Sinner lost the final, but won the spotlight. How fans searched the US Open
Jannik Sinner. Depositphotos.
We looked at data from September 1–7 in Google Trends to see how global audiences searched for the two players.
Carlos Alcaraz is once again the US Open champion. The Spaniard defeated Jannik Sinner in four sets and reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking. On the surface, everything seems straightforward: a trophy, brilliant tennis, and a smile for the cameras. But Google Trends told a different story. During the tournament week, more fans were searching for Sinner than for the man who lifted the trophy.
In New York, the spotlight swung back and forth — one day on Sinner, the next on Alcaraz.
On September 4, all eyes were on Sinner. He eased past fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti in a match framed in Italy as a symbolic clash between the world No. 1 and the country’s other rising star.
The next day, the spotlight swung the other way. Alcaraz’s semifinal against Novak Djokovic was more than just another win — it felt like a generational handover. Beating a living legend sent his searches soaring.
By September 6, attention returned to Sinner. As the final approached, fans searched for predictions and analyses, wondering whether the world No. 1 was ready to claim his first New York title.
The final decided the trophy, but online searches told another tale: Sinner still edged out Alcaraz. Over the week, he accounted for 53.1% of queries, compared to 46.9% for the Spaniard.
Geographically, Sinner dominated in Italy (70% of searches), in Canada (58%), helped by his match against Félix Auger-Aliassime, and even in Australia (56%), where memories of his January triumph in Melbourne still resonate.
Alcaraz held his strongholds firmly: Spain (78%), Serbia (69%), fueled by the Djokovic matchup, and the United Kingdom (56%), where his charisma and the “new Nadal” narrative fit perfectly with the local media lens. Google Trends also shows him ahead in Israel and Saudi Arabia (around 59%), though these results are harder to explain — more likely a reflection of global star power than local tennis factors.
The most striking story, however, comes from the United States. In the world’s biggest tennis market, Sinner led with 54% versus 46% for Alcaraz. He arrived in New York as the clear world No. 1, fresh off his Wimbledon triumph, and much of the American coverage treated him as the man to beat. That framing, together with the anticipation of a possible first US Open title, helped drive searches.
The large Italian-American community — estimated at over 16 million people — may also have played a role. While the Spanish-speaking population in the US is far larger, attention specifically toward Alcaraz was more modest.
It’s important to note that Google Trends reflects only the dynamics of interest during the tournament week. During those days, Sinner was slightly ahead — his No. 1 status and the anticipation of a first US Open title captured global curiosity. But as soon as the final ended, attention naturally shifted back to Alcaraz — the champion and new world No. 1.
The rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner is measured not only in trophies but also in attention. And just like on court, the lead in this rivalry shifts in a heartbeat — impossible to predict who will be ahead tomorrow.
