Sinner storms past Fritz to win first US Open title

Jannik Sinner has won six ATP Tour-level titles in the past nine months. Getty Images

New York (BBC) — World number one Jannik Sinner stormed past Taylor Fritz to win the US Open and secure a second Grand Slam title of the year.

Italy's Sinner, who won his first major title at the Australian Open in January, held off a late charge from American 12th seed Fritz to win 6-3 6-4 7-5.

It comes just 19 days after it was revealed he had been cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive for a banned substance in March.

The 23-year-old held his arms aloft and looked up to the sky as he became the first player since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to win his first two Grand Slam titles in the same season.

He is also the first Italian man to win the singles title at Flushing Meadows.

Sinner said the title "meant so much because the last period of my career was not easy" before he became tearful and dedicated the victory to his aunt.

"My aunt is not feeling well health-wise and I don't know how much longer I have her in my life," he said.

"It's nice I can still share these moments with her. She is an important person in my life and still is.

"If there was a wish I could make, I would wish good health on everyone but unfortunately it's not possible."

Fritz, meanwhile, was unable to become the first American male Grand Slam singles champion in 21 years.

Andy Roddick, who was watching from the stands, remains the last American man to lift a major singles trophy, having won the US Open in 2003.

"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.

Sinner puts aside failed test controversy

When Sinner won his maiden Grand Slam title in Melbourne earlier this year he was forced to produce an extraordinary comeback from two sets down to beat Russia's Daniil Medvedev in the final.

It was more straightforward in New York as he rarely looked troubled by Fritz, who struggled to build any momentum.

However, Sinner's build-up to this year's tournament at Flushing Meadows was far from normal.

Just six days before the main draw got under way, it was announced he had twice tested positive for low levels of a metabolite of clostebol - a steroid that can be used to build muscle mass - in March.

Sinner was ruled to bear no fault or negligence for the positive tests by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which found he had been inadvertently contaminated by his physiotherapist.

He subsequently parted ways with the physio and his fitness trainer - but questions continued about whether Sinner's case had been handled differently to those of other players because of his world number one status.

But he has seemingly been able to put the controversy behind him, manoeuvring his way through tough tests against Britain's Jack Draper and 2021 champion Medvedev.

He and Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, the French Open and Wimbledon champion, have split the Grand Slam spoils between them this year.

It marks a new era of tennis as 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic, who was knocked out in the third round, ends the year without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2017.

Sinner sees off Fritz in straightforward win

Cheered on by a home crowd packed with celebrities and sporting stars, Fritz got off to a shaky start when he dropped serve in the first game.

The 26-year-old recovered well to win three games in a row, but he continued to falter on serve and Sinner capitalised to take the opener and subdue the expectant mood on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Refusing to dwell on the first set, Fritz improved and made the second a closer affair, losing just two points in four service games.

However, Sinner then underlined his status as world number one, upping the ante when it mattered most to strike the crucial blow as Fritz served to stay in the set at 5-4 down.

Having failed to make the most of three break point opportunities early in the third set, Fritz brought the crowd to life with two brilliant winners to break for a 4-3 lead and keep alive his hopes.

But Sinner soon quashed those dreams, breaking back as Fritz attempted to serve for the set and doing the same two games later to wrap up the win after two hours and 16 minutes.

Analysis

Russell Fuller, BBC tennis correspondent

Six finals this year for Sinner have resulted in six titles - and 2024 is not yet done.

He was not at the peak of his powers for the entire two weeks, but still only dropped two sets and saved his best for the final.

It has been nearly 50 years since a man won their first and second Grand Slam titles in the same season, and Sinner is now a long way clear of the rest at the top of the rankings.

He is 23-years-old and Alcaraz just 21. They ended up sharing the year’s Grand Slam titles, and - with an eye to the future - that is an ominous thought for the rest of the world.