There will be two players defending U.S. Open titles this weekend. 

Jannik Sinner joined fellow World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in advancing to a second consecutive U.S. Open final Friday night, after the Italian defeated No. 25 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. 

The 24-year-old has reached the title match in every Grand Slam this year. 

“Amazing season. Obviously, Grand Slams are the most important tournaments we have throughout the year,” Sinner said in his on-court interview. “Finding myself again in a another final, here especially, the last one of the season, with an amazing crowd. It doesn’t matter when you play. It doesn’t get any better.” 

Topping the brackets at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, Sinner’s only loss came against his next opponent, Carlos Alcaraz, in an epic Roland Garros final. The two will meet for a third straight time at a major men’s singles final this year, and Alcaraz will look to deny Sinner a fifth Grand Slam title when they square off on Ashe on Sunday night. 

Jannik Sinner won his US Open semifinal match on Friday night. Jason Szenes for New York Post

There aren’t many men on the tour who own a winning record against Sinner, but Auger-Aliassime had won two of their previous three meetings. 

The two victories, however, dated back to 2022. Sinner destroyed the Canadian in straight sets in their last meeting — a 6-0, 6-2 win in the quarterfinals of the ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati last month — but Auger-Aliassime didn’t go as easily this time around. 

“I played much better,” Auger-Aliassime said in comparing the two most recent matches. “I served much better.” 

Sinner made quick work of the first set, taking the first three games before finishing it in just 43 minutes. 

The second set, however, saw a tremendous effort from Auger-Aliassime to knot the match at one set apiece. 

Felix Auger-Aliassime looks down during his semifinal loss. Jason Szenes for New York Post

Blasting 11 winners against a mere four unforced errors, Auger-Aliassime began pounding the ball against Sinner and riding the encouragement from the crowd. 

Sinner registered just three winners against 11 unforced errors in the second set. 

It was just the second set Sinner has lost in this tournament. 

After calling over the physician between the second and third sets, Sinner proved to be just fine and set himself up to take the match in the fourth. He saved two break points to hold in the second game for 1-1 before saving three in the fourth for 2-2. 

Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts after defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada during night 13 of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 5, 2025. Jason Szenes for New York Post

“I just felt a small twitching after a serve when I served there in the second set on 4-3,” he said of the visit from the physio. “After the treatment, was feeling much, much better.” 

Once he broke Auger-Aliassime to go up 3-2, Sinner powered through the remainder of the match. 

With the win, Sinner not only tied Novak Djokovic for the second-longest win streak in hardcourt Slams in the Open era at 27, but he joined Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rod Laver as the fourth man to reach all four Grand Slam singles finals in the same year. 

Since his maiden triumph at the 2024 Australian Open, Sinner has won all three hardcourt major finals he has appeared in. 

He’ll look to assume a new title as back-to-back U.S. Open champion Sunday.