Jannik Sinner will aim to silence a passionate home crowd on Sunday as he faces Taylor Fritz in the US Open final at Flushing Meadows. The 12th-seeded Fritz is bidding to become the first American man in 21 years to capture a Grand Slam singles title, a feat last achieved by Andy Roddick in 2003.
For decades, American men dominated tennis, with legends like Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, and Andre Agassi amassing 41 Grand Slam titles between the 1970s and early 2000s. However, since Roddick’s victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the American men have gone without a major for 82 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments. This drought has fueled New York fans’ hopes that Fritz can finally end the long wait for another title.
“I’m gonna accept that. I have my team and my people who are close to me,” Sinner, the Italian top seed, said when asked about the intense home crowd support Fritz will receive. “In my mind, I know that there are many people watching from home from Italy, and it’s just take some support from them.”
Sinner is in the midst of a stellar season, marked by a breakthrough performance at the Australian Open and a title win at the Cincinnati Masters. Despite his achievements, his arrival at the US Open was overshadowed by a doping controversy. The International Tennis Integrity Agency announced that Sinner had twice tested positive for an anabolic agent in March but avoided a ban after an independent tribunal determined the positive tests resulted from unintentional contamination.
Undeterred by the controversy, Sinner advanced through the draw with impressive victories, including wins over former champion Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals and Briton Jack Draper in a dramatic semifinal. However, a fall during the semi-final raised concerns about a potential wrist injury.
“The physio (loosened) it up very fast on court, so after I felt OK in the beginning. Then, after, it went away by playing, which is good,” Sinner assured reporters, confirming his readiness for the final.
Sinner will face a formidable challenge in Fritz, who has enjoyed a stellar run at Flushing Meadows. Fritz, known for his powerful serve—having sent down over 75 aces throughout the tournament—defeated former finalists Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev before overcoming Frances Tiafoe in an all-American semifinal.
Brimming with confidence, Fritz believes he can defy the odds and end the US men’s major drought. His career head-to-head record against Sinner stands at 1-1. “I’ve always enjoyed playing him,” said Fritz. “I have a feeling I’m going to come out and play really well and win. When I play good tennis, I think that level is good enough to win.”
With the crowd behind him and a chance to make history, Fritz will look to seize his moment against the in-form Sinner in what promises to be a thrilling US Open final.
