Bravo: Sinner first Italian man to win US Open crown
Jannik Sinner produced a brutal display of baseline power as he became the first Italian man to win the US Open with a 6-3 6-4 7-5 win over American Taylor Fritz in the final. Sinner held aloft his arms in celebration after breaking Fritz to clinch the title and cheers rang around Arthur Ashe Stadium, even though home fans had hoped to see Fritz end a 21-year US men’s Grand Slam drought.
We just went day-by-day, believing in ourselves, which is the most important. I understood, especially in this tournament, how important the mental part is in this sport. — Jannik Sinner
Sinner was under a cloud of controversy at the start of the tournament after revelations that he tested positive twice for an anabolic agent in March but avoided a ban. An independent tribunal accepted his claim that the positive tests were the result of an unintentional contamination. The top seed blocked out the furore in New York and with the win claimed his second Grand Slam title after winning the Australian Open earlier this year.
“We just went day-by-day, trying to practise well, even on the days off, believing in ourselves which is the most important. I understood, especially in this tournament, how important the mental part is in this sport,” said Sinner.
“Here was difficult because also the pretournament circumstances weren’t easy,” said Sinner, who climbed the stands to celebrate with his team as fans shouted “Bravo!” around him.