Jannik Sinner came to Flushing Meadows in March after failing two doping tests. He leaves the arena as the US Open winner.
The world’s best player did well, defeating American Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4 and 7-5 in the final on Sunday at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The star-studded crowd – including Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, Matthew McConaughey, Usher and Elon Musk – cheered Fritz on, hoping to make a piece of history. This was unfamiliar territory for American men.
“This title means so much to me because the last phase of my career was difficult. I love tennis. I train a lot for such stages,” said Sinner during the award ceremony after the match, presumably alluding to the impending multi-year ban after the failed doping tests.
On Sunday, an American reached a Grand Slam final for the first time since 2009 – and for the first time here in Flushing since 2006. Fritz had hoped for more.
“Being an American at the US Open is an incredible feeling, feeling love all week,” Fritz said. “I know we’ve waited a long time for a champion. I’m sorry I didn’t make it this week, but I’m going to keep working and hopefully I can make it next time. So thank you.”
A child born on the night an American last won the US Open – Andy Roddick in 2003 – would have turned 21 on Sunday and would be allowed to drink alcohol. They could toast the new champion Sinner or drown their sorrows with the defeated finalist Fritz.
With Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz both out in the first week, there seemed to be a slim chance. And Fritz – the hard-hitting son of former tennis pros Guy Fritz and Kathy May – had won three of the five sets he played against Sinner, splitting their two previous meetings.
But that was before the 23-year-old Sinner rose to No. 1, before his nasty forehand shot evolved into one of the most unstoppable weapons in tennis.
Sinner hits so hard that he didn’t have to take any risks. He made only 21 unforced errors, while Fritz made 34 and converted only 2 of 7 break points.
The Ashe hard court is a faster surface than Indian Wells, where Fritz won his 2023 victory over Sinner, who took his game to a new level.
That was, of course, the big issue. Days before the start of the US Open, it was announced that Sinner had tested positive for a banned substance twice in March. But after a six-hour online hearing, Sinner escaped a ban because a court accepted that the substance had accidentally entered the Italian’s body through a team member who has since been fired.
Some players complained that Sinner only avoided a ban because of his top ranking, but this major title – the Italian’s second to end the year after winning the Australian Open in January – has pushed the obvious right into the hallway.
As in his spectacular 3 hour and 18 minute semi-final comeback against fellow American and friend Frances Tiafoe, Fritz got better and better as the match progressed.
Whether he was emotionally drained by that breakthrough or just tired from the long match, Fritz didn’t move so well on Sunday and struggled in the first set. After holding on to his lead and taking a 3-2 lead, he saw Sinner win the final four games to win the set 6-3.
But in the second set, Fritz was able to serve better and won 13 points directly with his first serve.
The score was 5:4 on serve until Sinner won a 14-stroke rally and was finally able to accept the break and win the set.
Fritz finally got back into his game in the third set and was greeted with chants of “USA! USA!” from the enthusiastic crowd. The score was 3:3 and he earned a double break point. He showed that he also had a forehand, clenched his fist and took the break to make it 4:3.
Sinner stood far back on the baseline and let Fritz take over. The Californian served for the set but was broken when he was pulled into the net and sent his volley into the net.
Sinner did not crumble under Fritz’s pressure like Tiafoe did. The Italian held on to his advantage, taking a 6-5 lead and then securing double the championship points.
There was only one thing missing: Fritz’s return to the net.
