Taylor Fritz in action© AFP

A tearful Jannik Sinner dedicated his US Open title victory on Sunday to his aunt, who he revealed is battling serious ill health, admitting: “I don’t know how much longer I will have her in my life”. World number one Sinner, 23, clinched his second Grand Slam title of the season when he swept aside Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 before fighting back tears on the trophy podium. “I love tennis, I practice a lot for these stages but I realise that there is also a life away from the tennis courts and I would like to dedicate this to my aunt who is not feeling well,” said Sinner.

“I don’t know how much longer I will have her in my life. It’s nice I can still share these moments with her. She is an important person in my life and still is. 

Jannik Sinner dedicates his US Open title to his aunt pic.twitter.com/E2YTjGSRUf

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2024

“If there was a wish I could make I would wish good health on everyone but unfortunately it’s not possible.”

Sinner had arrived in New York under a cloud after it was revealed he had failed two drug tests but escaped sanction.

He was cleared of all wrong-doing although some fellow players questioned the decision, suggesting that Sinner may have benefitted from preferential treatment due to his high-profile status in the sport.

“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,” said Sinner.

“I’m happy and proud to spend this moment with my team. I’ve had so many big wins this season, starting in Australia and playing well to give me confidence for now.”

He added: “The work never stops. I know I can still improve but you have to be proud of what you have and then work for the rest.”

Sinner’s win shattered American hopes of a first home male champion at the majors in 21 years.

Andy Roddick was the last US man to win a Grand Slam title in New York in 2003.

Fritz, the first American man in a Slam final since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009, said he was determined to bounce back and claim a maiden major.

“It has been an amazing two weeks and first off congrats to Jannik, he played a great match. It’s really impressive. He was too good,” said the world number 12.

“Being an American at the US Open is just incredible, feeling the love all week.

“I know we have 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 done next time so thank you.”

Jannik Sinner won his second Grand Slam title of 2024 on Sunday when he swept aside Taylor Fritz in the US Open final, shattering American hopes of a first male champion at the majors in 21 years. World number one Sinner, who won his maiden Slam at the Australian Open in January, became the first Italian man to triumph in New York with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 victory. For 23-year-old Sinner, it was a 55th match win of the season and sixth title. After his 21-year-old rival Carlos Alcaraz pocketed the French Open and Wimbledon titles to take his majors collection to four, the two men have cemented their places as the powerhouses of tennis’s new era.

“This title means so much,” said Sinner who arrived in New York under a cloud after it was revealed he had failed two drug tests but escaped sanction.

“The last period of my career has not been easy but I have my team and family who support me. 

“I love tennis but off court there is a life also and I want to dedicate this trophy to my aunt because she is not well and I don’t know how much longer I will have her in my life.

“She was a very important part of my life and still is. It’s nice to share this with her.”

World number 12 Fritz was bidding to be the first American man since Andy Roddick in New York in 2003 to win a major.

He was backed by A-list celebrity support amongst the 23,000-strong crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Pop queen Taylor Swift watched alongside boyfriend and NFL star Travis Kelce while Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey was hard to miss as he donned a Stars and Stripes headband.

“It has been an amazing two weeks. Congratulations to Jannik, he played a great match. He was very impressive and was too good today,” said Fritz.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t get it done but I will keep working and I feel I will get it the next time.” 

Sinner raced to a 2-0 lead in the first set before Fritz settled and levelled for 2-2.

The 26-year-old American saved a break point on the back of an exhausting 23-shot rally in the fifth game but soon slipped 4-3 down.

Sinner pounced again with a third break to claim the opening set as Fritz fired a backhand long.

The two players had only dropped serve a combined 20 times over six rounds each at the tournament before Sunday’s final.

That strength shone through in the second set with the first nine games all service holds until the 10th.

Sinner then carved out two set points but only needed one, a deep forehand forcing Fritz into a desperate scramble before he buried his return limply in the net.

By that stage of the final, Sinner had committed just nine unforced errors to the 19 of Fritz in an a illustration of his control of the court.

Fritz, the first American man in any Grand Slam final since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009, saw three break points come and go in the first game of the third set.

But Sinner served up his fourth double fault of the final to hand Fritz a 4-3 lead.

With his back to the wall, the Italian top seed then broke back in the 10th game as Fritz served for the set and held for 6-5.

He went to two championship points when a disheartened Fritz ballooned a running forehand and sealed victory when the American netted.

US Open 2024 Men’s Final, Jannik Sinner vs Taylor Fritz LIVE: Sinner (left) and Fritz.© AFP

Taylor Fritz has a 1-1 head-to-head record against world no. 1 Jannik Sinner.© AFP

Aryna Sabalenka won the US Open and her third Grand Slam crown with a thrilling victory over a gallant Jessica Pegula in a rollercoaster final on Saturday. World number two Sabalenka triumphed 7-5, 7-5 to add the New York title to her back-to-back Australian Open victories. Pegula went down fighting, however, recovering from 0-3 and break point down to lead 5-3 in the second set before Sabalenka came through.

The 26-year-old from Belarus clubbed 40 winners to become the first woman since Angelique Kerber in 2016 to capture both hardcourt majors in the same season.

Sabalenka lost the 2023 US Open final to Pegula’s compatriot Coco Gauff and she struggled to settle in during the early stages on Saturday as a flurry of errors handed the home favourite a break for 2-1.

But the powerful Sabalenka levelled immediately and broke again for 4-2.

A capacity crowd of 23,000 included sporting royalty such as Olympic 100m gold medallist Noah Lyles, NBA star Steph Curry and former Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton watched on.

Most were behind Pegula but the 30-year-old was defenceless against the remorseless hitting of the world number two, whose screams echoed beneath the closed roof of the cavernous Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Pegula, who had knocked out world number one Iga Swiatek and then battled from a set and break down to see off Karolina Muchova in the semi-final, clung on.

From 2-5 down, she hit back for 5-5, breaking Sabalenka as the Australian Open champion served for the set.

In a marathon 12th game, however, Pegula saved four set points but not the fifth.

Sabalenka had unleashed 25 winners and committed 23 unforced errors to Pegula’s nine and 11, illustrating a dramatic contrast of styles in the 60-minute opener.

For the second match in succession, Pegula was soon a set and break down again, a double fault allowing Sabalenka to move ahead 3-0.

Incredibly, the 30-year-old stormed back to lead 5-3 before Sabalenka broke in the 10th game as her opponent attempted to level the final.

Sabalenka held her nerve to claim victory when Pegula went long with a weary drive.

Taylor Fritz celebrates after beating Frances Tiafoe in the US Open semi-finals.© AFP

Jannik Sinner became the first Italian man to reach the US Open final on Friday while Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe battled to become the first American man in a Grand Slam final in 15 years. Australian Open champion Sinner defeated an ailing Jack Draper of Britain 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 in the semi-finals.

Fritz or Tiafoe will be the Italian’s opponent for the title on Sunday as they try to end their country’s 21-year wait for a male Grand Slam champion.

“Jack and I know each other very well, we are great friends off court,” said Sinner, who unleashed 43 winners in the match where he also injured his wrist in a nasty fall.

“It was a very physical match. He’s so tough to beat so I’m excited to be in the final.”

In a gruelling three-hour match, Draper, the first British man in the semi-finals since Andy Murray won the title in 2012, was eventually undone by 10 double faults and 43 unforced errors as well as his illness.

“In the final, it will be a very tough challenge whoever I play,” added 23-year-old Sinner.

“I’m happy to be in that position because if you are in the final on a Sunday it means you are doing an amazing job.”

World number 25 Draper arrived in his first Grand Slam semi-final having only been broken three times in five rounds and not having dropped a set.

However, Sinner started eating into that streak with a break for a 4-3 lead, quickly wiped out by the Briton. Draper was broken again on the back of his sixth double fault in the 11th game before the Italian top seed served it out with a love game.

In a dramatic second set, Draper vomited at the side of the court before Sinner then fell chasing a Draper shot, hurting his left wrist as he attempted to break his fall. Sinner won that point, but Draper held serve for 5-4.

Fall and illness

Two trainers then appeared on court at the same to treat the two players’ ailments, although Sinner required a full medical timeout.

It was a brief scare, however, as the Italian raced through the tiebreak to secure a two-sets lead. Draper looked physically spent and was reduced to walking pace as the third set and match slipped away from him.

With Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz having suffered shock first-week exits, a first-time US Open champion will be crowned on Sunday.

Andy Roddick was the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title when he captured the US Open. Fritz and Tiafoe were just five years old at the time.

World number two Aryna Sabalenka reached a second successive US Open final on Thursday when she defeated a battling Emma Navarro as well as a partisan crowd to move one win away from her third Grand Slam title. Double Australian Open champion Sabalenka triumphed over the 13th-seeded American 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) and will face either Jessica Pegula of the United States or the Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova in Saturday’s final. Navarro, playing in her first semi-final at the majors, went down fighting, however, when she clawed her way back from 3-5 down in the second set to take her chances in a tiebreak.

Sabalenka sent down 34 winners to the 13 of the 23-year-old American in the tie.

“Guys, now you’re cheering for me. Wow. It’s a bit too late,” Sabalenka told the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd.

“It really means a lot and even though you guys were supporting her still I had the goose bumps for you cheering. It was an incredible atmosphere.”

She added: “I don’t really care who I face in the final because today was a good test of the crowd cheering for my opponent and even if it is gong to be Pegula, I don’t care. I’m ready to face whoever.”

The Florida-based Belarusian, runner-up to Coco Gauff of the US in New York last year, called on her raw power to secure the first set, nullifying Navarro’s smart use of the angles.

Although an early break was cancelled out by the American, the 26-year-old edged ahead again in the sixth game before securing the opener on the back of 16 winners, twice as many as Navarro.

Sabalenka stretched to a 3-2 lead with a break in the second set with Navarro having to fend off more break points to avoid slipping to a 2-5 deficit.

That breathed new life into her challenge and she broke Sabalenka when her rival served for the match, pulling level for 5-5.

She even enjoyed a mini-break in the tiebreak before Sabalenka stormed back for victory.

– Pegula, Muchova eye final –

After losing six Grand Slam quarter-finals, 30-year-old Pegula is into her maiden semi-final and has not dropped a set over five rounds.

On Wednesday, she knocked out top seed and four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek for the loss of just six games.

It was Pegula’s fourth win on hard courts against the Pole — after her three other wins she went on to claim the title.

“Finally, finally, I can say I’m a semi-finalist,” said Pegula.

“To do it at prime time against the number one player in the world, it’s crazy, but I knew I could do it.”

After winning the Toronto title and finishing runner-up in Cincinnati, Pegula has won 14 of her 15 matches on the US hard court swing, including a three-set victory over Muchova in Cincinnati.

Muchova is in the semi-finals in New York for a second successive year and also has not dropped a set.

She made the French Open final in 2023, rising to a career-high eighth in the world, before suffering a serious right wrist injury which required surgery.

She only returned in June this year.

“There were a few bad days, and then I always try to just regroup and focus on the step that I could do, what’s the first step I can do towards recovery,” she said.

Jannik Sinner in action at US Open© AFP