ATP Tour
Sinner keen to lose matches evolving his sport if it means beating Alcaraz
Italian slips to World No. 2 after seventh loss in previous eight matches in opposition to Alcaraz
September 08, 2025
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz defeats Jannik Sinner within the US Open closing, improves to 10-5 of their Lexus ATP Head2Head collection.
By Jerome Coombe
After struggling his seventh defeat in his previous eight Lexus ATP Head2Head conferences with Carlos Alcaraz — a loss that additionally value him the World No. 1 rating — Jannik Sinner admits it’s time for a change.
The 24-year-old Italian fell in 4 units to Alcaraz within the US Open closing on Sunday and, reflecting on the trajectory of their rivalry, he vowed to shake issues up. Talking in his post-tournament press convention, Sinner acknowledged he had turn out to be too ‘predictable’ and confused the necessity to evolve his sport if he hopes to show the tables.
“I used to be very predictable immediately on court docket. He did many issues, he modified up the sport. That is additionally his model of how he performs. Now it is going to be on me if I need to make adjustments or not,” Sinner mentioned after his 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 defeat. “That is positively [what] we’re going to work on. I am attempting to be extra ready for the following match that I’ll play in opposition to him.
“It additionally is determined by the way you arrive to play in opposition to Carlos. One factor is when the scoreline [or] matches earlier than are comfy however you at all times do the identical issues, like I did, for instance, throughout this event, I did not make one serve-volley, did not use quite a lot of drop pictures, and then you definitely arrive to a degree the place you play in opposition to Carlos the place you must exit of the consolation zone.
“So I’ll purpose to possibly even lose some matches any longer, however attempting to do some adjustments, attempting to be a bit extra unpredictable as a participant, as a result of I believe that is what I’ve to do, attempting to turn out to be a greater tennis participant. On the finish of the day, that is my fundamental objective.”
Sinner had been just about untouchable on laborious courts lately, arriving within the closing at Flushing Meadows on a 27-match unbeaten streak at majors on the floor. But Alcaraz has now defeated him 4 straight occasions on what has lengthy been Sinner’s strongest floor.
The inspiration of Sinner’s dominance has been his means to blast by means of opponents from the baseline, a weapon he used to defeat Alcaraz for his first Wimbledon title in July. However with the No. 1 spot within the PIF ATP Rankings on the road on the US Open, Sinner was merely outplayed by Alcaraz, who hit double the quantity of winners (42 to 21) all through their two-hour, 42-minute battle.
“He has improved. I felt like [he] was a bit cleaner immediately. The issues I did nicely in London, he did higher immediately,” Sinner mentioned, evaluating their battles at Wimbledon and the US Open. “That is [the] consequence. I felt like he was doing every little thing barely higher immediately, particularly serving, either side, each swings very clear.
“I believe that is it, I give plenty of credit score to him, as a result of he dealt with the scenario higher than I did. He raised his stage when he needed to. I am nonetheless happy with myself, in regards to the season I am enjoying and making, however yeah, he performed higher than me immediately.”
Though Sinner was unable to defend his US Open crown and can slip to World No. 2 on Monday, he’s happy with the achievements he has made throughout 2025. With titles on the Australian Open and Wimbledon and runs to the ultimate at Roland Garros and the US Open, Sinner grew to become simply the fourth man within the Open Period to succeed in the championship match in any respect 4 Grand Slams in a season.
“Total, the season result-wise, superb,” mentioned Sinner. “4 Grand Slam finals of the yr. Two Grand Slams gained, two occasions misplaced within the closing, it is unbelievable outcomes, no? [I’m] very completely happy, and now we attempt to end the yr as robust as we will.”
Having been knocked off his 65-week reign atop the PIF ATP Rankings, Sinner finds himself within the position of the chaser quite than the hunted — a shift in perspective he admits may show worthwhile.
“Generally including simply one thing, and I believe that is going to be or that is going to make a distinction from my private viewpoint that I can say that I’ll turn out to be a greater tennis participant,” mentioned Sinner.
“I’ll change a few issues on the serve, simply small issues, however they will make massive variations. Then we see the way it goes. I am wanting ahead to enjoying these matches once more. One thing new is now I am not No. 1 anymore, so it additionally adjustments somewhat bit that you just chase.”
Sinner will depart New York with a 37-5 file on the season, in accordance with the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
Though he’s now 2,590 factors adrift of Alcaraz within the PIF ATP Dwell Race To Turin, the reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion will look to shut the hole within the season’s closing stretch as their battle for ATP Yr-Finish No. 1 introduced by PIF honours continues.
