Jannik Sinner won his second Grand Slam title of 2024 by sweeping aside Taylor Fritz in the US Open final on Sunday, shattering American hopes of a first male major champion in 21 years. World number one Sinner, who won his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January, became the first Italian to triumph in New York with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 victory. For the 23-year-old Sinner, it was his 55th match win of the season and his sixth title. After 21-year-old rival Carlos Alcaraz bagged the French Open and Wimbledon titles to take his major collection to four, the two men have cemented their places as the powerhouses of tennis’ new era.
“This title means a lot,” said Sinner, who arrived in New York under a cloud of doubt after it was revealed he had failed two drug tests but escaped sanction.
“The last stage of my career has not been easy but I have my team and my family who support me.
“I love tennis but there is life outside the court too and I want to dedicate this trophy to my aunt because she is not well and I don't know how much longer I will have her in my life.
World No. 12 Fritz was bidding to become the first American to win a major tournament since Andy Roddick in New York in 2003.
He was backed by A-list celebrity support among the 23,000 people who gathered at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Pop queen Taylor Swift watched the show alongside boyfriend and NFL star Travis Kelce, while Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey was hard to miss as he sported a stars-and-stripes headband.
“It's been a fantastic two weeks. Congratulations to Jannik, he played a great game. He was impressive and he was very good today,” said Fritz.
“I'm sorry I couldn't do it, but I'll keep working and I feel like I'll make it next time.”
Sinner took a 2-0 lead in the first set before Fritz settled in and leveled at 2-2.
The 26-year-old American saved a break point after a grueling 23-shot rally in the fifth game but soon fell 4-3 down.
Sinner struck again with a third break to take the first set when Fritz fired a backhand long.
The two players had only dropped serve a total of 20 times in six rounds each in the tournament before Sunday's final.
That strength shone through in the second set, with all of her serves held for the first nine games until the 10th.
Sinner then earned two set points but needed only one, a deep forehand winner that forced Fritz into a desperate scramble before burying his return limply into the net.
At that stage of the final, Sinner had committed just nine unforced errors to Fritz's 19, a display of his court control.
Fritz, the first American in a Grand Slam final since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009, saw three break points come and go in the first game of the third set.
But Sinner committed his fourth double fault of the final and gave Fritz a 4-3 lead.
With his back against the wall, the Italian top seed regained control in the tenth game when Fritz served for the set and held it 6-5.
He went within two points of the championship when a dejected Fritz unleashed a forehand winner and sealed victory when the American netted.
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Topics mentioned in this article
Taylor Fritz
US Open 2024
Tennis