A week that began with high hopes and expectations for American tennis ended in shock on Sunday (September 8) at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Taylor Fritz, the first American to reach the US Open final since Andy Roddick in 2006, was convincingly defeated by Jannik Sinner.
The match was a lively affair, finishing in 2 hours and 51 minutes. The score of 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 reflected how Fritz, a relatively slow starter during the 2024 US Open's two weeks, was gradually adapting and overcoming the unfamiliar setting of his first Grand Slam final, as well as Sinner's steady play.
Unfortunately for Fritz, Grand Slams are best played in five sets, not seven or more.
But even more time made no difference to the outcome. Fritz was outshone by Sinner in almost every aspect, most notably in his ability to capitalize on break points - Sinner made 6/12 points, while Fritz only made 2/7.
Most notable statistic: Fritz won only 5 of Sinner's 43 points on returns (12%) while the Italian won 17 of 53 points (32%).
In the post-match press conference, Fritz looked disappointed, struggling to find the right words in a monotone voice, eyes downcast. The disappointment was understandable, especially after a dramatic, exciting semi-final win over Frances Tiafoe, Fritz's friend and rival.
The 26-year-old breathed a sigh of relief after the match, but he had not yet felt the immense pressure of reaching the final. Nevertheless, Fritz felt fine before the match. He was comfortable, relaxed and eager, walking the long way to his seat, the crowd's cheers echoing around him, Fritz enjoying the atmosphere.
And the reality is that there is a certain disparity, but there is still much hope for the future of American men's tennis, with the goal of bringing back the glory days.
The 2024 US Open may have ended on a less than happy note for American tennis fans, but they did have two runners-up in singles (Jessica Pegula lost to Aryna Sabalenka in women's singles).
The disappointment of the weekend was also erased by the fact that both finalists had performed well beyond their seedings: Pegula was ranked 6th in women's singles while Fritz was ranked 12th in men's singles.
So, in terms of quality, Pegula have the highest chance of reaching the quarterfinals, Fritz predicts a loss in the fourth round or worse.
With a few days or weeks to decompress and reassess, both Pegula and Fritz will likely feel pride and hope as well as renewed motivation.
Not only that, American tennis still has Coco Gauff ranked 3rd in the world in the women's category, Emma Navarro, Danielle Collins in the Top 15, Tommy Paul, Sebastian Korda, Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton in the Top 20 men's tennis players.
