The future of tennis looks set to be the rivalry between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, and if 2024 is any indication, we’re in for a treat.
Sinner started the year off with a hard-court Slam win at the Australian Open, while Alcaraz took the tennis world by storm by winning both the French Open and Wimbledon, and now Sinner has beaten Taylor Fritz to win the U.S. Open and claim his second major title in a season (and career) that rivals Alcaraz’s.
American fans were hoping Fritz would become the first American to win the U.S. Open (or any major tournament) since Andy Roddick in 2003, but the Italian disappointed the home crowd by winning the final 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.
Fritz had his chances, but Sinner was always the more decisive when it came down to it. In the first set, Sinner broke for 4-3 and Fritz couldn’t get it back. In the third, Fritz took the lead and served for it, but the American played a mediocre game (not bad, but not good enough) and Sinner broke back for 5-5. Two games later, the nerves finally got the better of Fritz, and he ended the set and the match with a really below average game.
What’s next?
Fritz will surely be disappointed, especially since he could have played a little better. But this is still the best season and the best tournament of his career. He looks well-positioned to qualify for the ATP Finals and has solidified himself as a top American. Though he has no Grand Slam title to his name, his future looks bright.
Jannik Sinner is the No. 1 ranked player in the world, currently leading the field by a massive 4,000 points. The Italian will almost certainly finish the season at No. 1, given the controversy surrounding him and his loss of ranking points at Indian Wells. What’s next? A trip to his beloved clay and at Wimbledon to face Carlos Alcaraz. If this year has shown us anything about Sinner, it’s that it’s definitely possible.
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Main photo credit: Jeff Burke – USA TODAY Sports
