Carlos Alcaraz is back on top of men’s tennis. The 22-year-old Spaniard overpowered Jannik Sinner in the US Open final, reclaiming the world number one ranking and halting Sinner’s 65-week reign at the summit and 27-match unbeaten run on hard-court Grand Slam stages.

Alcaraz prevailed in four sets, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, mixing daring shot-making with tactical patience. He delivered 42 winners to Sinner’s 21, finding the lines when it mattered most. That win gave Alcaraz his sixth major title, and extended his head-to-head lead to 10-5, including 6-4 in Grand Slam finals.

Sinner responded gallantly, levelling the match in the second set and briefly raising hopes of forcing a decider. But when Alcaraz regained control in the third, and again when rallies lengthened in the fourth, his execution proved too sharp.

In his post-match comments, Alcaraz spoke of New York as “a place that feels like home,” crediting the fans’ energy and praising Sinner as “one of the toughest opponents anyone could face.” Sinner, reflecting with honesty, said: “I give lots of credit to him, because he handled the situation better than I did. He raised his level when he had to.”

The Spaniard captured the mood best himself. “Today, I just was brilliant, to be honest… If I want to beat Jannik on the biggest stage, I have to be brilliant, which I’m really happy about.” With that, Alcaraz confirmed not only the result but also his belief that he had delivered his finest tennis when it mattered most.