New York | Sinner claims second Grand Slam of season

Jannik Sinner overcame Taylor Fritz and the spectre of a lingering doping scandal to seal his second Grand Slam title of the year, and dedicated it to an unwell aunt who “always helped me”.

I also realise that off the court there is a life and would like to dedicate this title to my aunt because she is really not feeling well health-wise, I don’t know how much longer I’ll have her in my life Yannik Sinner

Sinner, who claimed his maiden Slam in Australia in January, declared his 6-3 6-4 7-5 victory over the 12th-seeded home favourite in the US Open final in New York “meant so much because the last period of my career was not easy”.

The 23-year-old is the first Italian to lift the title and the first men’s player since Argentina’s Guillermo Vilas 47 years ago to claim his initial two majors in the same year.

And it underlined a new era in the sport. With Carlos Alcaraz claiming the other two Slams, it is the first year since 2002 that the name of either Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal or Roger Federer was not inscribed on one of the top four prizes in men’s tennis.

Sinner’s triumph was completed 19 days after he had been found not guilty of wrongdoing after twice testing positive for the banned substance of Clostebol in March.

The world No.1 said: “This title for me means so much because the last period of my career was really not easy.

(Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

“It (the doping case) was and still is on my mind. It’s not that it’s gone, but when I’m on court, I try to handle the situation the best possible way. I’m happy how I handled this one. I’m just excited to have this trophy with me.

“It was difficult because (of) the pre-tournament circumstances. I felt like that I have grown match by match and that my confidence level went higher and higher.

“I’m very happy, very proud to share this moment with my team. They support me every day. We just went day by day, trying to practice well even in the days off, believing in ourselves which is the most important. I understood especially this tournament how important the mental part is.

“I also realise that off the court there is a life and would like to dedicate this title to my aunt because she is really not feeling well health-wise, I don’t know how much longer I’ll have her in my life.

“My aunt, she’s a very important person because when my parents were working every day and all day so sometimes when I had to go to ski races, I went with her. She always helped me in summer-time when my parents were working. I had some days off or free days. You know, when you’re young, you don’t go to practice every day. So, I hang around a lot with her.

“It’s so nice that I can share positive moments still with her. She was a very important person for my life and she still is. So if that would be the biggest wish, I would wish everyone the best health to everyone but unfortunately it’s not possible.”

Celebrities such as singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, actor Dustin Hoffman and singer Jon Bon Jovi joined the 23,000 packed into the Arthur Ashe court, the vast majority cheering on the would-be home hero.

But Fritz was up against it when it came to the opponent across the other side of the net.

Sinner was favourite, having claimed his first major on another hard court – at the Australian Open in Melbourne – and climbed to the top of the rankings.

True, he had the furore in the background of the banned substance reportedly applied during massages, with claims he had been rich enough to afford a crack legal team to enable him to carry on playing during the investigation while others with less wealth might have been suspended.

But the ginger-haired Italian with his smaller following including the Carota Boy – a group of fans who trail their favourite around the circuit – were in no mood to be denied celebrating a second triumph to complete Sinner’s set of major bookends for 2024.

Sinner broke Fritz in the opening game but the American broke back, taking three games on the bounce. But the 26-year-old home boy’s serve was erratic as the big-hitting returns of Sinner broke it down again for the Italian to take the opening set.

The American showed resolve in the second set, with Sinner only able to take two points off his opening four service games. But at 5-4, the Fritz serve faltered and Sinner doubled his lead.

Still Fritz declined to give up the cause. He forced three break points at the start of the third set, although unable to take any of them. But he fired a couple of fearsome winners to break the Italian and go 4-3 in front.

The American even served for the set but Sinner denied him.

That proved the breaking of the Californian. Sinner held and then broke him once more to complete the win.

Sinner said to the crowd: “I did pretty well, I guess! I know there are a lot of people watching from home, but I would like to thank everyone for being so fair in this amazing arena, it was a huge pleasure.”

It was the sixth title of his breakthrough year. He said: “Incredible, no? So many big wins for me this season, starting off with Australia and then playing so well there which gave me the confidence for until now.

“But the work never stops, I know that I still can improve, as we saw also today a couple of things, but you have to be proud with what you have otherwise you have to go for it, you have to work for it so I can’t wait for my continued process.”

The two finalists pose together with their trophies

(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

The last American to lift the title was spectator Andy Roddick 21 years ago.

Fritz said: “American fans have been wanting a men’s champion for a long time. I’m pretty upset with how I played. I feel like I almost let a lot of people down.”

Quotes from the BBC and other media.

* Author/award-winning journalist Mike Donovan has written on tennis for more than 30 years, working for national newspapers and the official Wimbledon website as well as Tennis Threads with whom he authored a soft-backed publication on Andy Murray. He has also written a series of authorised Tottenham Hotspur-related books – plus others on Manchester United, Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers
and an updated version of Spurs Greatest Games coming out on Pitch this year. He is also working on a book based on his personal experience called Fever Paunch: 60 years Attempting To Play Football.