The no.1 ranked Jannik Sinner on September 8 beat USA's Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 to win the US Open title for the first time. The second Grand Slam title win came for Sinner weeks after he was exonerated from the doping case.
"This title, for me, means so much because the last period of my career was really not easy," said Sinner after the game.
Fritz got much support from the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium with pop singer Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce in attendance but he would not win his maiden Grand Slam title.
"Being an American at the US Open is just incredible. Feeling the love all week. So thank you so much," Fritz said during the trophy ceremony. "I know we've been waiting for a champion for a long time, so I'm sorry I couldn't get it done this time. But I'm going to keep working and, hopefully, I'll get it at the next one."
Fritz’s dream run in US Open doesn't get the happy ending
The Grand Slam final lasted two hours and 16 minutes. Fritz who beat Casper Rudd and Alexander Zverev was trailing 0-2 in the opening set. Fritz broke the serve and made a comeback. However, the Italian Sinner clawed his way back and won the first set 6-3 which lasted 41 minutes.
Fritz struggled with his serves but at one point in the second set was 4-4. But Sinner broke Fritz's serve again to win the second set as well. In the final set, Fritz put up a fight and was leading 4-3. Once again, Sinner made his way back into the game and became the first Italian to win the title at Flushing Meadows since 2015.
As Fritz lost, the wait for an American to claim the US Open men's singles title continued. THe last to win the title was Andy Roddick in the 2003 edition.
Sinner overcomes doping allegations
Earlier, on August 20, Sinner had tested positive twice for an anabolic steroid. He was cleared because he did not use the steroid intentionally and the banned substance entered his body via a message. Sinner fired the team member who made the mistake.
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