannik Sinner will face Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open final in defense of his title on Sunday, Sept. 7 after the top-seeded Italian took down Felix Auger-Aliassime, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night.
Auger-Aliassime, a 25-year-old Canadian making his first appearance in the US Open semifinals in four years, was aiming to become the second men’s singles player from his country to reach a Grand Slam final.
With the victory, the 24-year-old Sinner becomes the fourth and youngest man in the Open Era to play in the finals of all four Grand Slam tournaments in one season.
It will be the first time ever two male players have played in three straight Grand Slam finals within one year.
After winning the Australian Open in January over Alexander Zverev, Alcaraz beat Sinner in a five-set thriller at the French Open final. Sinner returned the favor by taking home the Wimbledon title in July, and the Spaniard went on to defeat him for the Cincinnati Open championship, serving as a tune-up for the US Open. Alcaraz and Sinner have won each of the seven Grand Slam championships, and the stakes couldn’t be bigger. Not only is a $5 million check at stake, but the winner of Sunday’s match will become the No. 1-ranked player in the world.
Sinner was surgical in the first set, winning 6-1, using a powerful forehand to force Auger-Aliassime into multiple errors, and capitalizing on opportunities to establish a strong lead.
Those opportunities came in the second set, as it was Sinner who was uncharacteristically sloppy, with only two winners as both men played a chess game to see who could get over on each other’s lightning-fast serve, both sometimes topping out at over 120 mph. Auger-Aliassime took control and won the last three games of the set, sending the crowd at Ashe into thunderous applause.
Sinner called for medical personnel to check on him in between the second and third sets. When he returned from the timeout he went straight to work, winning three straight games after the score was tied at two games each and ending the set when Auger-Aliassime’s backhand went into the net.
Sinner, now on a 27-match hard-court winning streak, struggled at times to put away Auger-Aliassime, who didn’t help his cause with five double faults, but finally wrapped up the three-hour, 21-minute affair when Auger-Aliassime committed the last of his 41 unforced errors, a forehand return that hit the net.
Jannik Sinner vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime semifinal highlights
Order restored as Sinner takes the third set
Two down, one to go for Sinner as he methodically put away Auger-Aliassime in the third set 6-3. Between the second and third sets, Sinner called for medical personnel to check on him, and when he returned from the timeout, he went straight to work, winning three straight games after the score was tied at two games each and ending the set when Auger-Aliassime’s backhand went into the net.
Auger-Aliassime wins second set
Auger-Aliassime roared back into the match by taking the last three games of the second set, winning 6-3. Sinner is not getting his first serve over, and Auger-Aliassime punished him, especially in the eighth game, allowing the momentum that Sinner had from the first set to disappear completely. Sinner lost a set for only the second time all tournament.
Auger-Aliassime shows signs of life
Sinner has made some uncharacteristic errors, and Auger-Aliassime has held serve so far. If he can get the set to at least a tiebreak or break Sinner’s serve, there might be a match. Tied at three games each heading down the stretch in the second set.
Sinner takes first set in easy fashion
Sinner is rolling, winning the first set 6-1, and dominating with his forehand. Auger-Aliassime can’t get out of his own way with 11 unforced errors and is getting a workout chasing Sinner’s return all over the court. Mismatch on all levels so far.
Sinner dominant in early going
Sinner has been absolutely surgical so far, breaking Felix Auger-Aliassime and dominating when it is his turn to serve. Sinner’s lead of 3-0 might be insurmountable if the young Canadian can’t put up much of a fight.
How to watch Jannik Sinner vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime
No. 1 seed Jannik Sinner will face off against No. 25 Felix Auger-Aliassime in a U.S. Open men’s semifinal match.
Date: Friday, Sept. 5
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Arthur Ashe Stadium (Flushing, New York)
TV: ESPN
Watch the US Open on Fubo
How to watch 2025 US Open: Dates, TV, streaming
Dates: Sunday, Aug. 24-Sunday, Sept. 7
Location: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York
TV: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes
Stream: Fubo