Sinner Beats Fritz to Bookend 2024 With Major Titles
World number one Jannik Sinner completed a dominant two weeks in New York by hoisting the U.S. Open trophy.
The Italian defeated American Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 inside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday afternoon to win his first ever U.S. Open title, and add to the Australian Open championship he won to begin the season.
“I believe that you can’t really compare them, because it’s different circumstances, different times of the year. I believe that in Melbourne was a kind of a relief, you know, because in my mind, you know, it was like I was working for it, and you never know if you can win one Grand Slam or not, but when you win one, you know that you can do it potentially,” Sinner reflected. “Here was difficult because also the pretournament circumstances weren’t easy. I felt like that I have grown, you know, match by match and that my confidence level went higher and higher at some point. It was different because I had more, maybe a bit more pressure this time than in Australia. I’m happy how I handled this one. Yeah, I’m just excited to have this trophy with me.”
Sinner came out firing against Fritz, breaking him in the opening game of the match, and while Fritz would earn the break back rather quickly, Sinner was the one dictating play throughout much of the opener.
From 3-3, the Italian won three straight games to build the early advantage.
Fritz found footing on serve in the second set, until 4-5 and serving to stay in the set, when Sinner moved ahead 15-40, and a backhand winner down the line secured the break and the set, moving him within one of the title.
In the third set, Fritz had break points but was unable to convert them, and after Sinner held to go ahead 6-5, Fritz tried to serve to stay in the match. With championship point on the line, Fritz buried a forehand into the net, and Sinner raised his arms to the sky, the U.S. Open title now in his possession.
“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,” said Sinner. “I love tennis, I practice 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 I’ll still have her in my life. It’s so nice I can still share a positive moment with her.”
Fritz felt the weight of the American hopes of a male major champion, something we have not seen since Andy Roddick won in New York in 2003. Fritz still enjoyed the best major run of his career, reaching both his first semifinal and his first final. As a result, he moves up five spots to No. 7 in the world.
“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 it in the next time.”
