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Sealed with a kiss: The US Open final in pictures

  • Posted: Sep 08, 2024

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.

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US Flag
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)

Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift
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
Fans watched on a screen from outside the Arthur Ashe Stadium to soak up the atmosphere. (Photo credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Elon Musk
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)

 

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Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce attend US Open final

  • Posted: Sep 08, 2024

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.

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.

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Relive Andy Roddick's 2003 US Open triumph

  • Posted: Sep 07, 2024

For years, one of the biggest questions in tennis has been when an American man would win a Grand Slam singles title. It has been 21 years since Andy Roddick triumphed at the US Open.

Taylor Fritz, the first American man to reach a major singles final since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009, has a chance to halt the questions on Sunday when he faces World No. 1 Jannik Sinner for the trophy at Flushing Meadows.

According to Brad Gilbert, who coached Roddick to the title here in 2003, the circumstances are much different.

“I’m not going to say you took it for granted or expected it, but 2002 was an all-American final, and we had so many Americans in the finals of Slams then,” Gilbert told ATPTour.com. “So it wasn’t a stretch. It was that you figured Andy was the new guy.”

Roddick accomplished a lot in his Hall of Fame career, climbing to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings and reaching four additional major finals. But no other American man has broken through since he did more than two decades ago.

When Roddick emerged victorious in New York, Roger Federer had just won his first major title at Wimbledon two months earlier. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were not yet in the spotlight.

“You didn’t know [Roger] was going to become what he was going to become, and then Rafa and Joker. So at that time, I kind of just thought it was normal. It was American dominance,” Gilbert said. “You thought it was going to continue.”

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Roddick entered the 2003 US Open in top form, having won back-to-back ATP Masters 1000 titles in Montreal and Cincinnati, including a victory against Federer in Canada. He won 20 of 21 matches leading into the season’s final major.

“Andy played great that whole summer,” Gilbert said.

After reaching the semi-finals with the loss of just one set, Roddick’s dreams of Grand Slam glory nearly came to an early end. He lost the first two sets of his semi-final against David Nalbandian before rallying past the Argentine 6-7(4), 3-6, 7-6(7), 6-1, 6-3.

At 5/6 in the third-set tie-break, Roddick saved match point with a big serve.

“He had to really dig out of a jam in the semi when he was down two sets to none and he was in trouble in that breaker,” Gilbert said.

The coach recalls rain wreaking havoc, forcing Roddick’s final opponent, Juan Carlos Ferrero, to play on four consecutive days.

“That was definitely tricky that he had to do that,” Gilbert said. “[Andy] got a round ahead twice during the tournament… He definitely benefitted a little by a couple times finishing [his match]. But you still had to win the matches and the Nalbandian one was a nail biter.”

Roddick then defeated Ferrero 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3 for the trophy. No American man has accomplished the feat at a major since.

Will Fritz change that on Sunday?

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Brad Gilbert breaks down what Fritz needs to do to upset Sinner

  • Posted: Sep 07, 2024

Entering the US Open, Taylor Fritz had never advanced past a Grand Slam quarter-final. His opponent in Sunday’s final, Jannik Sinner, is the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings and this year’s Australian Open champion.

But Brad Gilbert, who helped Coco Gauff to her first Slam trophy at last year’s US Open, does not believe Fritz’s lack of experience this deep in a major will play much of a role.

“He’s been around long enough. He’s played a bunch of Slams, and I feel like he’s a clean ball-striker, too,” Gilbert told ATPTour.com. “I’ve seen some players in their first major obviously get really tight. He doesn’t strike me as that. He might not win, but I don’t feel like the moment is going to be too big for him.”

According to the former World No. 4, “there’s no doubt that Sinner is definitely the solid favourite”. The Italian is trying to clinch his second Slam crown and take a firm grip on top spot in the battle for ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF.

“But you’ve got to go out and execute,” Gilbert told ATPTour.com. “They both hit the ball really well. But who’s going to control the centre of the court?

“The big thing that jumps out between the two of them is Sinner is a way better mover and way better defender… Fritz has got to be offensive-minded because they both play great offence, but Sinner can play better defence.”

So far this US Open, Fritz has won 57.5 per cent of points he has played in the 0-4 rally length. Sinner has won 58.4 per cent of those points. Both men strike early and effectively.

Gilbert believes the most important thing for Fritz will be his serve and even taking some risk on his second serve to allow him to control points.

“Sinner will make him run hard, and he cracks the second-serve return. So I do think he needs a good serving day on the first, and he’s going to have to take some chances on the second,” Gilbert said. “He’s just got to stay out of where Sinner is the one initiating the offence. He’s got to be aggressive from the centre of the court, especially with his forehand.”

<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/09/07/20/35/gilbert-us-open-2024.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”Brad Gilbert” />
Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images
In his quarter-final against two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev and his semi-final against Frances Tiafoe, Fritz came up against opponents with two of the most solid backhands in the sport. Gilbert was impressed with how well Fritz handled those battles.

“I think he’s been hitting his backhand as well as I’ve seen him,” Gilbert said. “He’s been doing well backhand to backhand with every player I’ve seen. He did really well against Zverev and I didn’t think he would do well in that matchup. So he is playing well, but I do think for him the serve is key.”

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Fritz is one of the best offensive players on the ATP Tour, with an ability to control the action against most of his opponents from the baseline. Gilbert believes it is essential that Fritz is the one playing offence.

“As good as Fritz is on offence, Sinner’s offence is probably better. I’ve been impressed with Fritz, he’s played under control all tournament, and he hits big with the forehand and his backhand is much improved. I think that’s why he’s playing better. His backhand is much improved,” Gilbert said. “I’ve been impressed, like I said, all tournament long. I thought that side, sometimes people can make progress with and I’m like, ‘Shoot, maybe I’ve got to recalibrate [my thoughts with] that shot’.”

Entering the semi-finals, Gilbert felt that if everyone remaining played their typical tennis, Sinner would emerge with the trophy. If they all play really well, Sinner would also triumph.

“My first thought was, Sinner wins six sets to zero. That was the first thought,” Gilbert said. “But I do feel like probably of the three players left that Fritz had the best shot. If he plays really well and Sinner is a little bit off, then who knows?”

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Michael Russell on keys for Fritz to beat Sinner for US Open title

  • Posted: Sep 07, 2024

Taylor Fritz earned the biggest win of his career on Friday evening when he rallied past Frances Tiafoe in five sets to become the first American man to reach the US Open final since Andy Roddick in 2006. It was a special moment for Fritz and his team, led by coach Michael Russell, who gave him a big hug.

“I’m just so proud of the way that he fought in such a difficult match, playing one of your best friends on Tour, and being in a situation where both guys wanted to win so bad,” Russell told ATPTour.com. “There are just so many challenges, and he did such a good job of digging deep and fighting and to get to the US Open final as an American for the first time in so many years, it’s really special”.

Fritz explained after the match that he felt overwhelmed in rallies when Tiafoe took a two-sets-to-one lead. He spoke to Russell, who helped reassure the 26-year-old.

“I just wanted him to have positive energy. He was down two sets to one, but he was on serve up in the fourth. And I just felt like the energy was a little too negative for where the scoreline was,” Russell said just after midnight Saturday morning. “I just wanted to try to give Taylor more energy from myself and the team and just constantly give him that positive feedback to lift him up.

“The crowd was, I want to say, a little more pro-Frances than Taylor, for sure. So just by looking over and seeing us constantly giving those standing ovations and encouragement and motivation to continue the energy and continue to fight like he always does, sometimes it’s just the smallest percentages that can just give you a little extra motivation and energy to keep fighting.

“It worked out great. He was able to squeak out the fourth set, and his level raised and just continued to rise in that fifth set.”

<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/09/07/02/52/fritz-us-open-2024-sf-roar.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”Taylor Fritz” />
Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images
As excited as the team is for Fritz, the job is not done. They are fully focused on putting their player in position to become the first American man to win a major singles title since Roddick at the 2003 US Open.

“It’s all about recovery. Obviously, tonight’s going to be a little later. So it’s all about taking the ice bath that he does, doing the soft tissue [work], good nutrition, good sleep, making sure that’s all adequate,” Russell said. “And then once that’s taken care of, then we’ll have a light practice tomorrow afternoon, and start talking strategy and tactics for Sunday’s match.”

Fritz knows he will face a tough challenge against Jannik Sinner, the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings. The Italian won his first major title earlier this year at the Australian Open.

Russell’s work began immediately. Before leaving the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the former World No. 60 was already thinking about the footage he would watch and the analytics he would look at when he returned to the hotel.

“The sooner, the better for me. That’s just the way my mind starts to process the information. I like having it fresh and just being able to strategise and get the ball rolling,” Russell said. “So that way, tomorrow at the practice, we can already talk tactics and strategy. I can get what Taylor’s thoughts are and compare it to what I think. And we can have a good synergy.”

Russell explained that he planned to speak to Fritz about tactics as soon as their car ride to the venue for Saturday’s afternoon hit as well as when he is on the treatment table with physiotherapist Wolfgang Oswald.

Fritz has split two previous Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings with Sinner. Both of them came at Indian Wells, where the Italian triumphed in their most recent clash in 2023. Sinner beat Fritz in the quarter-finals 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

“I remember that Taylor played well. It was pretty strong wind, actually, that day, and Jannik did a good job of really being able to punish Taylor when he was against the wind. Taylor struggled to really create a lot of power when he was against the wind, and that was kind of the differentiator in that third set,” Russell said. “Jannik was able to get a few more free points on that side against the wind. But they’ve had great matches.

“Jannik is a big ball-striker. He’s serving well, obviously, coming in with a lot of confidence. That being said, Taylor’s going to have huge crowd support. He really needs to make that work for him and take his power game. He’s going to have pace to work with, with Jannik, and just make him uncomfortable and feel the presence of not only Taylor and the crowd and the whole American support. Just really create an environment that’s uncomfortable.”

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The Sinner across the net Sunday will not be the same player Fritz faced last March. At the time, Sinner was World No. 13. Now he is the runaway first-placed player in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin.

“He’s serving great. He’s beefed up his first serve and his second serve. I just think he’s more of an all-around player,” Russell said. “He can come in. His transition game has gotten better, and physically he’s better. He’s able to withstand some longer matches, and his body hasn’t broken down as it has in the past. So he’s a very complete player.

“But then again, Taylor’s playing really well, and his game is a lot more complete than it was even six months ago. He’s moving forward better, a lot more explosive, and he’s going to have to come out and do those same things on Sunday.”

What will it take for Fritz to upset Sinner and win the US Open?

“He’s got to serve well. He’s got to be aggressive. He’s got to stay in the moment, use the crowd support, use the energy,” Russell said. “When the opportunity is there, [he needs to] play controlled, aggressive tennis, and look to finish points at net when he can. Just be ready for another battle and compete like he always does.”

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