Introduction to the US Open Men’s Final
The start of the U.S. Open men’s final between No. 1 Jannik Sinner and No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday was pushed back by a half-hour because of extra security, and President Donald Trump was greeted with a mix of cheers and boos from early arriving spectators when he waved from an Arthur Ashe Stadium suite.
The Historic Arthur Ashe Stadium
Here are five things to know about the historic Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Security Measures and Their Impact
Increased security checks at entrances to the grounds and, separately, to get into the arena building prompted the U.S. Tennis Association to announce that the final would begin at 2:30 p.m. EDT, instead of the originally scheduled 2 p.m., “to ensure that fans have additional time to get to their seats.” At 2:30 p.m., thousands of fans were still standing on the plaza outside Ashe, waiting in line to enter.
As a result of the security measures in place, and to ensure that fans have additional time to get to their seats, we have pushed the start time of today’s match to 2:30 pm ET.— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2025
The Presidential Visit
Trump is the first sitting president to attend the tournament at Flushing Meadows since Bill Clinton in 2000.
The Players and Their Goals
Sinner, a 24-year-old from Italy, is trying to become the first repeat men’s champion at Flushing Meadows since Roger Federer won five championships in a row there from 2004 through 2008.
He’s also bidding for his third Grand Slam title of the season, after the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and fifth of his career.
Alcaraz, a 22-year-old from Spain, is seeking his sixth major trophy overall and second of 2025, after the French Open. His first Slam title came in New York in 2022 as a teenager — after defeating Sinner in the quarterfinals.
The Rivalry Between Sinner and Alcaraz
Even though both are quite young, theirs is already quite a remarkable rivalry.
Sunday’s showdown represents the first time in tennis history that the same two men played each other in three consecutive Grand Slam finals within a single season.
This hard-court matchup follows Alcaraz’s victory over Sinner erasing a trio of match points on the French Open’s red clay in June, and Sinner’s victory over Alcaraz on Wimbledon’s grass in July.
So this is a tiebreaker of sorts. Plus the winner will be at No. 1 in the rankings on Monday.
No matter who comes out on top, this is the eighth consecutive major title — and 10th of the past 13 — that will end up in the hands of Sinner or Alcaraz.
The Players’ Recent Performance
Sunday’s match is Sinner’s fifth final in a row at the biggest events in tennis, a run that began with his title at the U.S. Open a year ago. Since the start of that tournament, he has won 33 of 34 matches at the majors. The loss? To Alcaraz at Roland-Garros.
Over the last two seasons, Sinner is 1-6 against Alcaraz and 109-4 against everyone else.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, has won 36 of 37 contests since May. The loss? To Sinner at the All England Club — also Alcaraz’s first defeat in a Slam final. Alcaraz leads the tour in wins (60) and titles (six) in 2025 and has reached the finals at his past eight tournaments.
Conclusion
The US Open men’s final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz is a highly anticipated match, with both players having a remarkable season. The delay in the start of the match due to security measures added to the excitement and anticipation of the crowd. The rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz is one to watch, and their recent performance suggests that this match will be a thrilling one.
FAQs
Q: Why was the start of the US Open men’s final delayed?
A: The start of the US Open men’s final was delayed due to extra security measures, which caused a half-hour delay in the start of the match.
Q: Who is the first sitting president to attend the tournament at Flushing Meadows since Bill Clinton in 2000?
A: President Donald Trump is the first sitting president to attend the tournament at Flushing Meadows since Bill Clinton in 2000.
Q: What is the significance of the match between Sinner and Alcaraz?
A: The match between Sinner and Alcaraz is significant because it represents the first time in tennis history that the same two men played each other in three consecutive Grand Slam finals within a single season.
Q: Who leads the tour in wins and titles in 2025?
A: Alcaraz leads the tour in wins (60) and titles (six) in 2025.
