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Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz meet for the third Grand Slam showpiece in a row and with them 1-1 for the year in major finals, something has to give in their trilogy
Grand Slam finals featuring Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are becoming a recurring theme on the ATP Tour, as the world’s top two players prepare to renew their rivalry in Sunday’s US Open title decider.
The dominant duo have shared the last seven Grand Slam titles, with Alcaraz overcoming Sinner from two sets down to take the French Open crown in June before the Italian hit back in a four-set victory over his fierce foe in the Wimbledon final a month later.
Now it is trilogy time at Flushing Meadows and not only is silverware and pride at stake, but the victor will also be guaranteed to finish the tournament as the world number one.
Selections
Carlos Alcaraz to win @ 6/5
Carlos Alcaraz to win 3-2 @ 5/1
Alcaraz may hold the aces in epic battle
For the third straight Grand Slam, it is Sinner and Alcaraz who will battle it out for title honours, and it may be unwise to follow the market, as the Spanish second seed boasts the stronger claims.
Alcaraz leads their personal series 9-5, most recently finding himself 5-0 up in the opening set of their Cincinnati final last month before Sinner was forced to retire due to illness, and he is fancied to bolster that record.
The Spaniard has won six of their nine hard-court meetings and there is a sense that Sinner may still be feeling the effects of his recent virus, having required a medical timeout in his semi-final success over Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Sinner needed four sets to stamp his authority against Auger-Aliassime, struggling to find his fluent best.
He also had to go a set behind before rallying in his third-round victory over Denis Shapovalov.
While the Italian has had challenges to overcome in his US Open title defence, Alcaraz has breezed into the final with his straight-sets victory over 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the last four making it six consecutive 3-0 wins in New York.
Alcaraz has looked at his focused best at Flushing Meadows and, serving superbly having been broken only twice across the tournament, he can reign supreme to claim his sixth Grand Slam crown.
Tip 1: Carlos Alcaraz to win @ 6/5
Dominant duo set to serve up another five-set thriller
This dominant duo continue to show why they are leaps and bounds above the rest on the ATP Tour and, while Alcaraz is fancied to prevail, he may have to dig deep to fend off Sinner’s challenge.
Three of their five Grand Slam meetings have lasted all five sets, and on each occasion, Alcaraz has stayed the strongest to prevail, including at the French Open in June and in their only previous US Open encounter in 2022.
A long battle will likely favour Alcaraz, who should be feeling fresher following six straight sets victories, and he can usurp Sinner as the new world number one.
Tip 2: Carlos Alcaraz to win 3-2 @ 5/1
