On a momentous Sunday afternoon, Jannik Sinner captured his second Grand Slam title of the year by defeating Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 to claim the US Open trophy. The 23-year-old Italian is the first Italian man to claim the title.
Sinner displayed exceptional skill and composure to dash the hopes of the American crowd and cement his status as a leading force in men’s tennis.
Sinner’s victory marked his sixth title of a remarkable 2024 season, further solidifying his position as World No. 1. His triumph over Fritz also extended his lead over his closest competitor, Alexander Zverev, in the race for the ATP Year-End No. 1, with a substantial gap of 2,885 points now separating them.
Sinner in control from the start
An electric atmosphere awaited the finalists inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Fritz had hoped to become the first American men’s singles champion since 2006. However, Sinner quickly silenced the crowd with a display of precise serving and powerful baseline play. His performance was marked by just 21 unforced errors across the three sets, effectively showcasing why he has risen to the top of the game over the past 18 months. Sinner’s ability to control the tempo of the match and his relentless consistency ultimately overwhelmed Fritz, who was competing in his first Grand Slam final.
The victory made Sinner the first man in 47 years to win his first two Grand Slam titles in a single season. This achievement, alongside Carlos Alcaraz’s victories at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, marked the first time since 1993 that all four majors in a single year have been claimed by players aged 23 or younger. It was also the first time since 2002 that neither one of the “big four” (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic or Murray) held the trophy aloft.
Fritz unable to find an answer
The final began with Sinner establishing control early, breaking Fritz’s serve with a forehand winner on the first point and setting the tone for the match. Despite Fritz managing to level at 2-2, Sinner’s strategy of moving his opponent side to side and preventing him from dictating play proved effective. Fritz’s inconsistent first serve percentage, landing just 38% in the opening set, allowed Sinner to break twice more and take the lead.
Although Fritz found a better rhythm with his serve in the second set, he faltered in a crucial 11th game, handing Sinner the only break of the set. A packed stadium, filled with celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, Anna Wintour, Matthew McConaughey, Dustin Hoffman, Eddie Redmayne, Usher, and Bon Jovi, hoped to see a comeback, but Sinner’s resilience proved too strong. The match concluded with Fritz netting a forehand on championship point, allowing Sinner to raise his arms in triumph.
Although Fritz performed admirably in his maiden Grand Slam final, Sinner controlled much of their third Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. The most significant challenge for Sinner came in the third set when Fritz, fuelled by fervent home support, surged to a 5-3 lead. However, Sinner demonstrated his championship mettle by reeling off four consecutive games to seal the victory in two hours and 16 minutes.
Sinner dedicates win to his aunt
Speaking to ESPN after the match, Sinner expressed his excitement for the future of tennis, stating, “It’s nice to see some new champions in the sport. I feel like the new generation, we push each other, trying to improve.”
During the trophy ceremony, Sinner reflected on the significance of his achievement. “This title for me means so much; the last period of my career was not easy,” he shared. “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 kinds 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 longer I’ll still have her in my life. It’s so nice I can still share a positive moment with her.”
Sinner’s title run in New York extended his impressive 2024 record to 55-5 and his winning streak to 11 matches, following his victory at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati. Reflecting on his success this season, Sinner noted, “So many big wins for me this season, starting off with Australia. 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 of what you have, and the rest you have to work for it. I can’t wait for my continued process.”
