It’s strange when you look back at Carlos Alcaraz's last two appearances in Flushing Meadows. There was the semifinal loss to Daniil Medvedev, a stunning blow that ended his title defense on a sour note in 2023, and last year’s shocking second-round fallout against Dutchman Botic van De Zandschulp, in straight sets. Reminders—and there haven’t been many since then 19-year-old Alcaraz claimed his first major title here in 2022—that the Murcia, Spain native is human.
Five-time major champion Alcaraz is in a much better place as he prepares to open his bid for a second title in New York. He’s rested, he’s confident and, perhaps most important, he’s hungry.
“I had more time just to have my days completely off, just to recharge my mind, my batteries. Then I had two weeks at home practicing, but it was at home,” Alcaraz said, when asked to compare this year’s hard-court summer to last year’s which featured an emotionally taxing detour in Paris, where he won the Olympic silver medal in singles before high-tailing it to Cincinnati to begin his US Open preparations.
Alcaraz, who played just one match on hard court before the Open last year due to a first round loss to Gael Monfils in Cincinnati, told reporters on Saturday that this year he went to Cincinnati with more “happiness.”
“As you could see, I was more prepared than last year,” he said. “Now I'm just feeling much better. So I'm glad that I had [the time at home]. Last year everything was more tight, with no days between tournaments.”
It showed last week in Cincinnati, where Alcaraz got better with every match as he marched to his 22nd career title, punctuated by an abbreviated win over world No.1 Jannik Sinner when the Italian pulled out due to illness. Alcaraz won’t see his main rival until the final this year in New York, but already the buzz is percolating.
The tennis world isn’t just hungry to see another installment of the rivalry that has captivated the tennis world since its inception, they now expect it. Alcaraz and Sinner have locked horns in each of the last two major finals, with Alcaraz prevailing in a five hour and 29-minute epic in Paris, while Sinner took his revenge by snapping Alcaraz’s 20-match Wimbledon win streak in this year’s final on Centre Court.
Naturally, reporters were anxious to know how the 22-year-old felt about the rise of Sinner, who has won each of the last three hard court major titles, and how Alcaraz might be viewing a potential Sinner vs. Alcaraz final to cap off the 2025 Grand Slam season.
“I think the last three Grand Slams on hard court, he won them,” Alcaraz said. “It's been unbelievable, the tennis he's bringing on hard courts. So I just look up to him in some way, just to be ready if I have to face him somewhere. I am just getting ready for the tournament, just to do a good result. Hopefully [I will] meet him in the final.”
Alcaraz holds a 9-5 lifetime record against the top-seeded Italian, but Sinner’s elevated status as the world No. 1 has the Spaniard feeling like he might be able to fly under the radar, at least a little more than usual.
“He has a big target on his back,” Alcaraz said of Sinner.
Being the hunter rather than the hunted might help the Spaniard to a psychological advantage over the next two weeks. When taking on a task as big as the one that lies ahead, every little bit helps.
