At just 23 years old, Jannik Sinner became the world No. 1 in the ATP rankings a few months ago. On Sunday, he claimed his second Grand Slam title of the year, beating Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 in the final of the US Open.
Quick Rise to the Top
Sinner has achieved a lot in a short time, adding this US Open win to his Australian Open victory from January. He is the first man since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to win his first two Grand Slam titles in the same year.
Staying Focused on Improvement
“I’ve been through a lot quickly,” said Sinner, who is only the second Italian to win the US Open singles title, following Flavia Pennetta’s win in 2015. “I’m still young, so I know I can keep improving. At 23, you haven’t mastered everything yet, so my team and I are focused on getting better.“
When asked about where he can improve, Sinner referred to his match against Fritz. “Today, I played well from the back court and felt strong there. But could I improve? Definitely. I can serve better for sure.”
Dominating on the Court
Although serving is considered a weaker part of Sinner’s game, he still won 88% of points when his first serve went in. The 6’4″ (1.93m) player’s strength lies in controlling the baseline, using his reach to chase down every ball and hit powerful shots. He’s also a top returner, breaking Fritz’s serve three times in the first set and six times overall.
“Jannik returned well at key moments,” said Fritz’s coach, Michael Russell. “He’s tough to play against because he’s dangerous on both the forehand and backhand and moves incredibly well.“
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Learning and Growing
Fritz, the first American man in a major singles final in 15 years, acknowledged Sinner’s improvement, especially in movement and serving. “I know I’ll never be perfect, but I always strive to evolve,” Sinner explained. “By the end of my career, I want to be able to say I did everything I could to reach 100%.“
When Fritz tried a more defensive approach during the match, Sinner overpowered him. And Sinner’s success isn’t limited to hard courts he’s also been a semifinalist at the French Open and Wimbledon.
Building Confidence After Major Wins
The self-belief Sinner gained from his Australian Open win, where he defeated Novak Djokovic in the semifinals and came back from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in the final, was a turning point. He described that title as a “relief,” saying, “You never know if you can win a Grand Slam until you do.“
Changing the Tennis Landscape
Sinner’s US Open win came with more pressure and some unexpected challenges before the tournament. Winning two majors in 2024 is impressive, especially with legends like 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, 37, and rising star Carlos Alcaraz, 21, still competing at a high level.
This season marks a shift in tennis, with Sinner and Alcaraz splitting the four major titles, making it the first time since 2002 that none of the Big Three Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal won a Grand Slam. “It’s different, for sure,” Sinner said. “But it’s exciting to see new champions and new rivalries.“
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