By Simon Jennings

NEW YORK (Reuters) -When Jannik Sinner walked off the Arthur Ashe Stadium court after falling 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-4 to Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s U.S. Open final, more than just a match had ended.

The 24-year-old Italian’s 65-week reign as world number one was over, his 27-match winning streak on hardcourts at the Grand Slam level had snapped, and his bid to defend his 2024 U.S. Open title had failed.

Yet, in the immediate aftermath of defeat, Sinner displayed the maturity that has defined his rise to tennis’s summit.

“First of all, I would like to start with Carlos and the whole team, you’re doing amazing, congrats… it’s a great moment,” he said during the trophy ceremony, gracious even amid the ruins of his championship dreams.

The loss marked a historic moment in men’s

See Full Page