Andy Roddick says Carlos Alcaraz did something in the US Open final that could change tennis forever

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Carlos Alcaraz has returned to Grand Slam glory, clinching his second such title of the season at the US Open.

Alcaraz won his second French Open title earlier in 2025, and has now achieved the same feat at the US Open.

He defeated Jannik Sinner on both occasions, although the Italian did defeat the Spaniard in the 2025 Wimbledon final.

Alcaraz has been told to take a break from tennis following his latest efforts, which culminated in a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 final win over top seed Sinner.

But Alcaraz has a busy schedule remaining this season, having already played more than 60 matches on the ATP Tour.

Andy Roddick claims Carlos Alcaraz may have changed tennis with his US Open final display

His efforts have, however, produced seven titles so far, while he has also returned to the top of the world rankings.

And his US Open final display particularly caught the eye of former world number one Andy Roddick, who said on his Served podcast: “Something that Carlos did in the final which you see people do things and you wonder if it changes things forever.

“Like when [Boris] Becker came along and he is serving, you see the T2000 and you’re like this is going to be different, you see Rafa [Nadal] and the spin and you see Roger [Federer] being able to control a one-handed return and chip it off any speed.

READ MORE: Jannik Sinner is starting to have a real problem against Carlos Alcaraz which he needs to fix very soon

“Apparently Carlos said that he went to a two-week training block and was basically Sinner-centric in what you have to do.

“He was coming in off balls which weren’t approach shots. Normally when you are playing, you bleed someone and the short ball comes and there is a natural transition shot where you go to the net and that is when you approach.

“So normally the reason and the sober thinking is that Jannik Sinner hits it so big, where am I going to find space to take that on and try and get to the net?

“Carlos Alcaraz flipped it, like I don’t know if I had seen it. We have obviously seen people sneak in but I think his speed is different to anyone else that we have seen.

“I think his ability to inject pace really quickly all in real time, with no decision to be made. He would inject pace to a corner as soon as he saw the side or back of Sinner’s front shoulder.

“He was just like screw it, I’m in, I’m sprinting forward. And even if he gets caught, he is such a great volleyer.

“His volleying over the last two or three years has become more than elite. This changes a lot of things. It’s not like a chip and charge where it’s a scripted play.

“It’s not like earn your approach shot and take your approach shot, which is the basis of every two on one which has ever been done in training.

“This is like I will hit a short chip, he comes and I already know on the next one I am going to inject pace deep and then I am flying in at speed which we have not seen before.

“I am either going to get a look at a volley or if I get caught there is half a chance that I can pull off something miraculous off my shoe tops. It’s not a standard way to come to the net.

“It’s like a bulldozer. But you need so many skills working at the same time, with this burst of speed to make it happen.”

Carlos Alcaraz 2025 vs career stats after US Open success

It’s been another phenomenal season for Alcaraz, who at 22 already has 23 ATP titles to his name, and six at Grand Slam level.

But he’s been much more than those trophies, producing world-class shot after world-class shot in almost every match he plays.

The Spaniard has mesmerised fans with his talent, which worryingly for the rest of the ATP Tour may get even better.

Sinner was his latest victim in the US Open final, in which Alcaraz was ruthless across several areas, much to the delight of many in attendance at Arthur Ashe Stadium.