Jannik Sinner admits being predictable in US Open final, promises change in tactics

Jannik Sinner admitted that being too predictable cost him the 2025 US Open final against Carlos Alcaraz. The defending champion could not match Alcaraz’s variety and lost in straight sets after two hours and 42 minutes. Though Sinner managed to win the second set, he struggled to find consistency as Alcaraz kept him under pressure throughout.

After the match, Sinner said he failed to mix up his tactics, avoiding serve-and-volley or drop shots that might have unsettled his opponent. He explained that Alcaraz’s ability to change the rhythm of play made the difference, while his own lack of variation left him exposed.

US Open final: Sinner vs Alcaraz highlights

“I was very predictable on court today. He changed the game, and that’s part of his style. Now it’s up to me whether I want to make adjustments or not. We’re definitely going to work on that,” Sinner said in the post-match press conference.

‘Goal is to become more unpredictable’

Sinner admitted he must step outside his comfort zone and take more risks, even if it means losing some matches in the short term. His focus now, he said, is on becoming less predictable and evolving into a more complete tennis player.

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“I didn’t attempt a single serve-and-volley, and I didn’t use many drop shots. When you play someone like Carlos, you have to step out of your comfort zone. From now on, I may even lose a few matches while trying to make changes, but the goal is to become more unpredictable. That’s what I need to do—to evolve as a tennis player. At the end of the day, that’s my main objective,” Sinner added.

Sinner also lost his No. 1 ranking after Alcaraz ended his 65-week reign at the top. The Spaniard snapped Sinner’s 27-match winning streak in hard-court Grand Slams and took control of the final with 42 winners—twice as many as Sinner’s 21. The Italian’s chances were further undone by 28 unforced errors.