BIG GRAPPLE IS A BLESSING

Sinner dubs Alcaraz rivalry good for game

- BY YASMIN SYED

JANNIK SINNER reckons it's "great for the sport" the fact he and Carlos Alcaraz are locked in a relentless cycle of Grand Slam showdowns.

For the third time this year, the pair will face off in a final of one of the big four events. Just three weeks after their championship match in Cincinnati ended in Sinner's retirement, citing illness just 23 minutes in, the world No.1 will have a chance to put up a real fight against Alcaraz at the US Open.

This is the first time in the Open era the same two opponents have met in at least three Slam finals in the same season while the No.1 ranking will also be on the line tonight.