7/09/2025

theSun on Sunday SEPT 7, 2025

SPORTS 12

Sweet revenge Alcaraz ousts Djokovic to reach US Open final, three years after winning the title

Sinner relishing ‘special’ US Open final

Open. “On court we like to see each other, you know, because it means that considering our ranking, it means that we are doing well in the tournament,” said Sinner. They will meet at the US Open for the second time. Their first encounter in the 2022 quar terfinals was a seismic battle that has come to shape their rivalry. “Sunday (Mon, 2am Malaysian time) is a very special day and an amazing final again,” said Sinner. “I feel like our rivalry started here playing an amazing match. We are two different players now, with different con fidence too.” Sinner is looking to catch Alcaraz tomorrow by collecting his fifth major. Much of that suc cess has been built on a the back of 27 straight Grand Slam match wins on hard courts. He is aiming to become the first man to successfully defend the US Open crown since Federer won the last of five con secutive titles in 2008. Canada’s Auger-Aliassime was trying to reach his first Grand Slam final after making the last four for the first time since his run to the same stage in New York in 2021. Despite converting only one of his 10 break points during the match, Auger-Aliassime said he has “no regrets”, while he is proud of having stuck to his aggressive playing style. “I don’t have regrets. I played my way. I played my game. You know, you kind of live and die with your choices,” said Auger Aliassime. “I just want to take a moment to soak in the tour nament and everything that was good. “You obviously build your future with what’s good in you, and then you try to improve a little bit, step by step. So I’m just trying to

REIGNING champion Jannik Sinner expects another “special” occasion when he plays Carlos Alcaraz for the men’s US Open title after the Italian reached his fifth successive Grand Slam final yesterday. Sinner beat Felix Auger Aliassime 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and is chasing a fifth career major after joining Rod Laver, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to reach all four Grand Slam finals in a season. “I think five straight Grand Slam finals, it’s something great. The consistency and putting myself there in the later stages of the biggest tournaments we have, it’s amazing,” said Sinner. “I would have never thought that I would make this when I turned pro, and now I find myself here.” His world No. 1 ranking will be at stake tomorrow when he faces Alcaraz for the third con secutive Grand Slam final. Sinner, 24, captured the Australian Open and

CARLOS ALCARAZ overpow ered Novak Djokovic in straight sets to book his place in the US Open final yesterday and set up a blockbuster showdown with defending champion Jannik Sinner. Spanish second seed Alcaraz produced a ruthlessly efficient display to end Djokovic’s latest bid for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, winning 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 in two hours and 23 min utes. The 22

manding two-set lead. There was only going to be one victor thereafter, Alcaraz pouncing on Djokovic’s serve once more to help set up a 4-1 lead before hanging on to seal a win which avenged the Spaniard’s defeat to Djokovic in last year’s Olympic final. Sinner and Alcaraz have met five times in Grand Slams to date, with Alcaraz beating the Italian in a jaw-dropping five setter to win the French Open in June before Sinner turned the tables to beat Alcaraz at Wimbledon in July. The two men also have his tory in New York, meeting in an epic, 5hr 15min 2022 quarterfinal show down won by even tual champion Alcaraz. “Every time we

ingly

weary

38-year-old

Djokovic. “I played great tennis and I am happy to be at my second final at the US Open,” Alcaraz said. “I tried to play a physical match and I think I did.” Alcaraz had Djokovic under pressure from the very first game, breaking the Serb to grab a crucial advantage that he never surrendered before tak ing the opening set. Djokovic, enjoying full throated backing from the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, raised hopes of a fightback in the second set when he broke Alcaraz to move into a 3-0 lead. But Alcaraz broke back

yea r - o l d five-time Grand Slam winner, who has not

in the fifth game before the set went to a tie break which the

dropped a set on his path to tomorrow’s final (2am Malaysian time), ultimately proved too strong for the increas

play against each other, I think our level is really high,” Alcaraz said of his rivalry with Sinner ahead of this year’s tournament. “I don’t see any player playing against each other having the level that we are playing when we face each other.” Tomorrow’s final mean

Spaniard led from the opening point before clinch ing 7/4 for a c o m -

Wimbledon titles this season but lost to the 22 y e a r - o l d Alcaraz in an epic five-set battle at the French

while will have a rare visit from a sitting US President after confirmation yesterday that Donald Trump plans to attend the tennis showpiece. Trump’s visit, confirmed to AFP by a White House official, is the latest appear ance by the US leader at a major sporting event following trips to the Super Bowl in February and the Fifa Club World Cup final in July. – AFP

Carlos Alcaraz returns against Novak Djokovic during the US Open. – AFPPIC

take that all in,” Auger Aliassime told reporters. – AFP/Reuters

Jannik Sinner. – AFPPIC

SIDENETTING

automatic South American qualifying spot. Paraguay last took part in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where they were knocked out in the quarterfinals by eventual winners Spain.

participation next year after being affected by injuries and missing several games at MLS side Inter Miami. “In the past, I said it, logically, it was unlikely I’d play in a World Cup at 39. It’s nine months away, which is close, but it’s a long time as well,” Messi told reporters at the Monumental Stadium on Friday. Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni decided that Messi should rest and not travel with the national team to the final qualifying match against Ecuador in Guayaquil on Wednesday. PARAGUAY CELEBRATES PARAGUAY celebrated an impromptu national holiday yesterday after a draw against Ecuador saw the South American nation qualify for its first Football World Cup in 16 years. President Santiago Pena decreed the holiday on Friday as thousands of Albirroja fans took to the streets to celebrate a 0-0 draw with Ecuador, which secured Paraguay the last

draw at home to Sweden in their opening Group B World Cup qualifier that the visitors were controlling until a terrible blunder by goalkeeper Robin Olsen. Winger Anthony Elanga had put the Swedes in front in the 18th minute. However, the Slovenians levelled in the first minute of the second half. Ayari then bundled the ball into the net in the 73rd minute. Sweden coach Jon Dahl Tomasson may regret not bringing on Alexander Isak as the Slovenians came back again to grab a point. MESSI DOUBTFUL LIONEL MESSI cast doubt on his participation in the 2026 World Cup after his double in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Venezuela in the penultimate round of the South American qualifiers. Despite his goals against La Vinotinto and Argentina’s early qualification, the 38-year-old national captain was cautious about his potential

TOOTHLESS DENMARK DENMARK’S hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup suffered an early setback when they were held to a scoreless draw by Scotland in their Group C World Cup qualifier yesterday as they dominated possession but could not convert it into goals. The Danes penned the Scots back for much of the game and created plenty of scoring opportunities at the Parken Stadium. But the resolute Scottish defence remained compact and forced the home side into taking difficult shots that they struggled to get on target. The Danes will have to up their game as they travel to Athens to meet Greece, who hammered Belarus 5-1 to put themselves in the driving seat in Group C. SLOVENIA SECURE DRAW SLOVENIA substitute Zan Vipotnik struck a 90th-minute equaliser to give his side a 2-2

SOLBAKKEN CALLS FOR FASTER BALL KIDS

NORWAY are chasing their first World Cup spot since 1998 and coach Stale Solbakken is leaving nothing to chance as he pushes the Norwegian Football Federation to bring in faster ball boys and girls for the final qualifying matches. With four games left, Norway have a perfect record in Group I, including a statement win over Italy, putting them within reach of their first major tournament since Euro 2000. Solbakken believes faster ball boy and girl routines could make the difference to help push his side over the finish line. Norway host bottom side Moldova in their next qualifier on Wednesday.