Sinner, Fritz, the battle of power with US Open title on the line
The pair have split their two career meetings, both of which have come on American hardcourts
Jannik Sinner, Taylor Fritz, US Open 2024 – © Tennis Majors
World No 1 Jannik Sinner and top-ranked American Taylor Fritz will meet for the third time in their professional careers in the US Open final on Sunday. There’s more than just the Grand Slam and the $3.6 million prize money cheque on the line.
Sinner, the first Italian man to reach the US Open final, is hoping to become the first from his country to lift the men’s singles title at Flushing Meadows. Fritz, on the other hand, is aiming to break an American drought and become the first US male player to win his home Grand Slam since 2003.
Sinner and Fritz have played each other twice in the past, with both of those meetings in Indian Wells, and the pair have split those. But Fritz is feeling confident of the final, and believes he has a good chance against the world No 1.
I feel like I always hit the ball really nice off of his ball.
Taylor Fritz on playing Jannik Sinner
“I’ve always enjoyed playing him. To be honest, I don’t think that I’m going to be put in a more stressful situation than I was today than playing in a final. I think today was much more stressful than me playing the final. I just feel good,” Fritz said. “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.”
After the high-stakes semi-final occasion against another countryman in prime time, Fritz believes he will be under lesser pressure on Sunday,
“It’s different from playing the World No. 1 who you’re probably not going to be the favorite against. But I think I’ve always played well against Jannik. I think we’re 1 and 1. It’s been a while since we played but last time he got me in three at Indian Wells. He strikes, he hits the ball big, he’s like a very strong ball striker, but I feel like I always hit the ball really nice off of his ball. I think I typically play well against him.”
Big serve. Very solid player from the back of the court – Sinner on Fritz
Sinner is also looking forward to Sunday’s clash as he aims to add the US Open title to the Australian Open that he won in January.
“Big serve. Very solid player from the back of the court,” Sinner said about the Fritz clash. “He can hit strong. He can hit with rotation. He can mix up the game very well. He has played a lot this year, so, you know, he has a lot of rhythm of the match. I’m just looking forward for Sunday, and then we see how it goes.”
The Italian is also prepared to deal with the American crowd, which he knows will be completely behind their player. “The atmosphere is what’s going to be. We are in America, we are in New York playing against an American, so it’s going be, for sure, the crowd a little bit more on their side. But it’s normal. It’s like when I play in Italy, no, it’s a bit the same. So I’m going to accept that. I have my team and my people who are close to me. In my mind, I know that there are many people watching from home from Italy, and it’s just take some support from them.“
