Rafael Nadal sends message to Carlos Alcaraz as he claims the US Open title and becomes world number one

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Carlos Alcaraz has won a second US Open crown by defeating Jannik Sinner in an enthralling final.

Alcaraz naturally lauded Sinner for another incredible match, with the Spaniard gaining revenge for the Wimbledon final with a victory in four sets.

The 22-year-old toppled Sinner at the top of the world rankings with victory at Flushing Meadows, and this was a performance that will give him a lot of confidence.

Alcaraz will now look to be defending that position in the ATP rankings and would relish the chance to begin 2026 in the top spot on that list.

At 22-years-old, Alcaraz has now won a sixth major title with this win at the US Open, and it’s quite remarkable to think what records he might break as his career progresses.

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Rafael Nadal reacts to Carlos Alcaraz win at the US Open

Given they’re both Spanish players, the comparisons will always arise between Nadal and Alcaraz, with the haul of 22 major wins collected by the left-hander likely to be the new kid on the block’s target.

Both players are different, however, and although Alcaraz shows a similar level of heart and desire, there are clear differences between the two players.

After Alcaraz came through against Sinner, Nadal took to social media to send a heartfelt message to his compatriot.

It read: “Congratulations Carlos Alcaraz! Champion again of the US Open and world number 1. Congratulations on all the work behind this great season.”

Alcaraz plans to play in seven more tournaments this year

Intriguingly, Alcaraz is going to show no signs of letting up on this calendar year and still has more tournaments that he’s committed to before the year is out.

All roads lead to the ATP Finals in Turin as far as the big tournaments go for 2025, but there are some important Davis Cup matters to take care of, too.

After winning the US Open, it remains to be seen whether or not the champion will pull out of any events, but in truth, that simply isn’t in Alcaraz’s DNA.

At 22, it’s scary what this player can achieve as his career progresses towards his prime, and given his latest social media message, it seems as though Nadal will be rooting for him every step of the way.