Jannik Sinner reached his fifth straight Grand Slam final on Friday with a four-set win over Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime at the US Open. The Italian triumphed 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to continue his remarkable run at the top of men’s tennis.
Sinner, who is 24 years old, will face Carlos Alcaraz for the title on Sunday. It will be their third consecutive Grand Slam final meeting this season. Sinner won the Australian Open and Wimbledon, while Alcaraz defeated him in a thrilling French Open clash.
The world number one ranking is also on the line in New York. Sinner said it feels amazing to keep reaching the latter stages of major tournaments. He admitted he never imagined this when he turned professional.
The rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz has grown quickly. Their first US Open battle came in the 2022 quarter-finals, a five-hour epic that ended at nearly 3:00am with Alcaraz the winner. The Spaniard went on to win his first major title that year.
Sinner believes their rivalry began with that unforgettable night in New York. He said both players are different now, with more confidence and experience. He described Sunday’s final as another very special occasion.
Sinner has built his recent success on a 27-match winning streak in Grand Slam matches on hard courts. He is aiming to become the first man to defend the US Open crown since Roger Federer won five in a row up to 2008.
Auger-Aliassime was competing in his second Grand Slam semifinal. The Canadian had hoped to reach a final for the first time but came up short. He said he played his game with no regrets and accepted the outcome.