Carlos Alcaraz fought back from the brink to outlast top seed Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2) in a French Open final for the ages on Sunday to retain his crown and cement his status as the Prince of Clay in Roland Garros' post-Rafa Nadal era.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner, who has been recovering from illness, received a more favourable route to the US Open final than Carlos Alcaraz while Aryna Sabalenka will be tested in her bid to retain her title after the draw was made on Thursday.
Eyeing a sixth Grand Slam title, the Spaniard was eventually too strong for the metronomically consistent Fritz, whose biggest weapons were still not damaging enough to unsettle the second seed under a fiery sun on Centre Court.
Carlos Alcaraz said he could hold his head high despite being unseated from his Wimbledon throne by Jannik Sinner on Sunday and the Spaniard praised their hot rivalry for being several notches higher than the others on the men's tour.
Aryna Sabalenka said the Australian Open should reconsider its policy on banning wrist-worn fitness trackers after several players were told to remove the devices before coming onto court.
Twice ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev booked his place in the season-ending championship after progressing to the semi-finals of the Vienna Open on Friday, marking his eighth qualification in the past nine seasons.
'The number one (ranking) is a goal that I had set myself almost at the beginning of the year and to see that I have achieved it is something incredible.'
Carlos Alcaraz has revealed the new cropped hairstyle he is sporting at the US Open was the result of his brother mishandling the clippers when he wanted a quick trim.
Jannik Sinner returns to the Australian Open targeting a third straight title as the Italian seeks to impose a level of supremacy reminiscent of Novak Djokovic's stranglehold on the year's opening Grand Slam.
Rei Sakamoto wins on ATP debut as five teenagers reach Miami Open Round 2 for the first time since 2007.
In the evening session, men's third seed Alexander Zverev and women's fourth seed Jessica Pegula were forced off the court mid-match due to rain and the threat of lightning.
Top seed and defending champion Jannik Sinner, playing on his 24th birthday, ended French qualifier Terence Atmane's dream run at the Cincinnati Open with a 7-6(4), 6-2 win on Saturday to reach the final of the US Open tune-up event.
Both US Open champions share a fun connection off the court: They were born on the same day, May 5.
Novak Djokovic said he had always believed he could still play at the top level of tennis and rounded on those who had tried to usher him into retirement after beating Jannik Sinner in the semifinals of the Australian Open on Friday.
Jack Draper crashes out of Miami Open after loss to Reilly Opelka, while Ethan Quinn stuns Casper Ruud in a breakthrough win.
Carlos Alcaraz proved a class above defending champion Jannik Sinner to win the men's singles title at the US Open with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory at the Arthur Ashe stadium, in New York, on Sunday.
Carlos Alcaraz heads to the US Open in his now-familiar role as chief challenger to defending champion Jannik Sinner and the Spaniard will be driven this year by the twin pursuit of Grand Slam glory and the World No. 1 ranking.
'I've practised with both of them a little bit and they're incredible ball strikers. There's more to come, I hope they stay injury-free.'
Together, the two young stars have now claimed seven out of the last eight Grand Slam titles.
'I tried to calm myself as I was mad, angry and talking not really good things. I'm really happy not to let those thoughts play against me.'
The five-times Grand Slam champion recharged his batteries with a short trip to Ibiza but is back in harness ahead of his campaign at Queen's Club, where he faces countryman Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in his opener on Tuesday.
Sinner faces defending champ Alcaraz in hotly anticipated French Open final
Novak Djokovic became the oldest man to reach the quarter-finals at all four Grand Slams in a single season.
'I believe that tennis or every sport needs rivalries. This could be potentially one of them, but there are amazing players coming up.'
It's a privilege to make history with you, Alcaraz tells Sinner
Aryna Sabalenka likes the idea of 'rage rooms' at tournaments where players can vent their frustrations away from the cameras, though the World No. 1 said there would be nothing left to destroy after she uses it.
Francisco Cerundolo defeated Daniil Medvedev at the Miami Open, continuing his strong record at the tournament.
Carlos Alcaraz heads to Paris for his French Open title defence having laid down a marker with his victory over world number one Jannik Sinner in Rome
Alcaraz ends Tarvet fairytale to reach Wimbledon third round
Novak Djokovic outclassed American Taylor Fritz to set up a high-voltage semi-final showdown against Carlos Alcaraz.
Novak Djokovic, who is eyeing a record 25th Grand Slam title, looks likely to need to beat either Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz or both at the business end of the Australian Open.
Carlos Alcaraz had little trouble dismantling Jannik Sinner in the Italian Open final, to snap the world number one's 26-match winning streak.
Andy Murray said his six-month stint as Novak Djokovic's coach was a valuable learning experience despite a disappointing end after the high-profile partnership failed to yield a title.
The match against Rafa in Australia for the title 14 years back was a massive chapter in their legacies as they gave their all in a five-set masterclass that lasted almost six hours, with Djokovic edging out Nadal.
World number one Jannik Sinner produced a sublime semi-final display as he fought back from a set down to beat American Tommy Paul 1-6, 6-0, 6-3 on Friday to set up an Italian Open final showdown with Carlos Alcaraz.
Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the Madrid Open on Thursday after the second seed said he was struggling with hamstring and groin injuries.
Carlos Alcaraz, who triumphed at Queen's a few weeks before claiming his first Wimbledon title in 2023, extended his winning streak to 18 matches.
Second seed Coco Gauff overcame early problems on serve to cruise past China's Wang Xinyu 6-3, 6-2, keeping her composure despite eight double faults in the first set to book a meeting with Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska in the third round.
Carlos Alcaraz continued his French Open title defence with a display of breathtaking brutality for a 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 victory over American 12th seed Tommy Paul.
'I've seen Federer and Nadal and they played a couple of good finals but nothing comes close to this.'
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