Key events
Sinner 2-3 *Fritz
Fritz’s chance to seize control? He ends up facing down a break point, and the longest rally of the match sees the ball go out and it saved. The line was embraced by both players. Big serve at deuce from Fritz. Then Sinner is chased all over the court. Fritz believes, and so does the home crowd. He’s won three games in a row.
Fritz breaks back…
Sinner* 2-2 Fritz
Fritz gaining a foothold at 15-30, and then 15-40. A clanking serve saves the first of two break points. The second is saved by a clawing baseline hit from the baseline. Then a huge serve followed by another forehand missile. Too good? No, next comes a double fault, and then Fritz benefits from a Sinner miss at the net. Long night ahead.
FURTHER BREAKING NEWS: Patrick Mahomes is with Taylor and Travis, the latter wearing a bucket-hat, getting ready for the Oasis reunion.
Sinner 2-1 *Fritz
Better from Fritz, far better with his own service to love game.
Sinner* 2-0 Fritz
Sinner, though a tall man, is far more wiry and mobile. At 30-0 up, he top spins a winner home. Fritz has to ride out an early storm. The first service game served out to love.
Sinner lands an early break!
Sinner 1-0 *Fritz
Sinner begins at a rate, a crushing backhand return, and then goes to 0-30. Big cheers as Fritz wins his first point, but two break points. The first is saved after a long rally, Sinner defending well on his backhand. And then Fritz makes a mess of an overhead after a beauty of a return from a zinging first serve.
BREAKING: The other Taylor is here. And no, it’s not Dennis.
And away we go
Sinner elected to receive, having won the toss. It’s windy and the roof is OFF.
Sinner has been playing under something of a cloud but is playing after being cleared.
The warmups are done.
Taylor Fritz speaks. “I am really excited, I love these moments.”
So does Jannik Sinner: “I feel like every final is different, I am happy to be here. The crowd has been amazing, very fair. I am looking forward to play an American, it’s New York, it’s normal.”
Fritz enters to the Beastie Boys’ Sabotage, and now Jannik Sinner to the Chemical Brothers. So now begins the warmup, the knockup, and the toss. Fritz towers over Sinner who does some jumps to be taller.
The formalities begin with a gospel-tinged performance of God Bless American by Ruben Studdard. The Stars and Stripes being stretched out across the court as the crowd starts to pile into the Arthur Ashe.
The sleb count to follow JonBon into the cushioned seats: Courtney Cox, Matthew McConaughey, Jayson Tatum, Usher and whispers of “Taylor Swift and Travis”…why does Fran Healy get an invite? Is it because he lied when he was 17?
Both players will know they’ve got to hold on, ready or not, it doesn’t make a difference if they make it or not.
Head to head:
Fritz and Sinner have faced each other twice on the ATP Tour, both meetings at the Indian Wells.
In 2021, the Fritz won in straight sets – 6-4, 6-3 – in the last 16 in California. In 2023, Sinner won 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 – in the quarter-finals.
Via the official site:
Sinner
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Seed/Rank: 1/1
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Best US Open Result: F (2024)
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Previous Best US Open Result: QF (2022)
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Best Grand Slam Result: W (2024 Australian Open)
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Sets Won/Lost: 18-2
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Time Spent on Court: 14 hours, 20 minutes
Fritz
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Seed/Rank: 12/12
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Best US Open Result: F (2024)
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Previous Best US Open Result: QF (2023)
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Best Grand Slam Result: F (2024 US Open)
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Previous Best Grand Slam Result: QF (2022 Wimbledon, 2023 US Open, 2024 Australian Open, 2024 Wimbledon)
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Sets Won/Lost: 18-4
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Time Spent on Court: 15 hours, 27 minutes
It’s been an eventful fortnight plus, and here’s the best photos.
How they got to the final.
Tumaini Carayol on Fritz, seeking to follow on from Andy Roddick.
Preamble
For the second night in a row, Flushing Meadows will be cheering on an American underdog. San Diego’s Taylor Fritz has battled his way to his first Slam final, where he will take on a player who looks capable of being able to compete with Carlos Alcaraz in the post-Big Three era. Though not without controversy. On the court, Sinner dealt rather stealthily with plucky Brit Jack Draper and will want to follow up his Australian Open. Fritz, like Jessica Pegula last night, will give his all to win in front of star-filled crowd. Will it be enough? That’s what we’re here to find out.
They go at 7pm UK time, 2pm in New York minutes.
