Long before either player won a major title, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz had already been identified as the rivalry to lead men’s tennis into the post ‘Big Three’ landscape.

An electric night at the US Open three years ago was the first real sign why.

“If this match is the future of men’s tennis, we are in for a great era ahead,” read a tournament tweet after Alcaraz edged a five-set quarter-final thriller that finished at almost 3am local time.

‘Sin-caraz’ was born.

On Sunday, the pair return to Arthur Ashe Stadium to contest this year’s US Open final – the third successive Grand Slam showpiece between them.

“I feel like our rivalry started here playing an amazing match,” said Italian world number one Sinner.

“We are two different players now, with different confidence too. Let’s see what’s coming.”

The embryonic potential of 2022 has developed into the real deal in 2025.

Sinner, 24, and Alcaraz, 22 meeting in another Grand Slam final ensures they will sweep the four majors for the second successive season.

This year, Sinner defended his Australian Open title before bouncing back from a brutal French Open defeat by Alcaraz by taking away his Spanish rival’s crown when they met again at Wimbledon.

In New York, the pair will become the first men’s players in the Open era to contest three Grand Slam finals in the same season.

“The matches they have played have been such a high level,” Sinner’s coach Darren Cahill told ESPN.

“Both guys play a different style, they are trying to push each other and become better tennis players because of the rivalry.”