Game preview
Can Fritz end America’s wait for a major champion or will Sinner stop him in the US Open final?
Fritz, Sinner meet on Sunday afternoon in New York
September 07, 2024
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Taylor Fritz and Jannik Sinner will meet in the US Open final on Sunday.
Written by Sam Jacot
Taylor Fritz makes history at the US Open. The 26-year-old will become the first American man to win a major since Andy Roddick in 2003 if he wins Sunday’s final in New York, ending a 21-year wait.
The 12th seed battled back to beat Frances Tiafoe in five sets in the semi-finals and beat Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud to reach her first Grand Slam final. However, his biggest test will come, with the No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Jannik Sinner, stands on his way to glory.
Soni has become the man to beat in 2024 and will compete in his second major final on Sunday. The Italian claimed his first Slam crown at the Australian Open in January and holds a perfect 5-0 record in tour-level finals in 2024.
The 23-year-old eased past 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev in the New York final and then beat British left-hander Jack Draper in the semi-finals to make it 11 in a row, claiming his third ATP Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati last month . In his match against Draper, Sinner suffered a panic attack when he fell on his left wrist in the second set. However, the top team hopes that this issue will not hurt their chances in the finals.
“The physio has loosened it up on the court, so after I felt good at the beginning. After it went through the play, it’s good,” said Sinner in a press conference after the game on Friday. “Let’s see how it is [Saturday] if it’s cold. It will be a different feeling. I hope we have nothing to worry about. I’m really relieved, because when it’s bad, you feel it faster.”
Fritz had lost in the quarter-finals four times before his match over the two days but is now playing with the belief that he can go all the way. The 26-year-old, the first American man to reach a major final since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009, is determined to end his 21-year wait for an American Grand Slam title and believes he can trouble Sinner.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing with him,” said Fritz. “To be honest, I don’t think I will be put in a more stressful situation than today than playing in the finals. I think today was more stressful than playing the final. I feel just fine,” said Fritz. “I feel that I will come out and play very well and win. If I play good tennis, I think that level is good enough to win. “
US men’s US Open champions (since 1990)
The Americans and Italians are locked at 1-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, with both of their previous meetings on the hard courts in Indian Wells. Fritz will be hoping to use the home crowd to his advantage when the pair step into the 23,000-capacity Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday at 2pm EDT and the American showcases the best of American tennis ahead of the title match.
“I think it gives hope and shows that we are knocking on the door of winning a Slam, and we have this generation, this group of guys where there are four or five of us at this level,” said Fritz, referring. The top 20 stars Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Sebastian Korda and Ben Shelton.
“I mean it shows that we are all moving in the right direction. I think that whenever one of us does something, others follow, and others find faith in it. I think this is the beginning for all of us.”
Sinner vs. Fritz Lexus ATP Head2Head series
| A year | The result | The event |
| 2023 | Sinner d. Fritz | Indian Wells QF |
| 2021 | Fritz d. Sin | Indian Sources R4 |
On Sunday, the full focus of the United States will be on Fritz, who will have to be efficient and aggressive from the start to beat Sinner, who defends well in the corners and can cause problems for anyone with his weight and depth. shooting.
Usoni is already used to the big event in 2024, with no player getting more titles this year. Currently 54-5 this season, the 23-year-old is relishing the opportunity to play with the American in New York.
“For sure in America, the crowd will be more [his] on the side. But it’s normal. It’s like I’m playing in Italy, so I’ll accept that,” said Sinner. “I have my team and my people who are close to me. In my mind, I know there are a lot of people watching from home in Italy, and it just needs support from them.”
By reaching the final, Sinner took over the battle for the ATP Year-End No. 1 presented courtesy of PIF. The Italian is currently 2,185 points behind second-placed Alexander Zverev in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, which serves as the barometer for the ATP Year-End No. 1 presented courtesy of PIF. Usoni will lead by 2,885 points if he wins this title.
The former Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champion is the first Italian man to reach the title match in New York and aims to become the first player since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to win his first and second Grand Slam titles in the same season.
With knowledge on Sinner’s side, Fritz will hope that momentum can help him in his quest to conquer the high interest. The American, who claimed the biggest title of his career in Indian Wells in 2022, was in high spirits after reaching the final on Friday night.
“It hit me when he did [Eubanks] it means something about how I entered the finals, people were happy,” said Fritz. “It’s like how I am. I’m an emotional person when I’m happy. When I’m really happy I cry about the happy endings of movies and not the sad ones. I’m just like that.
“It’s just excitement, the crowd is cheering and it’s like, ‘Wow, I’m in the US Open finals.’ A lifelong dream come true. I have worked for something my whole life to be in this position.”
Read more ahead of the 2024 US Open final
The sinner takes a ‘wait and see’ approach by the wrist
Fritz on reaching the final: ‘It’s a lifelong dream come true’
Sinner shakes his wrist and lowers Draper, reaching the end
Fritz meets Tiafoe to reach first Grand Slam final at US Open
Taylor Fritz: Inside the rise and spirit of American competition
Fritz climbed five places to No. 7 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings after advancing to his final tour-ranking stage of the season and is in strong contention to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals. The American is fifth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin and could jump to fourth with a win.
In what is set to be a big game on Sunday, can Fritz end America’s 21-year wait for the senior men’s list, or will Sinner show the form he has had all year and produce ‘shutdown mode’ to win his sixth title. in 2024?
For more information on how to watch the final in New York from 2pm EDT/ 8 pm CET. on Sunday, click here.
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