Alcaraz Beats Sinner, Wins $5M Prize, Reclaims World No. 1

In a battle between the two men’s tennis titans, Carlos Alcaraz emerged as the year’s final Grand Slam champion—and he’s closing in on the top five of the men’s tennis career earnings list.

Alcaraz defeated Sinner at the US Open final Sunday in New York, earning his second Grand Slam title in 2025 and a record $5 million first prize. With the win, Alcaraz also reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking Sinner has held since June 2024. The 22-year-old last held the No. 1 spot in September 2023.

The Spaniard has won six Grand Slams. The Australian Open is the lone major he has yet to conquer to in his quest to achieve a career Grand Slam, though he has yet to even pass the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park. 

Sunday’s win pushed Alcaraz to nearly $54.5 million in career earnings. He is still sixth all-time, but close to passing Alexander Zverev for No. 5. The German entered the US Open with about $54.5 million in earnings, and took home $237,000 after being eliminated in the third round. 

Sinner still earned $2.5 million by finishing runner-up, a larger prize than he took home for winning the Australian Open at the beginning of the year ($2.2 million). He has amassed about $48.8 million in earnings and moved ahead of the struggling Daniil Medvedev for seventh on the all-time earnings list, right behind Alcaraz. 

Before Sunday’s match even started, Sinner and Alcaraz already made history by becoming the first duo to ever battle in three consecutive Grand Slam finals in the same calendar year. Alcaraz won in Paris and New York, while Sinner won at Wimbledon in July. Sinner defeated Zverev in the Australian Open final in January.

Alcaraz got the best of Sinner in two ATP Masters 1000 finals this year, including at the Italian Open, Sinner’s home tournament. He also won at the Cincinnati Open last month, though Sinner retired due to illness. 

The two have won nine of the last ten Grand Slam titles dating back to Wimbledon in 2023. Alcaraz has won five and Sinner has won four, though the Spaniard won his maiden Grand Slam at the 2022 US Open.

Sabalenka Jumps Into Top 4 Earners

Sinner wasn’t the only one to rake in a significant payday from the US Open. Women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated Amanda Anisimova on Saturday, also took home $5 million. It was her second consecutive US Open title.

The 27-year-old now has $42.3 million in career earnings, fourth all-time behind Serena Williams, Venus Williams, and Iga Świątek, who took home $1.26 million for making the semifinals. 

Sabalenka could move into the top two soon, as she is less than $1 million away from both Venus Williams and Świątek.