Carlos Alcaraz is the 2025 men’s US Open champion, having lifted the trophy with just one set dropped throughout the entire tournament.
It marks a monumental feat for someone still so young, and had he managed to beat Jannik Sinner in straight sets tonight, he would have been the first in history to have won the title in such fashion.
Alas, he still has so much to be proud of after a whirlwind two weeks.
Especially given the dominant manner in which he carved through the draw, toppling Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals, and Jannik Sinner in the final.
And yet, despite this fine form and the confidence he was quite clearly building, Patrick McEnroe was left a little surprised by the game plan he adopted early in the US Open final.
Patrick McEnroe admits Carlos Alcaraz surprised him in the US Open final
Speaking live on ESPN mid-way through the match, the co-commentator noticed a trend in Carlos Alcaraz’s game in the way he was trying to hurt Sinner.
And whilst the Italian was missing rather uncharacteristically from both wings, it was the forehand that McEnroe pinpointed as the area that was being targeted by the eventual victor.
He claimed: “He’s going into that forehand wing a lot. That’s a little surprising, because he’s, you know, obviously got that massive forehand as well, but he’s going right at it, and it’s paying off.”
John McEnroe then explained how Alcaraz left Sinner ‘frustrated’ and ‘rattled’ with another technique, capping off a hugely impressive display from the six-time Grand Slam champion.
Carlos Alcaraz’s run to the 2025 US Open title
Whilst in previous majors, Alcaraz has endured slow starts, he suffered no such struggle at this year’s US Open.
In fact, he came out of the blocks with remarkable speed, beating Reilly Opelka with ease before brushing aside Italians Mattia Bellucci and Luciano Darderi in straight sets, dropping just ten games across the latter two matches.
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| Final | Jannik Sinner | 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 |
| Semi-final | Novak Djokovic | 6-2, 7-6, 6-4 |
| Quarter-final | Jiri Lehecka | 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 |
| Fourth Round | Arthur Rinderknech | 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| Third Round | Luciano Darderi | 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 |
| Second Round | Mattia Bellucci | 6-1, 6-0, 6-3 |
| First Round | Reilly Opelka | 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 |
Next up came Arthur Rinderknech, who was also easily beaten, before Alcaraz crushed his first seeded opponent of the tournament in Jiri Lehecka.
Not even the great Djokovic could really trouble him, and Sinner, whilst he did take a set from him, was never a threat.
Alcaraz’s run to the US Open title this year will go down in history.
