Jannik Sinner won his second Grand Slam title of 2024, beating Taylor Fritz in three sets 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 to win the US Open men’s championship on Sunday in New York. He is the first Italian player to win the tournament, adding to his Australian Open title earlier this year.
Fritz was trying to become the first American to win the U.S. Open, or any Grand Slam title, since Andy Roddick in 2003, but the drought continues for at least another year.
“I know we’ve been waiting for a champion for a long time, so I’m sorry I couldn’t do it this time,” Fritz said in his post-match interview. “But I’ll keep working and hopefully I’ll achieve it next time, so thank you.”
Although the game was relatively even at times, with both players engaged in multi-shot rallies, top-seeded Sinner was more assertive with his forehand in key moments. The Italian’s long reach allowed him to cover the baseline from side to side, while keeping 12th-seeded Fritz off-balance with his returns.
Sinner also changed his shot to catch Fritz off guard, combining drop shots to catch Fritz playing deep behind. This finesse was impossible for Fritz to cover while defending the baseline. Fritz was not willing or able to charge the net aggressively as he did in his semifinal match against Frances Tiafoe.
Fritz managed to come back in the second set as Sinner looked set to take the lead. The crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium may have helped give him a boost. However, Sinner once again unsettled Fritz by hitting finesse shots with his forehand, which kept the American off balance and forced him to play catch-up.
Trailing by two sets, Fritz faced a tough comeback and was unable to regain the upper hand in the third set. He changed his approach, playing more aggressively at the net, while sending Sinner deep into the corners with his forehand.
He hit a couple of drop shots that Sinner couldn’t. The crowd came alive as Fritz seemed to come alive. However, Sinner could afford to continue his momentum with a two-set lead and eventually won points by hitting straight-line returns rather than cross-court.
Eventually, Fritz seemed to tire out after having to catch up. He seemed to growl louder with each return, seemingly indicating the urgency he was facing. Meanwhile, Sinner remained calm—almost robotically—and stuck to his game plan to handle whatever Fritz could throw at him.
Once he broke Fritz’s serve to take a 6-5 lead, he had the opening to the eventual victory.
Sinner was the top-ranked male player heading into the tournament and he played like it. Just like Aryna Sabalenka on the women’s sideSinner has become a dominant hard court player and could remain so for years to come.
“I did pretty well, I think. We just took it day by day. I’m very happy, very proud,” Sinner said after the match, while dedicating the victory to his aunt, who appears to be in poor health.
“I would like to thank everyone for being so fair. It has been a huge pleasure. An incredible year, with so many great wins and starting with Australia,” he added. “The work never stops, you can always improve. I look forward to continuing my process.”
Sinner won his third match against Fritz, having beaten the American in Indian Wells. It was the first time they had met in a major tournament and, given their level of play, it probably won’t be the last.
Here’s how the action from the US Open men’s final unfolded on the Yahoo Sports live blog:
LIVE COVERAGE HAS ENDED37 updates
-
Andre Agassi presents US Open trophy to Jannik Sinner
Andre Agassi – US Open champion in 1994 and 1999 – presents the 2024 trophy to Jannik Sinner.
-
Seal congratulates Jannik Sinner
What would Jannik Sinner gain by winning the 2024 US Open? (Besides the prestige of a Grand Slam title and a $3.6 million prize?) A hug from Seal.
-
Jannik Sinner wins in three sets, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5
Taylor Fritz came back admirably in this third set, but had to face a steep climb as he found himself trailing by two sets against Jannik Sinner.
On the last point, Fritz sends the ball into the net and Sinner breaks the serve for the win.
Sinner wins his first US Open and second Grand Slam title of 2024.
-
The sinner arrives at 6-5
Sinner may have caught Fritz in pursuit. Sinner sends Fritz into the corner to hit a forehand, leaving him far out of position to get his serve back and fires a shot down the line to break Fritz’s serve and take a 6-5 lead.
Fritz fought back admirably, but faced a major obstacle in finding himself two sets down and then letting Sinner come back in the third set.
-
Sinner breaks Fritz’s serve and equalizes at 5-5
Sinner adapts by hitting more straight shots rather than cross-court shots, which forces Fritz to cover more ground and makes it harder for him to reach the net. When he does, Fritz is out of position against Sinner’s forehand.
He continues his serve with a score of 5-5. Has Fritz lost his best chance to win a set?
-
The crowd sees that Fritz has a chance to win this set and extend the match. Once again, Fritz takes advantage of the fact that Sinner is playing so far back by hitting the net.
Sinner leads by two sets, so he may not need to change his approach. But one has to wonder if playing so far back allows Fritz to play longer and make more shots.
-
Fritz holds his serve and leads 5-3
Fritz holds his serve with an ace that Sinner can’t reach because he’s playing so far from the baseline. He continues to make Sinner extend far into the corners for returns that he can’t put much power on. With Sinner out of position, Fritz was able to send balls up the court for points.
The sinner will serve.
-
As Fritz came back to life, the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd grew loud again. They wanted a reason to cheer and Fritz gave them one. After playing defense for much of the game, he now set the pace and forced Sinner to keep up.
-
Fritz gets the break he needed
This time it is Fritz who centers Sinner with a drop shot towards the net. He follows up with a shot towards the left corner. Sinner catches it and hits it with his back to the net. The ball goes high and Fritz waits to shoot it towards the opposite side.
Fritz breaks his serve and takes the lead 4-3, forcing Sinner to chase returns from corner to corner. This opens up opportunities for him to hit softer shots at the net that Sinner can’t catch. Fritz seems to be back in this match.
-
Fritz equalizes at 3-3
After a long rally of volleys, Fritz sends a forehand into the right corner that Sinner fails to reach and holds his serve to level the set at 3-3. The scoreboard indicates that Fritz is in the game, but he has too much catching up to do for him.
Sinner is now on duty. Fritz needs a break.
-
Sinner keeps his cool, while Fritz perhaps shows some frustration
Fritz might indicate his exasperation and difficulty keeping up with Sinner by audibly growling at his return shots.
Sinner, meanwhile, seems almost robotically calm as he handles everything Fritz can throw at him. He holds his serve to take a 3-2 lead.
-
Fritz holds his serve and equalizes at 2-2
Fritz now hits deep into the corners to force Sinner to chase the ball from one touchline to the other. He holds his serve, while Sinner sends the ball into the net trying to take a difficult angle on his return. This approach works, but the question is whether Fritz can maintain it or not.
-
Sinner holds serve and leads 2-1 in third set
Sinner’s serve and strokes seem more accurate, heading toward the corners. Fritz has been chasing returns, but the extension forces him to take bad angles on his returns, hitting the ball just over the line or too far.
However, Fritz has improved at the net, something he will likely need to maintain to get back into this match.
-
Sinner wins second set, 6-4
Sinner breaks Fritz’s serve, forcing him to spread far to his right and send a shot into the back of the net.
Sinner thus wins the second set, 6-4. If Fritz does not find an answer, he risks losing in three sets.
-
The finesse of the fisherman freezes Fritz
Sinner once again managed to fool Fritz with a finesse shot. Whether he hesitated to charge the net or didn’t cover the court as well as he did in the semifinal against Frances Tiafoe, Fritz let Sinner’s drop shots go by without trying to return them. He can’t reach those shots.
-
Fritz shows his frustration after sending another ball into the net. He had chances to take Sinner’s serve, but failed to convert.
-
Sinner holds serve and leads 4-3
And suddenly, Sinner keeps his serve and takes back the upper hand, 4-3.
Once again, Sinner surprises Fritz with a drop shot mixed with his forehand returns. It might be impossible for Fritz to look for this shot. When he plays at the net, Sinner is able to get past him with his forehand.
-
Fritz is back in this set
Fritz holds his serve and we are tied at 3-3. He stops Sinner from serving, which gives him the opportunity to catch up on returns. Sinner now has to react, more than set the pace.
-
Sinner holds his serve and takes the lead 2-1
Fritz has managed to get back into the game and the crowd is supporting him. However, Sinner’s forehand seems to be gaining strength and is bothering Fritz, who is struggling to get back into the game. He holds his serve and leads 2-1.
-
Fritz holds his serve and equalizes
Fritz regains his footing after Sinner had pulled away. He looked frustrated at the end of the first set and the crowd didn’t have much reason to cheer him on. But he showed life again, holding his serve to level at 1-1.
