Carlos Alcaraz pays tribute to 'unbelievable' Jannik Sinner as he basks in US Open triumph after stunning Flushing Meadows run

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Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have been, by far, the most dominant forces on the men's tennis circuit in recent seasons. The pair met in their third Grand Slam final of the year at the US Open on Sunday, and after Alcaraz's masterclass saw the Spaniard clinch the sixth major of his career in New York on Sunday, he paid tribute to the "unbelievable" efforts of his Italian counterpart.

Alcaraz says completing career Grand Slam is 'first goal' as he looks ahead to Melbourne

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US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz hailed runner-up Jannik Sinner for his "unbelievable" 2025 season after the world's top two met in yet another Grand Slam final on Sunday.

In their meeting in a major final within as many months, Alcaraz prevailed with a masterclass on Arthur Ashe Stadium to claim a sixth Grand Slam title and his second in New York.

The two top ranked men's players have pushed each other all the way throughout the campaign, and have emerged as the true dominant forces at the summit. Not since Novak Djokovic's US Open win in 2023 has anybody not named Sinner or Alcaraz won a Grand Slam.

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For that, Alcaraz was quick to praise his counterpart when taking to the microphone for his winner's speech.

"It's unbelievable what you are doing during the whole season," Alcaraz said. "Great level, every tournament you're playing.

"I'm seeing you more than my family. It's great to share the court, share the locker rooms, to share everything with you.

Best bits: Alcaraz wows New York to beat Sinner and claim second US Open title

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"Watching you improve every day, working very hard with your team. Really great people. Congratulations for everything you're doing and a great performance during the whole week."

Alcaraz, whose maiden Grand Slam title came at the US Open three years ago, added he felt "at home" in this year's silverware-winning run, and he certainly seemed it - with the dropped set against Sinner the only blemish on an otherwise perfect run in New York.

The on-court rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner has quickly established itself among the greatest across all sports, but they both repeatedly share that their relationship away from the sport is strong.

That was evident from their embrace at the net upon Alcaraz's dispatching of his third championship point on Sunday, and has been clear to see throughout their meetings in the 2025 campaign, despite the emotional rigour attached to occasions of such magnitude.

Sinner says he was 'very predictable' against Alcaraz as he eyes 'changes' to his game

Video credit: SNTV

In beating Sinner, Alcaraz took his Grand Slam final record over the Italian this year to 2-1, having come from two sets behind to win the French Open in June. But Sinner responded to that disappointment by beating the Spaniard in the Wimbledon showcase just a month later.

While the New York major marked the end of the 2025 Grand Slam season, the world's top two could still face one another in an important final, should they both continue as dominant forces in November's ATP Finals.

Alcaraz will wake up on Monday morning as the world No. 1, as his 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-4 success on Sunday saw him take the top spot in the rankings from Sinner.

The Spaniard also earned praise from his compatriot and 22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal, who said: "Congratulations Carlos Alcaraz, champion again of the US Open and No. 1 in the world. Congratulations on all the work behind this great season."

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