"Since Sinner returned to the tour in May after a three-month suspension, the rivals have entered the same tournament five times. In all five instances, they have met in the final. They appear to be on such level terms now, across all surfaces and court speeds, that each match comes down to the idiosyncrasies of fatigue, form, and focus. The old, easy shorthands now feel obsolete."
"While Sinner had technically dropped fewer games going into the final-52 to 58-Alcaraz had been the steadier player, winning his first six matches without dropping a set. He remained the stronger man on the last day, beating Sinner, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, one more untouchable performance to cap off what he called "the best tournament so far that I have ever played." That's some superlative, coming from a guy who has already compiled a legendary career by age 22."
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have become the central figures in men's tennis, repeatedly meeting in finals across surfaces and court speeds. Since Sinner's return in May after a three-month suspension, they have entered the same tournament five times and met in the final each time. Matches now hinge on fatigue, form and focus rather than easy shorthand narratives. At the U.S. Open, Alcaraz beat Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 after winning his first six matches without dropping a set and defeating Novak Djokovic in the semifinal. The rivals split the year's majors, signaling a shift from the Big Three to a new duopoly.
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