NEW YORK — World No. 1 Jannik Sinner weathered an injury scare and a spirited challenge from Félix Auger-Aliassime to prevail with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory in the US Open semifinals on Friday night. The hard-fought win on Arthur Ashe Stadium propelled the defending champion into his second consecutive final at Flushing Meadows and a historic showdown with No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz.
A Win Forged in Resilience
Sinner started the match in blistering form, taking the first set with ease. However, his momentum was halted in the second set as he took a medical timeout for a bothersome abdominal muscle. Auger-Aliassime, the 25th seed, capitalized on the moment, matching Sinner with powerful serves and groundstrokes to level the match. Yet, Sinner’s composure and resilience proved to be the difference. He steadied himself and regained control of the match, saving an impressive nine of the ten break points he faced and converting four of his own to secure the victory.
A Place in History Awaits
With the win, Sinner has reached a fifth consecutive major final and is now only the fourth man in the Open Era—and the youngest ever—to reach all four major finals in a single season, joining an elite list that includes Rod Laver, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic. The victory also extends his streak of consecutive hard-court wins at Grand Slams to 27, a run that equals Djokovic’s best.
The Rivalry Reshapes the Game
The final against Alcaraz is more than just a championship match; it’s a winner-takes-all battle for the year-end world No. 1 ranking. The two young stars have dominated men’s tennis, sharing the last eight major titles and 10 of the last 13, laying the foundation for a rivalry that already feels era-defining. As Sinner said in the post-match press conference, “Sunday will be very special. Carlos and I know each other so well.”
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