In an exhilarating match today, world number one Jannik Sinner from Italy claimed his second Grand Slam title of the season at the US Open, defeating local favorite Taylor Fritz in straight sets. The victory not only secured Sinner’s championship but also dashed Fritz’s hopes of ending a 21-year drought for American men in Grand Slam singles.

Sinner, the top seed, showcased his skill in a match that lasted 2 hours and 16 minutes, winning 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 against the 12th seed Fritz, marking him as the first Italian man to win the US Open.

Despite Fritz’s impressive track record at Flushing Meadows, where he had only been broken nine times across his first six matches, Sinner’s prowess was evident as he broke Fritz three times in the first set and once more in the second.

Prior to the match, Sinner had faced scrutiny after two positive drug tests, but he was later cleared of any wrongdoing and avoided suspension. Reflecting on his victory, he stated, “This championship means a lot… I’ve had a tough time recently, but my team and family have been incredibly supportive.”

The Arthur Ashe Stadium was packed with over 23,000 fans, including pop superstar Taylor Swift, her NFL star boyfriend Travis Kelce, and Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey. Fritz was aiming to break the long-standing American men’s singles championship drought in front of such a high-profile audience.

Had Fritz emerged victorious, he would have been the first American man to win a Grand Slam title since Andy Roddick’s triumph at the US Open in 2003. Instead, the 23-year-old Sinner added another Grand Slam trophy to his collection, following his win at the Australian Open earlier this year.

Post-match, Fritz graciously acknowledged Sinner’s performance, saying, “It was a great two weeks. Congratulations to Jannik—he played an impressive match. He was just exceptional today.”