Jannik Sinner ended his 27-match winning streak at hard-court Majors. The Italian faced Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open final and suffered a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 loss in two hours and 42 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Unlike at Wimbledon, Jannik struggled to find his usual rhythm behind the initial shot, trailing almost all the time and cracking under pressure. Nicolas Escude analyzed the title clash and underlined how the match turned on the Italian's serving difficulties.
Facing his greatest rival on the sport's biggest stage, the defending champion lost pace behind the first shot, losing a key weapon that made his quest a mission impossible.
"I'm seeing you more than my family."
Carlos Alcaraz shows Jannik Sinner love after facing off in another major final at the US Open 😂 pic.twitter.com/L8XPzuzlqx
— ESPN (@espn) September 7, 2025
The numbers told the story. Jannik lost 42% of the points in his games, a figure far below his usual standards that made him the dominant figure on hard court. The pressure mounted, and Carlos seized five of 11 break opportunities.
The Spaniard lost serve once and dictated the pace on serve and return en route to a rock-solid triumph. For a player known for his composure and clean execution, Sinner's inconsistencies were striking.
The tension rose, and frustration became visible, reflecting the rare moments where the Italian appeared unsettled and lacked guidance. The shaky serving performance disrupted the defending champion's flow.
Jannik Sinner, US Open 2025© Stream screenshot
It prevented him from executing his usual game plan and patterns, giving Carlos a crucial edge in another historic battle. The US Open final highlighted how pivotal serve consistency is against the very best, especially in a high-stakes Major finals.
"We saw Jannik extremely annoyed after the error that sent him behind in the third set. He even threw his racket a bit later, which is astonishing. It's very rare, and he was extremely frustrated.
He got annoyed with his serve and asked his box for tips. He really struggled in that area," Nicolas Escude said.
