• Men’s singles final at US Open

• LIVE: Jannik Sinner v Carlos Alcaraz for title

• Start delayed because of security measures related to President Donald Trump’s visit

• Winner will leave New York as world number one

• Defending champion Sinner beat Alcaraz at Wimbledon in July

• World number two Alcaraz edged epic against Sinner at May’s French Open

• Pair have split past eight Grand Slam titles between them

• Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary from Flushing Meadows (UK only)

Live Reporting

Jess Anderson, Bobbie Jackson and Maisie Gallen

1. Postpublished at 19:48 British Summer Time

   Sinner v Alcaraz

   Since the start of the 2024 season, Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz will have now claimed the title in 16 of the 17 ATP-level events they have both appeared in, with last year’s Madrid Open the only exception.

2. ‘I am happy to be in another final’published at 19:47 British Summer Time

   Sinner v Alcaraz

   Jannik Sinner speaking before the final: “This surface is where I feel most comfortable. This has been an incredible season and I am happy to stand here in a final.

   “Finals are always a special occasion. It is not about defending or not it is just about playing a good match. Carlos is playing incredible tennis and I will try my best.”

3. Postpublished at 19:46 British Summer Time

   Jonathan Jurejko
   BBC Sport senior tennis reporter at Flushing Meadows

   You remember when today was about the tennis? Me too.

   Let’s get back there.

   Carlos Alcaraz emerges through the atmosphere-building fog first, shortly followed by Jannik Sinner.

   Both receive equally-loud cheers as they step out – and the volume was much higher than when you-know-who appeared.

4. Postpublished at 19:45 British Summer Time

   Sinner v Alcaraz

   Alcaraz won a spell of five matches between Indian Wells in 2024 and the French Open in June 2025 – but momentum has shifted throughout the 14 contests:

   • 2021 Paris Masters – Round of 32: Alcaraz won 7-6 (7-1) 7-5
   • 2022 Wimbledon – Round of 16: Sinner won 6–1 6–4 6–7 (8–10) 6–3
   • 2022 Croatia Open – Final: Sinner won 6–7 (5–7) 6–1 6–1
   • 2022 US Open – Quater-final: Alcaraz won 6–3 6–7 (7-9) 6–7 (0-7) 7–5 6–3
   • 2023 Indian Wells – Semi-final: Alcaraz won 7–6 (7-4) 6–3
   • 2023 Miami Open – Semi-final: Sinner won 6–7 (4–7) 6–4 6–2
   • 2023 China Open – Semi-final: Sinner won 7–6 (7–4) 6–1
   • 2024 Indian Wells – Semi-final: Alcaraz won 1–6 6–3 6–2
   • 2024 French Open – Semi-final: Alcaraz won 2–6 6–3 3–6 6–4 6–3
   • 2024 China Open – Final: Alcaraz won 6–7 (6–8) 6–4 7–6 (7–3)
   • 2024 Italian Open – Final: Alcaraz won 7–6 (7–5) 6–1
   • 2025 French Open – Final: Alcaraz won 4–6 6–7 (4–7) 6–4 7–6 (7–3) 7–6 (10–2)
   • 2025 Wimbledon – Final: Sinner won 4–6 6–4 6–4 6–4
   • 2025 Cincinnati Open – Final: Alcaraz won 5-0 (retired)

5. The case for Alcarazpublished at 19:44 British Summer Time

   Jonathan Jurejko
   BBC Sport senior tennis reporter at Flushing Meadows

   The difference between the standout pair in 2024 and 2025 has been marginal – but the gulf over the rest is vast.

   Alcaraz has won 114 of his 133 matches (86%) and also claimed 10 titles.

   The Spaniard, however, has a 9-5 advantage in their head-to-head record but lost in their Grand Slam meeting when his malfunctioning serve allowed Sinner to get on top at Wimbledon.

   Improving this area has been a key target for Alcaraz since – and the work has paid off.

   Alcaraz has only twice dropped serve in his six US Open matches so far, putting the Spaniard (98%) slightly ahead of Sinner (95%) at the top of the pile in service games won.

6. ‘It will be tough but I am ready’published at 19:42 British Summer Time

   Sinner v Alcaraz

   Carlos Alcaraz speaking on the surface: “I have tried to improve as much as I can on this surface and I am happy with how I have been serving in my matches.

   “Sinner is one of the best on the tour so it will be difficult. But I am ready.

   On becoming number one: “I try not to think about that, thanks for the reminder! Today there are a lot of things on the line but I try not to think about them and focus on the game. I am playing great tennis.”

7. Postpublished at 19:40 British Summer Time

   Sinner v Alcaraz

   Image source, Getty Images

   Here we go then. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner head out onto court.

   A similar reaction for both players from the crowd.

8. Sports stars unitepublished at 19:38 British Summer Time

   Sinner v Alcaraz

   Image source, Getty Images

   Image source, gett

   Image source, Getty Images

9. Postpublished at 19:36 British Summer Time

   Sinner v Alcaraz

   While we do of course want this final to get under way as soon as possible, Arthur Ashe remains half empty. Which means there are around 12,000 people still trying to get in.

10. Postpublished at 19:34 British Summer Time

    Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport senior tennis reporter at Flushing Meadows

    After the initial delay, the pre-final pageantry is starting as planned at the new time of 2:30pm.

    President Trump reappears in the hospitality box to a relatively warm applause, although there are some jeers in a mixed reception when he appears on the big screen during the national anthem.

    Hundreds of punters have their camera phones zoomed in on him.

11. Postpublished at 19:32 British Summer Time

    Sinner v Alcaraz

    We’ve got two opposing styles when it comes to the warm-ups behind the scenes.

    Alcaraz has got his headphones on, getting some stretches in with his coach, fully focussed.

    Sinner appears to be playing football with his team while they also chase each other around the gym.

    Interesting. You really would’ve had that the other way around, wouldn’t you?

12. Famous faces all aroundpublished at 19:30 British Summer Time

    Sinner v Alcaraz

    Image source, Getty Images

    Image source, Getty Images

    Image source, Getty Images

13. ‘A delayed start affects the players’published at 19:26 British Summer Time

    Sinner v Alcaraz

    Annabel Croft
    Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

    I don’t think factors like the roof will bother either of these players. They are both the type of characters who can cope with what is going on.

    However everything would have been worked back from the 2 o’clock start [local time]. If you keep delaying it then this will affect when the players have their next meal for example, and how long it takes to digest that food.

    There are a lot of factors in play if you keep delaying the match.

14. Postpublished at 19:24 British Summer Time

    Sinner v Alcaraz

    Queues continue to snake around Arthur Ashe but as far as we’re aware players will be out on court in around 15 minutes.

    That’s how things stand at the moment, anyway.

15. ‘There are parallels between Sinner and Steffi Graf’published at 19:22 British Summer Time

    Sinner v Alcaraz

    Andrea Petkovic
    Former world number nine on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

    Jannik Sinner’s superpower is that he can sleep whenever and wherever he wants to. He likes to take a nap and can sleep right up until the final is about to start. He will sleep up until 30 minutes before it starts today!

    People who play against Sinner have described it as feeling like you are underwater and you cannot come up for air. He takes the ball so early and his footwork is so intense so the opponent will end up making mistakes.

    Lots of players who played against Steffi Graf said a similar thing. She has the same intensity and striking the ball so early. There are a lot of parallels.

16. Postpublished at 19:18 British Summer Time

    Sinner v Alcaraz

    As the world number one and defending champion, some might put Jannik Sinner slightly ahead of Carlos Alcaraz in this match.

    But questions remain about whether the Italian is fully fit.

    After retiring from the Cincinnati Open final against Alcaraz with illness, he also received a medical time out during his semi-final match against Felix Auger-Aliassime.

17. ‘Alcaraz pushes me to the limits, which is great’published at 19:15 British Summer Time

    Sinner v Alcaraz

    Jannik Sinner speaking before the US Open final: “I love these challenges. I love to put myself in these positions.

    “He [Alcaraz] is someone who pushes me to the limits which is great. Then you show the best feedback you have as a player.

    “We have faced each other a lot lately so things are getting a little bit different. When we step on court, we are aware of more things and we prepare for things in different ways.

    “It is sometimes nice to not play against him! But it is nice, and it is great for the sport having these rivalries and hopefully great matches. I love to put myself in these positions and see how it goes.”

18. The case for Sinnerpublished at 19:12 British Summer Time

    Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport senior tennis reporter at Flushing Meadows

    Sinner has been the standout player on the ATP Tour over the past two seasons, winning 110 of his 120 matches (92%) and lifting 10 titles.

    Even though he missed three months of this year because of a doping controversy, Sinner could still not be dislodged at the top of the rankings, but defeat on Sunday will see him replaced by Alcaraz.

    Most of his victories over the US Open fortnight have been comfortable and served to underline his recent dominance.

    The defending champion has dropped only two sets through the six rounds – against Denis Shapovalov in round three and Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semi-finals – while seven of his 20 sets have ended 6-1 in his favour.

19. Postpublished at 19:10 British Summer Time

    Sinner v Alcaraz

    Here’s how it looks outside the Arthur Ashe Stadium, with extra security in place because of President Trump’s visit.

    Image source, Reuters

    Image source, Reuters

    Image source, Getty Images

20. US President Donald Trump arrives to watch the US Open finalpublished at 19:07 British Summer Time

    Image source, Getty Images

    Image source, Getty Images

    Image source, Getty Images