Sinner surges on! World No. 1 defeats home hope Fritz for US Open title

  • Posted: Sep 08, 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.”

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]

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