Italy’s Jannik Sinner claimed his second Grand Slam title of the year on Sunday, defeating American Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 in the U.S. Open men’s final. The victory comes less than three weeks after Sinner was exonerated in a doping case.
Sinner, the world No. 1 and top seed, dominated the match with his relentless baseline game, preventing No. 12 seed Fritz from ending a 21-year Grand Slam title drought for American men. The last U.S. male to win a major was Andy Roddick at the 2003 U.S. Open.
The 23-year-old Italian’s triumph marks his second Grand Slam victory, following his win at the Australian Open in January. This achievement makes Sinner the first man since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to win his first two Grand Slam trophies in the same season, a feat not accomplished by tennis greats like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, or Roger Federer.
Sinner’s victory extends his current winning streak to 11 matches, improving his 2024 record to an impressive 55-5 with six titles. His hard court record stands at a remarkable 35-2, showcasing his dominance on the surface used at both the Australian and U.S. Opens.
The match saw Sinner consistently outplay Fritz, who was the first American man to reach a Grand Slam final since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009. Despite Fritz’s efforts, he was unable to overcome Sinner’s powerful and precise play.
This victory is particularly significant for Sinner, coming shortly after a controversial period in his career. Less than a week before the U.S. Open began, it was revealed that Sinner had tested positive twice for anabolic steroids in March. However, he was cleared of wrongdoing when it was ruled that the banned substance entered his system unintentionally through a massage from a team member, whom Sinner subsequently fired.
The win cements Sinner’s status as one of the top players in men’s tennis and signals a potential changing of the guard in the sport. His performance throughout the tournament and in the final demonstrates his ability to perform at the highest level consistently.
As the tennis world digests this result, attention will now turn to how Sinner builds on this success and whether he can continue his dominance in future Grand Slam tournaments.
