NEW YORK, Sept 7, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the 
world's undisputed top two players, will square off in a third straight Grand 
Slam final on Sunday at the US Open with President Donald Trump in 
attendance.

Top seed Sinner is the reigning champion and aiming to become the first man 
to successfully defend the US Open crown since Roger Federer won the last of 
five consecutive titles in 2008.

Alcaraz, who won the first of his five Grand Slam titles in New York three 
years ago, is the first man in a decade to reach the US Open final without 
dropping a set.

It sets up a thrilling climax to a tournament preparing to host Trump, the 
first sitting president to attend the US Open since Bill Clinton, who watched 
the women's final in 2000.

"A lot of famous people come to the tournament, and we as players are aware 
of that," said Sinner. "It means that tennis is important."

It is the latest in a series of visits to major sporting events for the US 
leader after his trip to the NFL's Super Bowl in February and the FIFA Club 
World Cup final in July.

It will mark New York-born billionaire Trump's first appearance at Flushing 
Meadows since 2015 -- when the then-presidential candidate and wife Melania 
were booed on arrival by the crowd.

US Open organisers have reportedly asked broadcasters to refrain from showing 
any negative reactions to Trump during Sunday's final.

Security measures were increased ahead of his arrival, with spectators 
required to pass through a second checkpoint before entering Arthur Ashe 
Stadium.

On the court, Alcaraz has largely had the edge over his rival of late 
although Sinner is enjoying one of the all-time great seasons at Grand Slams.

Only a miraculous escape act from Alcaraz, in which he saved three 
championship points, denied Sinner at the French Open and cost him a shot at 
a rare calendar Slam.

Sinner brushed off that crushing loss by beating Alcaraz in the Wimbledon 
final, adding to the Australian Open crown he retained in January.

- Rivalry's origin in New York -

The pair will collide once more inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, the scene of a 
5hr 15min quarter-final classic in 2022 that has come to shape the rivalry 
between two generational talents.

"I feel like our rivalry started here playing an amazing match. We are two 
different players now, with different confidence too," said the 24-year-old 
Sinner, chasing a fifth major overall.

"It's great for the sport having rivalries, having hopefully great matches in 
front of us...He's someone who pushed me to the limit."

The 22-year-old Alcaraz ended Novak Djokovic's latest quest for a record 25th 
major in the semi-finals and has encountered few difficulties so far this 
fortnight.

He is through to his seventh Grand Slam final but is gearing up for another 
punishing battle with Sinner, who is riding a 27-match winning run on hard 
courts at the majors.

Alcaraz is 9-5 overall against Sinner and has won six of the past seven 
duels.

"Obviously I'm going to take things about the last matches that I've played 
against him," said Alcaraz.

"I'm going to take note, and I will see what I did wrong, what I did great.

"His matches are really demanding physically that he's able to play at his 
100% during two, three, four hours, and I think that's the biggest 
improvement he has made in the last years."

The Spaniard is in a rich vein of form of his own, winning 36 of his last 37 
matches. The only loss in that time came to Sinner at Wimbledon.

"I am performing at a high level and sending a message to the people on the 
circuit that this is my level," said Alcaraz. "It is not my maximum level, I 
still have room to improve, but it is a high level."

As it was when Alcaraz beat Casper Ruud here in the 2022 final, the number 
one ranking will again be on the line Sunday.

Alcaraz eclipsed Lleyton Hewitt's record as the youngest world number one at 
the age of 19, but it is two years since he last held the top ranking.

"It's a good goal, but we've tried not to focus too much on it in this 
tournament," said Alcaraz.

"It will remind me of the 2022 final, when I was playing for a Slam and the 
number one spot. It will be like a flashback. But winning a Grand Slam comes 
before being number one."