2025 Grand Slam calendar closed with Carlos Alcaraz defeating Jannik Sinner in the US Open final, further cementing their status as the two dominant forces in men’s tennis. With their continued success on the biggest stages, Alcaraz and Sinner are edging closer to the remarkable legacy built by Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Carlos Alcaraz clinches sixth grand slam at US Open
Alcaraz’s straight-sets victory over Sinner at Arthur Ashe Stadium earned him his sixth career major and a return to the world No. 1 ranking. The triumph also marked the Spaniard’s second Roland Garros–US Open double, reinforcing his reputation as one of the sport’s most complete players.
The US Open final was the 10th career meeting between the two, and the third Grand Slam final they contested this season. Once again, their rivalry delivered not only high-level tennis but also historical significance for the men’s game.
Jannik Sinner’s breakthrough season
Despite falling short in New York, Jannik Sinner has enjoyed a career-defining season. The Italian became the Australian Open champion for the second year in a row and lifted his first-ever Wimbledon title during the summer. These triumphs brought his Grand Slam tally to four and confirmed his place as Carlos Alcaraz’s fiercest rival.
Together, the duo has shared all four majors across the past two seasons—an extraordinary display of consistency that echoes the dominance once reserved for Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer.
Closing in on Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic’s historic streak
By winning every Slam between them over the past two years, Alcaraz and Sinner have now combined for eight consecutive men’s singles titles. This achievement places them third in the Open Era for most consecutive majors won by a pair of players.
They now sit just behind Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who captured nine consecutive majors from May 2018 to May 2020. During that span, Nadal added three French Open titles and his fourth US Open crown, while Djokovic secured five, including two Australian Opens, two Wimbledons, and a US Open.
The record streak, however, still belongs to Nadal and Roger Federer, who combined for 11 straight majors from 2005 to 2007, a golden era defined by Rafael Nadal’s clay dominance and Federer’s grass-court mastery.
A rivalry poised to define a generation
With Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner splitting the past eight majors equally, comparisons to the sport’s greatest rivalries are inevitable. Their head-to-head duels are beginning to mirror the epic legacies carved by Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer—icons who shaped the modern era of men’s tennis.
If their current trajectory continues, Alcaraz and Sinner may not only match but potentially surpass the remarkable achievements of tennis’s Big Three, ushering in a new era of Grand Slam dominance.