Jannik Sinner sets up US Open final with great rival Carlos Alcaraz, made to work in tough Auger-Aliassime examination

Jannik SInner is into the US Open final again and the organisers have got their dream final as he will face Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday and for the first time in the open era, the same two players will play three different Grand Slam finals in the same season.

But despite all of this, Sinner was made to work mighty hard by Felix Auger-Aliassime who played his part on the grandest stage in making it oh so difficult for Sinner as he lost out 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. A player who previously was unbeaten against Sinner albeit before he became the man he is today, he was smoked in Cincinnati recently. But it was more of a battle this time as his US Open campaign ended.

Albeit Auger-Aliassime was right under the cosh from the jump as he opened with a double fault and was forced into an error off the forehand side for 0-30. Sinner though brought up break point at 15-40. He wasted the first and Auger-Aliassime erased the second with a 122mph ace. Another unforced error gave Sinner the look he needed and he converted it to go 2-0 up.

Auger-Aliassime went 0-15 up on Sinner's serve but he quickly rattled off four more points in return to go 3-0 up. Auger-Aliassime was putting Sinner under extended pressure but the rallies in particular were cannon fodder for the World No.1 as he managed to weather the storm every time. He made Auger-Aliassime net a backhand and on advantage he hit a third ace to hold and maintain his advantage at 4-1.

But just as it looked like the Canadian was in and amongst it, Sinner broke again. He hit a backhand volley winner for game point before missing again off his forehand for deuce. He then double faulted to go break point down only to save it when Sinner sprayed a forehand. But he got given another chance as FAA misfired himself and he made it 5-1.. Wasting very little time in just 43 minutes, Sinner was through the opener.

But this is where it got interesting, Auger-Aliassime was the better on serve in the second set as he was waiting for a mistake this time from Sinner. He surged 3-2 up with nearly 80% of first serves in and winning 12/13 points on his racquet. In a match likely dictated by fine margins, it was FAA who broke at the end of the set. He rattled off three quick points on the Sinner serve and was triple break point down. Sinner saved the first but Auger-Aliassime feasted on the crowd's swelling emotion as he produced an incredible inside-out forehand winner for 5-3 up. The revival was set as Auger-Aliassime claimed the second set 6-3 and suddenly Sinner needed medical attention for an abdominal issue.

He seemed to be ok and seemed to be more of a Djokovic type tactic where he needed some time to regroup. Such was the case that he broke at 4-2 in the third set with Auger-Aliassime forced into forehand errors as Sinner took the edge. He hit his ninth ace and sealed the game with a sharp backhand winner at 5-2.

It was drama free for Sinner who held to love to go 6-3 up and one away from the final. Sinner looked to be the flatter= of the two going into the fourth as Auger-Aliassime's energy seemed to pick up in spades. He forced Sinner into an error for 0-15. He then made it 15-40 including a superb second serve down the middle. Two break points brought up but Sinner erased both with unreturnable serves and aces and then another ace as he brought up game point and stopped Auger-Aliassime in his tracks.

Just like that Sinner broke from there going 3-2 up. FAA started so well going 30-15 up but Sinner forced him into errors and went 40-30 up. He converted it with a punishing forehand. He backed up the break and only needed a hold. A hold he got as he went 5-3 up and then cooly served it out at 6-4 to move through after three hours and 21 minutes. Phew is the word but now he takes on his biggest rival in the final.