World number one Jannik Sinner stormed past Taylor Fritz to win the US Open and secure a second Grand Slam title of the year after Aryna Sabalenka beat Jessica Pegula to also win her maiden title at the US Open.
Italy’s Sinner, who won his first major title at the Australian Open in January, held off a late charge from American 12th seed Fritz to win 6-3 6-4 7-5.
It comes just 19 days after it was revealed he had been cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive for a banned substance in March.
The 23-year-old held his arms aloft and looked up to the sky as he became the first player since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to win his first two Grand Slam titles in the same season.
He is also the first Italian man to win the singles title at Flushing Meadows.
Sinner said the title “meant so much because the last period of my career was not easy” before he became tearful and dedicated the victory to his aunt.
“My aunt is not feeling well health-wise and I don’t know how much longer I have her in my life,” he said.
“It’s nice I can still share these moments with her. She is an important person in my life and still is”, said Fritz. Sabalenka won her first US Open title as she put the disappointment of last year’s final behind her to hold off home hope Jessica Pegula.
Sabalenka was seen smashing her racquet on the floor of the locker room after losing the Flushing Meadows showpiece to Coco Gauff in 2023.
However, 12 months on, the Belarusian second seed earned redemption in New York, dropping to the floor in celebration after clinching a thrilling 7-5 7-5 win over Pegula.
It is a third Grand Slam singles trophy for Sabalenka after she successfully defended her Australian Open title in January.
It also continues her dominance on hard courts, with the win over Pegula extending Sabalenka’s unbeaten run on the surface at major tournaments to 14 matches.
“I’m speechless right now. It’s always been a dream of mine and finally I got this beautiful trophy,” Sabalenka said.
