Jannik Sinner triumphs in U.S. Open men’s final against Taylor Fritz

Jannik Sinner triumphed over Taylor Fritz with a score of 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 to secure the U.S. Open men’s singles crown on Sunday. This victory comes shortly after Sinner was cleared in a doping case, following a positive test for anabolic steroids earlier in the year.

Sinner, the top-ranked player worldwide, achieved this significant feat at the age of 23. This marks his second Grand Slam title, adding to his victory at the Australian Open in January. With this win, he kept Fritz from ending a 21-year drought for American men in major championships.

The last time an American man claimed a Grand Slam title was when Andy Roddick won the U.S. Open in 2003. Fritz, at 26, was looking to make history as the first American man to reach a final at one of the four major tournaments since Roddick lost to Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2009.

Sinner extended his winning streak to 11 matches, boasting an impressive 55-5 record this season, which includes a tour-high of six titles in 2024. He has demonstrated remarkable skill on hard courts, with a 35-2 record on this surface, which is used in both the Australian Open and U.S. Open. Additionally, he is the first player since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to capture his first two Grand Slam trophies in the same season, a feat not achieved by tennis legends like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, or Roger Federer.

Just days before entering the U.S. Open, Sinner’s positive doping tests were revealed, but he was exonerated after it was deemed the steroids had entered his system unintentionally through a massage by a team member he later dismissed.

Fritz enjoyed some home-court advantage during the match, which took place on a cool afternoon filled with spectators, including celebrities like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. The crowd periodically erupted in chants of “U-S-A!” during crucial points of the match, signaling widespread support for the American player.

Fritz, known for his composed demeanor, reacted to setbacks with a slight shake of his brightly colored racket. His match began poorly as he was broken in the first game, missing a critical smash. Despite showing some early jitters, Sinner also faltered at times, allowing Fritz to briefly take the lead at 3-2.

Fritz’s best moment came when he leveled the match at 3-all in the third set, hitting an overhead winner and rallying the crowd’s energy. However, even after gaining a break point and taking a lead of 4-3, he lost his momentum when serving for the set. Sinner capitalized on this opportunity and broke back, pivoting momentum back in his favor.

Ultimately, Sinner’s closing performance was imposing, breaking away decisively in the last moments of the match. When the final point was played, Sinner raised his arms in triumph, taking a moment to savor the achievement.

His performance in this match highlighted his exceptional baseline game, which is characterized by a disciplined style rather than flashy plays. Utilizing his reach and movement, Sinner maintained control from the baseline, successfully sending powerful shots just inside the lines with remarkable accuracy.

By the end of the match, Sinner had recorded only 21 unforced errors, significantly fewer than Fritz’s 34, and achieved 23 winners, showcasing his mastery on the court.

Before the match, the expectations were high for Fritz. However, his performance in the first set fell short of the mark, only managing to put 36% of his first serves in and racking up more unforced errors than winners. Although he improved in subsequent sets, he struggled to consistently challenge Sinner, who proved to be a formidable opponent.