'Sincaraz' rivalry lights up 2025 season, women share the spotlight

BENGALURU, Dec 17 : Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner turned 2025 into a gripping tug-of-war for tennis supremacy by carving up the Grand Slams for a second straight year, while the women's game showcased depth and drama with four different major champions.

Sinner's dominant victory over Alexander Zverev at the start of the season helped him retain his Australian Open title and become the first Italian to capture three majors, moving past Nicola Pietrangeli who won back-to-back French Opens in 1959-60.

What followed after Sinner's three-month ban in February for anti-doping violations in 2024 was nothing short of spectacular, as he took his era-defining rivalry with Alcaraz to the biggest stage in an epic five-set Roland Garros final.

Alcaraz ultimately prevailed after saving three match points - one of the sport's great comebacks in the longest Paris final at five hours and 29 minutes - with the Spaniard establishing himself as the "Prince of Clay" in the post-Rafa Nadal era.

The "Sincaraz" slugfest continued in the Wimbledon final, where Sinner avenged his painful defeat by beating Alcaraz to raise his first trophy on the famous All England Club lawns, perfectly setting up their inevitable U.S. Open showdown.

After thumping Novak Djokovic in the semi-final to prolong the Serb's wait for a record 25th major title, Alcaraz dazzled under New York's lights to dismantle Sinner in the final and tighten his grip on their rivalry.

"I give 100 per cent every day to improve ... to see what I can do better to beat Jannik and win these kinds of trophies," Alcaraz said after his second U.S. Open triumph.

"Having this rivalry means a lot. It's super special for me, for him and for people who enjoy it every single time we play."

CAREER GRAND