The 2024 US Open men's singles final is not a "big match" like Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic, but tennis fans cannot help but pay attention.
Taylor Fritz is on the verge of making history at the US Open. He will become the first American man to win a major title since Andy Roddick in 2003 if he wins the final in New York. The American has waited 21 years…
The 12th seed fought back to overcome compatriot Frances Tiafoe in five sets in the semi-finals. He overcame fellow top seeds Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud on his way to his first Grand Slam final.
However, the biggest challenge standing between him and glory is world number 1, Jannik Sinner.
Sinner is the man to beat in 2024. He will be making his second major final. The Italian won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January and is a perfect 5-0 in tour-level finals this year.
The 23-year-old overcame 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals and then beat Jack Draper in the semi-finals to make it 11 straight wins, after winning his third ATP Masters 1000 in Cincinnati last month.
Sinner suffered a wrist injury in a fall in the semi-finals, but the No. 1 seed hopes the problem will not affect his chances in the final.
Fritz has lost four Grand Slam quarterfinals, but this fortnight he is playing with the belief that he can go all the way. Fritz is the first American man to reach a Grand Slam final since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009, and he is determined to end the 21-year wait for a Grand Slam champion.
Fritz and Sinner are tied 1-1 in their previous meetings. Both of those meetings were on the hard courts at Indian Wells, but this time Fritz will be hoping to take advantage of the 23,000 people cheering him on at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
On Sunday (local time), all eyes will be on Fritz and he will be expected to serve well and attack from the baseline. Sinner is always good at defending in the corners and can cause problems for anyone with the weight and depth of his shots.
Sinner is used to major events in 2024, with no player winning more titles this year. Now 54-5 on the season, Sinner continues to relish the chance to face an American in New York, having played three other home players along the way.
Going into the final, Sinner has an advantage in the race for the ATP Year-End No. 1 title, with a 2,185-point lead over second-placed Alexander Zverev. The gap would be 2,885 points if he wins the title.
The former Next Gen ATP Finals champion is the first Italian to reach the final in New York and is aiming to become the first player since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to win his first and second Grand Slams in the same season.
Fritz rose five places to No. 7 in the ATP rankings after reaching the final, but the task of defeating Sinner is certainly not easy.
The US Open men's singles final between Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz will take place at 01:00 on September 9 (Vietnam time). Live on MyTV.
