In a tournament that began surrounded by controversy, Italian Jannik Sinner won his first US Open crown on Sunday with a resounding victory in the final against local Taylor Fritz.
The world number one won 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 to prevent Fritz from becoming the first American to win a US Open men’s final since 2003.
Sinner thus claimed his second Grand Slam trophy at a tournament in which he competed amid the scandal of his double positive doping test, of which he was acquitted in August.
Fritz, ranked 12th in the ATP, was unable to challenge Sinner’s overwhelming tennis despite the strong support of the 23,000 fans on Centre Court, which was attended by celebrities such as pop superstar Taylor Swift.
“This title means a lot to me because the last period of my career was not easy, but I have the support of my team and my family,” said the Italian, who celebrated the victory in a sober manner on the court before going up to embrace his coaches and his partner, the Russian tennis player Anna Kalinskaya, in his box.
Making his debut in a major final, Fritz never gave up and managed to serve out the third set.
But his dream of succeeding Andy Roddick, the last local champion, ended up crashing against the wall of Sinner, who did not show his best version but was sharper at key moments.
“I know you have been waiting for this victory for a long time and I am sorry I did not get it this time,” Fritz said. “But I will keep doing it and hope to get it next time.”
At 23, Sinner has exploded this season, winning six titles, including his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open, and climbing to the top of the ATP rankings.
“It has been an incredible year, so many great victories this year, starting with Australia, which gave me a lot of confidence, but the work is not over, I can improve,” he stressed.
Taylor supports Taylor
Sinner became the first Italian champion of the US Open, a tournament in which he benefited from the early eliminations of Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
With his second Grand Slam, Sinner closes the gap on the four held by Spaniard Alcaraz, his great rival for the new era that begins with the twilight of the Big 3 (Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer).
A day after Jessica Pegula lost the women’s title, Arthur Ashe Stadium was packed again to cheer on the first American in a men’s final since Roddick in 2006.
The ‘Nebraska Bomber’ himself watched the game from the stands not far from where Taylor Swift was watching Fritz’s best points alongside her partner, Travis Kelce.
The Californian, leader of the new American generation, had raised hopes by assuring that he would beat Sinner if he was able to play his best tennis.
In the first set he had a good opportunity when, after a shaky start, he recovered a first break from the also nervous Sinner and went ahead 2-3.
Preventing the crowd from carrying Fritz on their shoulders, the Italian broke his serve again and took the first set.
In the second, Fritz was more efficient with his serve, the key weapon in this unexpected run in Flushing Meadows, where he defeated former finalists such as Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev.
Sinner freezes New York
Both advanced in parallel until Sinner, who had already become strong at the back of the court, took advantage of his first opportunity to take the second set in just 35 minutes.
By then the Italian was already imposing his overwhelming rhythm and unleashing balls that resonated on the center court, committing only one unforced error in the entire second set.
Fritz did not throw in the towel in the final set either and went ahead 4-5 but Sinner, the tennis player forged in the Dolomites, froze the enthusiasm of the public by delivering the decisive break to seal the victory.
Sinner and Alcaraz, winner of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, have shared the four Grand Slams this season, the first without a win by any member of the ‘Big 3’ (Djokovic, Nadal and Federer) since 2002.
