Sinner storms past Fritz to win first US Open title
Jannik Sinner holds off a late charge from American Taylor Fritz to win the US Open and secure his second Grand Slam title.
Jannik Sinner holds off a late charge from American Taylor Fritz to win the US Open and secure his second Grand Slam title.
Carlos Alcaraz quickly congratulated his rival Jannik Sinner on Sunday after the Italian defeated Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 for the US Open title.
“🏆You deserve it!🤝🏻” Alcaraz wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Enjoy the moment.”
Alcaraz and Sinner’s Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry has become a must-watch spectacle. The two superstars, aged 21 and 23, respectively, split the four Grand Slam tournament titles this season.
Alcaraz suffered a shock second-round defeat at the US Open to Botic van de Zandschulp, but followed along and shared his message for the Italian within minutes of the match ending.
ATPTour.com looks at social media reaction to Sinner’s victory.
[ATP APP]Congratulations @janniksin! 🏆 You deserve it! 🤝🏻 Enjoy the moment! https://t.co/uDUNKhQwRr
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) September 8, 2024
What a year for @janniksin!
Congratulations to him on his first #USOpen win! https://t.co/nPAUUm4Rcu
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) September 8, 2024
Congrats 🍾 to Sin City @janniksin on the daily double winning @AustralianOpen @usopen the 1st player too win his 1st 2 slams in season since Willie Vilas in 1977
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) September 8, 2024
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Congratulations on another Major achievement 🇺🇸🏆 You’re the best, @janniksin! https://t.co/uoa9krMrjc
— AC Milan (@acmilan) September 8, 2024
Jannik Sinner bookended his standout Grand Slam year with his second major title on Sunday afternoon, when the Italian defeated Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 to lift the trophy at the US Open.
The 23-year-old delivered a high-quality display to dash home hope Fritz’s title dreams and clearly showcase why he has risen to the top of the game in the past 18 months. World No. 1 Sinner has now won a Tour-leading six titles in a stunning 2024 season and has moved 2,885 points clear of his nearest challenger Alexander Zverev in the battle to claim ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours.
A buoyant atmosphere greeted Sunday’s finalists inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Fritz stepped on court as the first American men’s singles finalist since 2006, but Sinner punctured it with a cool, controlled display of precise serving and clean baseline hitting. The Italian, who is the first man to claim his first two Grand Slam titles in the same season for 47 years, made just 21 unforced errors across three sets in which his relentlessness ultimately overwhelmed Fritz.
With Carlos Alcaraz also winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon this season, it is the first time since 1993 that all four majors in the same year have been won by players 23 or younger. “It’s nice to see for the sport some new champions. I feel like the new generation we push each other, trying to improve,” Sinner told ESPN.
Earlier, during the trophy ceremony, Sinner said: “This title for me means so much; the last period of my career was not easy. There is my team who supports me every day, the people who are close to me.
“I love tennis, I practise a lot for these kind of stages, but off the court there is a life. I would like to dedicate this title to my aunt who is really not feeling well health wise. I don’t know how much I’ll still have her in my life. It’s so nice I can still share a positive moment with her.”
🇺🇸 🏆 A NEW CHAMPION IN NEW YORK 🏆 🇺🇸⁰⁰@usopen | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/qllwEFzPTp
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 8, 2024
Fritz competed well in his maiden Grand Slam championship match, but Sinner nonetheless assumed control for much of the pair’s third Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. The greatest moment of peril for the top seed came when Fritz channelled his fervent home support to move 5-3 ahead in the third set, but the American was unable to serve out as Sinner reeled off four straight games to seal victory.
With his two-hour, 16-minute win, Sinner became just the fourth man to win the Australian Open and US Open on hard courts in the same season, after Mats Wilander, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. The 23-year-old No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings is also the first Italian men’s singles champion in event history, and only the second Italian singles champion overall after Flavia Pennetta’s 2015 women’s singles triumph.
Sinner’s title run in New York has taken his record for the year to 55-5. After prevailing in Sunday’s clash with Fritz, the Italian extended his winning streak to 11 matches, having clinched an ATP Masters 1000 crown in Cincinnati prior to the US Open.
“So many big wins for me this season, starting off with Australia,” said Sinner. “Playing so well there gave me confidence. The work never stops. I know I can still improve, as we saw today, a couple of things. But you have to be proud with what you have and the rest you have to work for it. I can’t wait for my continued process.”
Fritz was bidding to become the first American man to win a major title since Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open triumph. Despite his final loss, the 26-year-old can reflect on a personal-best performance at a Grand Slam tournament that has also lifted him five spots to fifth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin.
“I know we have been waiting for a champion for a long time, so I’m sorry I couldn’t get it done this time,” said Fritz. “I’m going to keep working and hopefully I will get in the next time.”
<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/09/08/19/18/fritz-us-open-final-2024-sunday.jpg” style=”width: 100%;” alt=”Taylor Fritz” />
Taylor Fritz during the first set of Sunday’s US Open championship match. Photo Credit: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
An authoritative forehand winner from Sinner on the first point of the match en route to an opening break of serve set the tone in New York. Although Fritz reclaimed the break to level at 2-2, the World No. 1 continued to dictate proceedings in the first set.
Sinner’s intent to move Fritz from side to side and not allow him to stand and deliver from middle of court was clear from the first game. With Fritz landing just 38 per cent (11/29) of first serves in the opening set, the Italian broke the American’s delivery again in the seventh and ninth games to ease ahead.
Although Fritz found better rhythm behind his serve, so often his biggest weapon, in the second set, he was undone by a sloppy 11th game in which Sinner carved out the first break points of the set at 15/40. The Italian needed just one, as he arrowed a backhand down the line that forced Fritz to net to move within one set of the trophy.
A star-studded crowd, one which included celebrity couple Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, did their best to inspire Fritz to a comeback. Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs’ teammate Patrick Mahomes, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, actors Matthew McConaughey, Dustin Hoffman and Eddie Redmayne, and singers Usher and Bon Jovi were also among those watching the title match, but any hopes of an American titlist were dashed after Sinner put a swift end to Fritz’s third-set charge.
As Fritz netted a forehand on championship point, Sinner raised his arms to the sky after becoming the first No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings to win the US Open since Rafael Nadal in 2017. He is now 6-0 in tour-level finals in 2024, and has become just the fifth active player to win multiple Grand Slam titles.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]
Jannik Sinner has accomplished a feat that had not been done in 47 years.
Sinner became the third man in the Open Era to claim his first two Grand Slam titles in the same season. The Italian defeated Taylor Fritz on Sunday to lift the US Open trophy, adding to his Australian Open title from January.
Some of the best players in history — including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi — did not win their first two majors in the same season. The last player who did was Guillermo Vilas, who emerged victorious at Roland Garros and the US Open in 1977.
Entering the year, Sinner had reached just one semi-final at a Grand Slam tournament. This year he tallied a 23-2 record at the majors.
And with that, the Grand Slam season comes to an end…
What a new dawn it’s been… 🔥@australianopen | @rolandgarros | <a href=”https://twitter.com/Wimbledon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@wimbledon | @usopen pic.twitter.com/2uv5IciyiO
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 8, 2024
Jimmy Connors won his first three Grand Slam titles in 1974, when he triumphed at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Only three other players have won the Australian Open and US Open on hard court in the same season. Djokovic and Federer both did it three times and Mats Wilander achieved the feat in 1988.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]For years, tennis fans watched in awe as the ‘Big Three’— Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer— ruled the sport with an iron grip. They dominated the majors, amassing 66 titles from 81 Grand Slam tournaments between Federer’s 2003 Wimbledon triumph to Djokovic’s latest victory at the 2023 US Open.
The constant question looming over the sport has been when the reign of these titans would end. Has it arrived?
The 20-time major champion Federer retired in 2022, the same season Nadal won his 14th Roland Garros crown, his most recent Slam title. Though the 38-year-old Spaniard is still competing, he has been significantly hindered by injuries, having competed in just seven events — including just one major — this season.
[ATP APP]And then there is Djokovic, who won three of the four majors in 2023, claimed this year’s Paris Olympics gold medal and is still in the Top 5 of the PIF ATP Rankings at age 37. But the 24-time major champion suffered a shocking third-round defeat to Alexei Popyrin in New York, ensuring that the Serbian will end the season without a major trophy for the first time since 2017.
With 23-year-old Jannik Sinner claiming his second Slam title at Flushing Meadows, this season marks only the third time — and the first since 1993 — that the four majors were won by players aged 23-and-under (Open Era).
The Italian, who strengthened his claim as World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings with the title, and Carlos Alcaraz have equally split the 2024 majors. Is this tug of war battle the next chapter in their thrilling Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry?
1993: The last time the four majors were won by players 23-and-under
| Player | Tournament | Age |
| Jim Courier | Australian Open | 22 years, five months |
| Sergi Bruguera | Roland Garros | 22 years, four months |
| Pete Sampras | Wimbledon | 21 years, 10 month |
| Pete Sampras | US Open | 22 years, one month |
*1974 marked the first time the four majors were won by players 23-and-under
En route to Sinner’s maiden major title at the Australian Open, he shocked 10-time champion Djokovic in the semi-finals and then rallied from two-sets-to-love down in the title match against Daniil Medvedev.
By winning the US Open, Sinner is the first player since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to add to his first major title with a second crown the same season.
Alcaraz, 21, won the season’s other two majors, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, becoming the youngest man to earn a major trophy on all three surfaces — clay, hard and grass.
The World No. 3 successfully defended his Wimbledon title by defeating seven-time champion Djokovic in the final for a second consecutive year, though this year’s win was in straight sets compared to 2023’s dramatic five-setter.
Alcaraz, a four-time major champion, became just the sixth man in the Open Era to win the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double in the same year, joining Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Rafael Nadal, Federer and Djokovic on that elite list.
This year could prove to be a seismic shift in the changing of the guard at the top of men’s tennis. Sinner and Alcaraz are two generational talents who have firmly planted themselves among the record books.
Did You Know?
Sinner and Alcaraz are both former champions at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, where they triumphed aged 18 (Sinner in 2019, Alcaraz in 2021).
Jannik Sinner has taken a stranglehold on the battle for ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF by winning the US Open.
Entering the season’s final major, the Italian led then-second-placed Carlos Alcaraz by 1,440 points in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. It was possible for him to leave New York in second place.
But instead, Sinner departs with a commanding 2,885-point advantage over second-placed Alexander Zverev. The 23-year-old, who earlier this year became the first Italian in PIF ATP Rankings (since 1973) to reach World No. 1, is now in prime position to become the first player from his country to secure year-end No. 1.
PIF ATP Live Race To Turin
| Player | Points |
| 1) Jannik Sinner | 9,000 |
| 2) Alexander Zverev | 6,115 |
| 3) Carlos Alcaraz | 6,010 |
| 4) Daniil Medvedev | 4,420 |
| 5) Taylor Fritz | 3,890 |
| 6) Casper Ruud | 3,795 |
| 7) Andrey Rublev | 3,480 |
| 8) Alex de Minaur | 3,305 |
Sinner and Zverev are the singles players who have already qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals, which will be played from 10-17 November.
Second-placed Zverev, the two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion, is just 105 points ahead of Alcaraz, the 2022 ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF. The Spaniard is next in line to qualify.
Taylor Fritz surged to fifth place by reaching his first major final at Flushing Meadows. The American is now in position to qualify for the second time, after making his debut in 2022.
[ATP APP]Of the top eight players in the Live Race, the only star who has never competed in the season finale is eighth-placed Alex de Minaur.
Currently outside the qualification cut is ninth-placed Novak Djokovic, who is 45 points behind De Minaur. The Serbian owns a record seven Nitto ATP Finals titles and has qualified for the prestigious event 16 times.
Only 630 points separate fifth-placed Fritz and ninth-placed Djokovic, so the battle for Nitto ATP Finals qualification will only continue to heat up.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Pop icons and sporting legends, including Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, flocked to Arthur Ashe Stadium Sunday to soak in the atmosphere of the 2024 US Open men’s singles final.
Jannik Sinner, No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, claimed his second Grand Slam title of the year following his Australian Open triumph with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 win over Taylor Fritz to take a 2-1 lead in their Lexus ATP Head2Head Series. Below is a look at the day in photos.
[ATP APP]
The US flag covered the court before Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz faced off in the men’s singles final at Flushing Meadows. (Photo credit: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
Celebrity Couple Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were present along with Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs teammate, Patrick Mahomes. (Photo Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/09/08/19/35/fritz-walk-on-us-open-final-2024-sunday.jpg?w=100%25&hash=E7255E30B87AE6F597905183F5542242″ style=”width:100%;” alt=”Taylor Fritz” />
Fritz advanced to his first Grand Slam final after defeating Frances Tiafoe in five sets in the semi-finals. (Photo credit: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/09/08/19/30/sinner-fritz-pre-match-us-open-final-2024-sunday.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz” />
Sinner and Fritz were 1-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head record coming into the final. (Photo credit: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/09/08/20/09/sinner-us-open-final-fist-pump.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”Jannik Sinner ” />
No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings Sinner surged into the lead, taking the opening set 6-3. (Photo credit: Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Fans watched on a screen from outside the Arthur Ashe Stadium to soak up the atmosphere. (Photo credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), was present in the Arthur Ashe for the men’s singles final. (Photo credit: Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/09/08/20/20/fritz-fist-pump-us-open-final-2024-sunday.jpg” style=”width:100%px;” alt=”Taylor Fritz” />
Fans inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium cheered for home hero Taylor Fritz as he went up a break in the third set. (Photo credit: KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)
<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/09/08/21/01/sinner-celebration-us-open.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”Jannik Sinner” />
Sinner raised his arms in celebration after defeating Fritz in straight sets to claim his maiden US Open title. (Photo credit: Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/09/08/21/22/sinner-trophy-us-open-2024-sunday.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”Jannik Sinner” />
Jannik Sinner raises the US Open trophy aloft after his victory over Fritz. (Photo Credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/09/08/21/31/sinner-press-trophy.jpg?w=100%25&hash=25D378E28746A359B3DBFD934E863306″ style=”width:100%;” alt=”Jannik Sinner” />
Sinner poses on court for photos with his US Open trophy. (Photo credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
[NEEWSLETTER FORM]
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are in attendance at the US Open singles final.
The celebrity couple are watching Jannik Sinner play Taylor Fritz for the trophy at the season’s final Grand Slam tournament.
US Open (Taylor’s Version) ✨@usopen | #USOpen
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 8, 2024
Swift, a singer and songwriter, is one of the most famous people on the planet. Her partner, Kelce, is a star tight end for the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs.
<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/09/08/18/50/kelce-swift-mahomes-us-open-2024.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift and Patrick Mahomes watching the US Open final.” />
Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift and Patrick Mahomes watch the final. Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images.
Other celebrities who are at Flushing Meadows Sunday include Kelce’s quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Anna Wintour.
Actors Matthew McConaughey, Dustin Hoffman and Eddie Redmayne are watching the match, as are singers Usher and Jon Bon Jovi. NBA champion Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics and NHL legend Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers are in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The championship clash features the first American man in a US Open singles final since 2006.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Aryna Sabalenka says she is “the happiest person in the world” after winning the US Open title following so many “tough losses” in New York.
Aryna Sabalenka wins her first US Open title as she puts the disappointment of last year’s final behind her to hold off American home hope Jessica Pegula.