Noticing and relentlessly exploiting the most minor details in a rival’s game can often become a player’s greatest weapon. Newly crowned US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz did exactly that against his fiercest rival, Jannik Sinner, in Sunday’s final.
In the build-up to the tournament and, most importantly, the final, Alcaraz focused on polishing specific aspects of his game to take on Sinner. His coach, six-time Major champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, recently explained how this meticulous preparation proved decisive.
How Did the 15-Day Prep Help Carlos Alcaraz Overcome Jannik Sinner at the US Open Final?
The US Open final at Flushing Meadows marked the third straight Major championship match between Alcaraz and Sinner, and while it might have seemed straightforward for the Spaniard, the previous two were anything but. Even in his French Open triumph, Alcaraz had to claw back from the brink, saving three championship points in a grueling battle.
Sinner took his revenge in the Wimbledon final, overturning a one-set deficit to dominate the 22-year-old in the next three and capture the title. However, as the North American hard-court swing approached, Alcaraz was determined to arrive fully prepared.
ALCARAZ BEATS SINNER TO WIN THE US OPEN 🏆
Carlos Alcaraz joins Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Mats Wilander as the only men all-time to win multiple major titles on each surface 👏 pic.twitter.com/CXVGBWyBNm
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 7, 2025
In preparation for their next encounter, the World No. 1 dedicated 15 days to sharpening his game. As his coach, former Grand Slam champion Ferrero, later revealed, Sinner’s hard-court dominance was a crucial factor shaping those sessions.
“I think it was very important, because we maybe practised for 15 days, very focused on the details that we have to improve to play against Jannik. We know that in this kind of surface, on hard courts, Jannik is always very difficult to play and [is] winning a lot of matches,” he said in an interview with ATP.
Ferrero believes this preparation was pivotal in Alcaraz’s improvement, and he also maintained complete focus throughout.
“I think it helped a lot, because he realised what he has to improve a lot, and I was very focused on it,” he added.
It’s worth noting that Alcaraz and Sinner didn’t jump straight into the North American hard-court swing after Wimbledon. Both missed the lead-up events in Washington, D.C. and Toronto, before meeting in the Cincinnati final, where Alcaraz was handed a walkover after Sinner retired due to sudden illness.
What Did Jannik Sinner Say About His Game Following US Open Defeat to Carlos Alcaraz?
While Alcaraz concentrated on fine-tuning his preparations for the clash with Sinner, the Italian felt somewhat underprepared. After the match, Sinner admitted he had been predictable against the Spaniard and emphasized the need to evolve his game.
“I was very predictable today on court. He did many things, he changed up the game. That’s also his style of how he plays. Now it’s going to be on me if I want to make changes or not. That’s definitely [what] we are going to work on. I’m trying to be more prepared for the next match that I will play against him,” he said during his post-match press conference.
The US Open final marked the 15th meeting between two of the tour’s fiercest rivals. With a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory, the Spaniard extended his head-to-head edge to 10-5 over Sinner, claimed the World No. 1 spot, and ended the Italian’s 65-week reign at the top of the ATP rankings.
