Sinner* 2-4 Alcaraz
A hold to love from the man ahead on the scoreboard.
Some huge serving and Sinner can’t guide those back into court.
A short backhand down the line from him is punished with a ferocious forehand cross-court that is slapped away with venom.
Sinner 2-3 Alcaraz*
Alcaraz goes 30-0 up and a cheeky grin from him as he plays one of the shots of the tournament.
He digs up a volley as low as his feet from under the net that works as a dropshot that spins off the side of the court. Wow.
Sinner in trouble, but he keeps his nerve. In typical fashion he works the ball with depth from side to side and it grinds down Alcaraz. Some good serving helps too.
Four points in a row. Huge hold.
Sinner* 1-3 Alcaraz
Alcaraz has won 83 per cent of points at this year’s US Open when serve-volleying and it works against Sinner at 30-0.
Some brilliance from Sinner sees Alcaraz scamper across the baseline and somehow he reaches a speedy backhand but can’t make the lob drop into the court.
Again the dropshot is on show from Alcaraz at 40-30 and it forces a mistake as his opponent tries to dig it up.
Sinner 1-2 Alcaraz*
A much-needed hold of serve from Sinner.
He is on the ropes at 30-30. Alcaraz goes for a forehand winner down the line but it goes just long.
Sinner then forces a mistake from his rival and he is on the board.
Basketball star Steph Curry has been on his feet about five times already so far!
Sinner* 0-2 Alcaraz
Alcaraz what a start. A man on a mission.
He plays a forehand back behind Sinner at 30-15 and it has the Italian losing his footing a tad when he tries to change direction.
Alcaraz then seals the game with a clever drop shot that again completely wrong foots Sinner.
Sinner 0-1 Alcaraz*
The level is ridiculously high already. Stupidly good.
A lengthy first game lasts NINE MINUTES and it is full of lengthy rallies and crunching groundstrokes from both.
It is Alcaraz finding his groove first and he is powering his forehand from one side to the other, point after point, and Sinner is using all his defensive skills.
Statistically, nobody is better than saving break points than Sinner.
He saves one, can’t capitalise on a couple of game points of his own, then Alcaraz converts his second break chance. The Spaniard strikes first.
Wow what a way to begin the final!
