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<\/p>\n ATP Tour
\n No. 1-chasing Alcaraz: Sinner’s \u2018back is a big target\u2019 at the US Open!<\/p>\n
Second-seeded Spaniard faces big-serving Opelka in New York opener<\/p>\n
August 23, 2025<\/p>\n
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Sarah Stier\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Carlos Alcaraz practises ahead of the 2025 US Open.
\n By ATP Staff<\/p>\n
Three years ago, Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> triumphed at the US Open<\/a> to seal his first rise to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings. This year, the Spaniard will be aiming to do the same to ensure his return atop tennis\u2019 mountain. <\/p>\n Yet Alcaraz would have to snap an impressive streak by his great rival Jannik Sinner<\/a> in order to oust the Italian from World No. 1. Sinner enters the New York major on a 21-match winning streak at hard-court Grand Slam events, following his triumphs at the 2024 and 2025 editions of the Australian Open<\/a>, and the 2024 US Open<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201c[Winning here] would be a great thing to do,\u201d said Alcaraz on Saturday in his pre-tournament press conference. \u201cThe past three Grand Slams on hard courts, he won. 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.\u201d <\/p>\n You May Also Like: All four, once more? Sinner and Alcaraz target another sweep of the majors<\/a><\/p>\n In order to leave New York as World No. 1, Alcaraz simply needs to match or better Sinner\u2019s US Open<\/a> result. That raises the possibility of a winner-takes-all final between the ATP Tour\u2019s best two players on 7 September. It is an occasion that Alcaraz would embrace. <\/p>\n \u201cIt’s going to be great. I\u2019m just getting ready for the tournament, just to do a good result, hopefully meet him in the final. It would be a great result having a good run here,\u201d said Alcaraz, who holds a 9-5 Lexus ATP Head2Head lead against Sinner, before he light-heartedly added: \u201cIf I beat him, much more… He has a big target, his back!\u201d <\/p>\n The emotions Alcaraz brings into this year\u2019s US Open<\/a> contrast starkly to a year ago. In 2024, he arrived in New York off the back of a painful defeat to Novak Djokovic<\/a> in the gold medal match at the Paris Olympics<\/a>, and he was far below his brilliant best when he slid to a shock second-round defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp<\/a> on Arthur Ashe<\/a> Stadium. <\/p>\n This time around, however, the Spaniard comes in fresh from lifting his eighth ATP Masters 1000 title at the Cincinnati Open<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cIt’s much different. I have more time just to have my days completely off, just to recharge my mind, my batteries,\u201d said Alcaraz. \u201cI had two weeks at home practising, but it was at home. So for me, it is an extra that I got those days at home, and then going to Cincinnati with more happiness, let’s say, and really wanting it, hungry to play the tournaments. <\/p>\n \u201cAs you could see, I was more prepared than last year. Now I’m just feeling much better. So I’m glad that I had those days. Last year everything was tighter.\u201d <\/p>\n
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