Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI:Defending champion Jannik Sinner overcame a spirited challenge from 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, winning 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 on September 5 to set up a blockbuster final against Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the US Open .
Moments after Alcaraz dazzled the Arthur Ashe crowd with a dominant win over 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, Sinner – typically known for his clinical precision – had a few stumbles but ultimately held firm to book a third consecutive Grand Slam final meeting with the Spaniard in what has become one of tennis’s most captivating rivalries. Sinner’s gritty win places him in elite company, as he becomes just the fourth man in the Open Era – after Rod Laver, Roger Federer and Djokovic – to reach all four Grand Slam finals in a single season.
“Amazing season. The Grand Slams are the most important tournaments we have and finding myself again in another final, especially the last one this season, with an amazing crowd… it doesn’t get any better,” Sinner said after the win. “Felix and I played in the last tournament (in Cincinnati). He’s a completely different player. He was serving much better, hitting every shot much better so it was a tough match but I’m obviously very happy.
“I saw he was injured at some point so hopefully it’s nothing bad. I wish him only the best. He’s an amazing player and an amazing person so it’s always nice to share some nice matches with him.” Sinner encountered a brief challenge in the fifth game of the match but quickly raised his level to hold serve, eventually cruising through a dominant opening set after Auger-Aliassime sent a backhand wide.
