Jannik Sinner clinched his second grand slam title, and first in New York, with a straight-sets defeat of home favourite Taylor Fritz at the US Open.
The world number one, who has now won both hard court majors this season after also prevailing in Australia, was too good at the key moments as he ran out a 6-3 6-4 7-5 winner.
Fritz battled hard but could not produce his best tennis as the wait for a male American winner of a grand slam was extended into a 21st year.
Despite being roared on by a partisan crowd that included the likes of Taylor Swift, her boyfriend Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes and actor Matthew McConaughey, Fritz looked nervous early on with Sinner breaking in the opening game.
He gathered himself to break back but Sinner always had the edge from the back of the court and two more breaks saw him take a one-set lead.
Fritz’s serve had looked vulnerable but he started to find his range in the second set, that was until he served at 4-5. Having looked in total control, the 12th seed was unable to respond when Sinner upped his game and the Italian took a commanding lead with another booming backhand down the line.
The crowd had gone flat but they were given early encouragement in the third set when Fritz claimed a 40-0 lead on the Sinner serve in the opening game. But the top seed promptly rattled off five points on the trot to maintain his stranglehold on the match.
Sinner uncharacteristically stumbled in game seven, though, with a double fault on break point handing Fritz a way back into the contest.
If the door was ajar for the American it was swiftly slammed shut when Sinner broke back for 5-5 and then again to clinch the match, and the title, in two hours and 16 minutes.
Andre Agassi presents Jannik Sinner with his first US Open trophy! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/YGpyScXcbq
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2024
Sinner, who was cleared to play despite failing two drugs tests in March this year, dedicated the win to his aunt, who is ill.
He said: “This title means so much because the last period of my career was not easy. My team have supported me every day and thank you to the people who are close to me.
“I love tennis, I practice a lot for these stages but I realise that there is a life I would like to dedicate this to.
“My aunt is not feeling well health-wise and I don’t know how much longer I have her in my life.
“It’s nice I can still share these moments with her. She is an important person in my life. If there was a wish I could make I would wish good health on everyone but unfortunately it’s not possible.”
