Jannik Sinner fought through a difficult match to defeat Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday. The defending champion was not at his best but still managed to secure the win and book a place in the US Open final on Sunday.

With this victory, the 24-year-old Italian has now won 26 of his 27 Grand Slam matches this season. His remarkable run includes titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, along with a runner-up finish at the French Open, where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz.

A Strong Start Followed by a Stumble

Sinner began the match in dominant fashion, dropping only four unforced errors in the opening set. His commanding play created the impression that another routine win was on the way.

However, the second set brought a dramatic shift. Errors crept into Sinner’s game while Auger-Aliassime, playing in his second career Grand Slam semifinal and his first since 2021, grew in confidence.

The Canadian had three early break points at 2-0 but failed to convert them. Eventually, he broke Sinner’s serve at 5-3 and held on to take the set, drawing level at one set apiece. The crowd’s energy fueled his comeback, creating tense moments for the defending champion.

Medical Timeout Raises Concerns

Until that point, there was little sign that Sinner was struggling physically. However, before the third set began, he took a medical timeout, suggesting a possible injury issue.

His first-serve accuracy had dropped noticeably:

• First set: 52% (13 of 25)

• Second set: 45% (10 of 22)

• Third set: 40% (10 of 25)

Despite these numbers, Sinner found a way to regroup. Auger-Aliassime could not fully capitalize on the situation, and Sinner broke at 5-3 to take the third set.

Fourth Set Seals the Win

In the fourth set, Sinner appeared fresher and more composed. Auger-Aliassime showed moments of fight, but he could not match Sinner’s pace. The Italian maintained control and closed out the match to secure a hard-fought victory.

Sinner Reflects on Rivalry with Alcaraz

Sinner will now face world number two Carlos Alcaraz, who earlier defeated Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2. The matchup sets up another exciting chapter in their growing rivalry.

"Sunday is a very special day and an amazing final again," Sinner said after the match. Speaking about his injury, he added, "nothing too bad."

He continued, "We'll see what's coming. I feel like our rivalry started here playing an amazing match [in 2022, when Alcaraz beat Sinner in the quarter-finals]. We are two different players now, with different confidence too."

Historic Achievement for Sinner

The win places Sinner in elite company. He is now only the fourth player in the Open era to reach all four Grand Slam finals in a single season, joining Rod Laver, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic.

However, Alcaraz has had the upper hand in their meetings. Sinner has lost nine of their 14 matches, including three of their four clashes in 2025.