Alcaraz defeats Sinner to reclaim No. 1 and sixth Grand Slam US Open

Carlos Alcaraz reclaimed the world number one ranking and added a sixth Grand Slam title on Sunday, defeating defending champion Jannik Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the U.S. Open final at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows. The 22-year-old Spaniard’s victory not only gave him the season’s last major but also a record $5 million winners cheque.

Alcaraz dominated large stretches of the match, winning 55.7 percent of total points and committing far fewer errors than his opponent. He dropped only one set en route to the title and faced just 10 break points across the tournament, a figure described by statisticians as a U.S. Open record. The win returned him to the top of the rankings and widened the gap to third-ranked Alexander Zverev by nearly 5,000 points, according to tournament tallies.

After the match Alcaraz, who beat Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, reflected on his form and ambitions. “I think I’m at the best version of my career so far, but not yet at 100,” he said in his on-court interview, adding that he planned to commemorate the victory with two tattoos inspired by New York’s Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. He also acknowledged the spotlight...