In the final, Jannik Sinner defeated American Taylor Fritz 6-3 6-4 7-5 to become the first Italian to win the US Open. Sinner’s victory was a vicious demonstration of baseline power. The crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium cheered as Sinner raised his arms in delight after breaking Fritz to win the match, despite the home supporters’ expectation that Fritz would end the 21-year US men’s Grand Slam drought.
At the beginning of the competition, Sinner was mired in controversy following reports that he had tested positive twice for anabolic agents in March but had escaped punishment. His argument that accidental contamination was the cause of the positive tests was accepted by an impartial judiciary. Following his victory at the Australian Open earlier this year, the top seed silenced the commotion in New York and went on to win his second Grand Slam championship.
As supporters yelled “Bravo!” around him, Sinner, who ascended the bleachers to rejoice with his team, stated, “Here was difficult because also the pretournament circumstances weren’t easy.”
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.
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.
