Jannik Sinner claimed his second Grand Slam title of 2024 on Sunday, defeating Taylor Fritz in the US Open final and dashing American hopes of a male Grand Slam champion after a 21-year drought. World number one Sinner, who secured his first Slam at the Australian Open in January, became the first Italian man to win in New York with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 victory.
For the 23-year-old Sinner, this marked his 55th match win of the season and his sixth title. Alongside his 21-year-old rival Carlos Alcaraz, who won the French Open and Wimbledon to bring his total to four majors, Sinner has established himself as one of the dominant forces in tennis’s new era.
“This title means so much,” Sinner said, addressing his journey to the win despite recent challenges. He arrived in New York amid controversy after failing two drug tests, though he escaped sanction. “The last period of my career has not been easy, but I have my team and family who support me.”
He also dedicated the victory to his aunt, saying, “I love tennis, but off court, there is a life also, and I want to dedicate this trophy to my aunt because she is not well, and I don’t know how much longer I will have her in my life. She was a very important part of my life and still is. It’s nice to share this with her.”
World number 12 Fritz was aiming to become the first American man to win a major since Andy Roddick’s triumph in New York in 2003.
He had strong support from the 23,000-strong crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, including A-list celebrities like pop star Taylor Swift, who watched alongside her boyfriend and NFL star Travis Kelce, and Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey, who sported a Stars and Stripes headband.
“It has been an amazing two weeks. Congratulations to Jannik, he played a great match. He was very impressive and was too good today,” Fritz said after the match. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get it done, but I will keep working, and I feel I will get it the next time.”
Sinner quickly took a 2-0 lead in the first set before Fritz found his rhythm and leveled the score at 2-2. The 26-year-old American saved a break point in a grueling 23-shot rally in the fifth game, but Sinner soon pulled ahead, taking the set after Fritz sent a backhand long.
Before Sunday’s final, both players had only dropped serve a combined 20 times over six rounds each at the tournament. Their serving strength continued to shine in the second set, with the first nine games all going to serve.
However, in the 10th game, Sinner created two set points and converted the first when a deep forehand forced Fritz into a desperate scramble, ultimately leading to a weak return that ended up in the net.
By this point in the match, Sinner had committed just nine unforced errors compared to Fritz’s 19, showcasing his control of the court. Fritz, the first American man to reach a Grand Slam final since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009, missed three break point opportunities in the first game of the third set.
Sinner then handed Fritz a 4-3 lead by serving his fourth double fault of the final. With his back against the wall, the Italian top seed broke back in the 10th game as Fritz served for the set, then held serve for a 6-5 lead. Sinner earned two championship points when a frustrated Fritz sent a running forehand long, and he sealed the victory when Fritz netted a shot.
