The American deserves credit for reaching his first grand slam final. But he was also aware that it may turn out to have been his best chance at a major title
It was a picture perfect day for Taylor Fritz to win the US Open men’s final. The weather was cool and still. The sunshine that streamed into Arthur Ashe Stadium stayed off the court, out of his face. But most significantly, an all-American crowd – which included pop singer namesake Taylor Swift, among other glitterati from sports and screen – was firmly at Fritz’s back. It was shaping up to be an exquisite afternoon, the sort that can define a summer – or a life in Fritz’s case. But then Jannik Sinner had to go ahead and spoil it.
On Sunday the world No 1 made quick work of Fritz, dispatching the American in a clinical straight sets victory that lasted a little more than two hours on the way to claiming the US Open – the second grand slam title of his burgeoning career. While the Italian clambered into the stands to celebrate with his support team (“Bravo, Jannik,” the singer Seal cooed to him mid-hug. “Forza”), Fritz sat slumped in his chair, hands on his head and ruminated about what could have been.
