What Jack Sock saw from Jannik Sinner for ‘the first time ever’ in his US Open final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz

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For the 17th season in a row, the defending men’s singles champion at the US Open has failed to win consecutive titles.

Jannik Sinner was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz for the 10th time and saw his New York crown slip away from him, as well as his position atop the ATP Rankings.

The Italian’s two-year-long winning streak at hard-court Grand Slam events also came to an end when falling to the Spaniard, who claimed his sixth major championship at Flushing Meadows.

Alcaraz was simply unplayable in the title bout, conducting the baseline exchanges and delivering one of the greatest serving performances of his career.

He was in red-hot form for the entirety of his US Open campaign, in which he dropped just one set.

It was ultimately not to be for Sinner, who, unusually, was not the one in control during a tennis match, which puzzled former American player Sam Querrey.

Jack Sock and Sam Querrey react to the US Open men’s final

Reacting to the final on the ‘Nothing Major’ podcast, Querrey said: “I was there watching it live, and it did feel like he was hitting the ball harder than Sinner, especially on the forehand side.

“Sinner could not get into the match, and I don’t know why. Watching it, Alcaraz broke him out of the gate, which is always hard for someone to get going.”

Four-time Grand Slam doubles champion Jack Sock added: “I feel like it was the first time watching Sinner play where you were waiting for that moment to happen, and it never did.

“Even after the second, he was fired up and fist pumping a lot, but I just completely agree, it seemed like Alcaraz went to a different level of hitting the ball and the pace on it, and it seemed like he was dictating the entire match, which I don’t think we have ever seen Sinner behind the eight ball like that.

“I don’t want to say it was disappointing in the slightest, but I think maybe we got spoiled at the French Open and Wimbledon and were looking for another epic five-setter and a battle, but it honestly just seemed like the entire match was on Alcaraz’s racket.

“It was an interesting match, I feel like to watch, but all credit again to Carlos. I was hoping for Sinner to make that move and that run, but it just never happened.”

Jannik Sinner’s record against Carlos Alcaraz in the 2025 season

Sinner and Alcaraz have played five times at tour-level events during the 2025 season, with three of their clashes coming in Grand Slam finals.

Their first bout this year was at the Italian Open in May, where the 22-year-old came out on top against his rival, who had just returned from his three-month suspension from the sport.

Then, the two stars had their classic faceoff in the championship match at Roland Garros, where Alcaraz once again emerged victorious.

At Wimbledon, Sinner finally ended his losing streak against him, becoming the first from his country in history to win the singles title in SW19.

That marked his only win in their head-to-head this year, as he retired mid-contest in the Cincinnati Open final, and suffered defeat to Alcaraz in the Big Apple.