Sinner Smacks Fritz To Become First Italian Man To Win The US Open
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Jannik Sinner made history on Sunday in New York becoming the first Italian man to ever win the US Open with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 triumph of Taylor Fritz.
“I did pretty well I guess,” Sinner told the crowd on court. “This title means so much, because the last period of my career was really not easy. I love tennis, I practice a lot for these stages. I understood, especially in this tournament, how important the mental part is in this sport. I’m very happy, very proud to share this moment with my team.”
Sinner entered the event under a serious drug cloud but left with the last Grand Slam of the year. And he did it dropping just two sets, defeating four Americans and doing it without his trainer and physio.
“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,” Sinner said.
The two weren’t playing top-notch tennis early as both were struggling on serve. Sinner was as advertised, using his variety offense-to-defense and net skills to get the upper hand on the 26-year-old Fritz who failed to find the mark on the forehand.
Both players elevated their serves in the second but the nerves caught up to Fritz late and the Italian went up two sets. Fritz would finally fire up the crowd grabbing a break but he failed to serve out the third. Sinner, with his first serve still untouchable, would run off the last four games of the match as he held both hands over his head starring at his coaching box in elation.
He’s just the fourth man to win the Australian and the US in the same year on hard courts joining Mats Wilander, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic who did it as recently as last year.
The 23-year-old Sinner also became just the third player to win his first two Slam in a single season after Guillermo Vilas in 1977 and Jimmy Connors in 1974.
“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.”
“You have to be proud of what you have. The rest, you have to go for it and work for it. I can’t wait for my continued process.”
Fritz was bidding to end an 82-match Grand Slam drought for the American men. He was the first American man to make a Slam final in 15 years since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon. Of Roddick, who was among those watching in Ashe, was the last American man to win a Slam at the 2003 US Open.
“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.
“Walking on the court and just hearing the crowd go crazy, just soaking in the moment of, ‘I’m walking out to play my match on Ashe in the US Open finals which is what I dreamed about my whole life,’ it almost got me emotional,” he said. “But I was just really happy and ready to enjoy the moment.”
Sinner’s win means he and Alcaraz swept all four Slams in 2024. The separation is confirmed.
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