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For years, tennis fans watched in awe as the ‘Big Three’— Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer— ruled the sport with an iron grip. They dominated the majors, amassing 66 titles from 81 Grand Slam tournaments between Federer’s 2003 Wimbledon triumph to Djokovic’s latest victory at the 2023 US Open.

The constant question looming over the sport has been when the reign of these titans would end. Has it arrived?

The 20-time major champion Federer retired in 2022, the same season Nadal won his 14th Roland Garros crown, his most recent Slam title. Though the 38-year-old Spaniard is still competing, he has been significantly hindered by injuries, having competed in just seven events — including just one major — this season.

And then there is Djokovic, who won three of the four majors in 2023, claimed this year’s Paris Olympics gold medal and is still in the Top 5 of the PIF ATP Rankings at age 37. But the 24-time major champion suffered a shocking third-round defeat to Alexei Popyrin in New York, ensuring that the Serbian will end the season without a major trophy for the first time since 2017.

With 23-year-old Jannik Sinner claiming his second Slam title at Flushing Meadows, this season marks only the third time — and the first since 1993 — that the four majors were won by players aged 23-and-under (Open Era).

Jannik Sinner has taken a stranglehold on the battle for ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF by winning the US Open.

Entering the season's final major, the Italian led then-second-placed Carlos Alcaraz by 1,440 points in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. It was possible for him to leave New York in second place.

But instead, Sinner departs with a commanding 2,885-point advantage over second-placed Alexander Zverev. The 23-year-old, who earlier this year became the first Italian in PIF ATP Rankings (since 1973) to reach World No. 1, is now in prime position to become the first player from his country to secure year-end No. 1.

PIF ATP Live Race To Turin

Sinner and Zverev are the singles players who have already qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals, which will be played from 10-17 November. 

Pop icons and sporting legends, including Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, flocked to Arthur Ashe Stadium Sunday to soak in the atmosphere of the 2024 US Open men's singles final.

Jannik Sinner, No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, claimed his second Grand Slam title of the year following his Australian Open triumph with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 win over Taylor Fritz to take a 2-1 lead in their Lexus ATP Head2Head Series. Below is a look at the day in photos.

The US flag covered the court before Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz faced off in the men's singles final at Flushing Meadows. (Photo credit: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

Celebrity Couple Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were present along with Kelce's Kansas City Chiefs teammate, Patrick Mahomes. (Photo Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Fritz advanced to his first Grand Slam final after defeating Frances Tiafoe in five sets in the semi-finals. (Photo credit: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are in attendance at the US Open singles final.

The celebrity couple are watching Jannik Sinner play Taylor Fritz for the trophy at the season's final Grand Slam tournament.

US Open (Taylor’s Version) ✨@usopen | #USOpen

pic.twitter.com/CrXobIzi8u

Swift, a singer and songwriter, is one of the most famous people on the planet. Her partner, Kelce, is a star tight end for the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs.

Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift and Patrick Mahomes watch the final. Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images.
Other celebrities who are at Flushing Meadows Sunday include Kelce's quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Anna Wintour.

For years, one of the biggest questions in tennis has been when an American man would win a Grand Slam singles title. It has been 21 years since Andy Roddick triumphed at the US Open.

Taylor Fritz, the first American man to reach a major singles final since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009, has a chance to halt the questions on Sunday when he faces World No. 1 Jannik Sinner for the trophy at Flushing Meadows.

According to Brad Gilbert, who coached Roddick to the title here in 2003, the circumstances are much different.

“I'm not going to say you took it for granted or expected it, but 2002 was an all-American final, and we had so many Americans in the finals of Slams then,” Gilbert told ATPTour.com. “So it wasn't a stretch. It was that you figured Andy was the new guy.”

Roddick accomplished a lot in his Hall of Fame career, climbing to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings and reaching four additional major finals. But no other American man has broken through since he did more than two decades ago.

Entering the US Open, Taylor Fritz had never advanced past a Grand Slam quarter-final. His opponent in Sunday’s final, Jannik Sinner, is the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings and this year’s Australian Open champion.

But Brad Gilbert, who helped Coco Gauff to her first Slam trophy at last year’s US Open, does not believe Fritz’s lack of experience this deep in a major will play much of a role.

“He's been around long enough. He's played a bunch of Slams, and I feel like he's a clean ball-striker, too,” Gilbert told ATPTour.com. “I've seen some players in their first major obviously get really tight. He doesn't strike me as that. He might not win, but I don't feel like the moment is going to be too big for him.”

According to the former World No. 4, “there's no doubt that Sinner is definitely the solid favourite”. The Italian is trying to clinch his second Slam crown and take a firm grip on top spot in the battle for ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF.

“But you’ve got to go out and execute,” Gilbert told ATPTour.com. “They both hit the ball really well. But who's going to control the centre of the court?

Taylor Fritz earned the biggest win of his career on Friday evening when he rallied past Frances Tiafoe in five sets to become the first American man to reach the US Open final since Andy Roddick in 2006. It was a special moment for Fritz and his team, led by coach Michael Russell, who gave him a big hug.

“I’m just so proud of the way that he fought in such a difficult match, playing one of your best friends on Tour, and being in a situation where both guys wanted to win so bad,” Russell told ATPTour.com. “There are just so many challenges, and he did such a good job of digging deep and fighting and to get to the US Open final as an American for the first time in so many years, it's really special”.

Fritz explained after the match that he felt overwhelmed in rallies when Tiafoe took a two-sets-to-one lead. He spoke to Russell, who helped reassure the 26-year-old.

“I just wanted him to have positive energy. He was down two sets to one, but he was on serve up in the fourth. And I just felt like the energy was a little too negative for where the scoreline was,” Russell said just after midnight Saturday morning. “I just wanted to try to give Taylor more energy from myself and the team and just constantly give him that positive feedback to lift him up.

"The crowd was, I want to say, a little more pro-Frances than Taylor, for sure. So just by looking over and seeing us constantly giving those standing ovations and encouragement and motivation to continue the energy and continue to fight like he always does, sometimes it's just the smallest percentages that can just give you a little extra motivation and energy to keep fighting.

Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson atoned for their Wimbledon championship heartbreak in style on Saturday at the US Open, where they captured their first major title together.

The Australians squandered three championship points in the Wimbledon final in July but were not to be disappointed in New York, where they moved past Germans Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 6-4, 7-6(4).

Purcell and Thompson recovered from squandering two championship points at 5-3 in the second set, eventually closing out in a nervy tie-break after one hour and 36 minutes to become the first Australian men to win the doubles crown since Todd Woodbridge won with Swede Jonas Bjorkman in 2003.

Earlier this year, they won titles in Dallas, Los Cabos and Houston and impressed at Flushing Meadows, where they dropped just one set en route to the title. They also fell agonisingly short in the Wimbledon final in July when they squandered three championships points in their defeat to Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara, but did not let that defeat haunt them in New York, improving to 37-6 in 2024.

"Being a Grand Slam champion has a great ring to it," Thompson said. "Especially after the heartbreak at Wimbledon. It got a little bit tense with match points at the end. We stuck with it and we got there."

Taylor Fritz is closing in on history at the US Open. The 26-year-old will become the first American man to win a major title since Andy Roddick in 2003 if he triumphs in the final on Sunday in New York, ending a 21-year wait.

The 12th seed battled hard to overcome countryman Frances Tiafoe in five sets in the semi-finals and also defeated seeds Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud to reach his maiden Grand Slam final. However, his biggest test is to come, with the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, Jannik Sinner, standing in his way between glory.

Sinner has been the man to beat in 2024 and is set to compete in his second major final on Sunday. The Italian clinched his first Slam crown at the Australian Open in January and holds a perfect 5-0 record in tour-level finals in 2024.

The 23-year-old moved past 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev in the quarters in New York and then beat British lefty Jack Draper in the semi-finals to earn his 11th consecutive win, having captured his third ATP Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati last month. In his match against Draper, Sinner suffered a scare when he fell on his left wrist in the second set. However, the top seed hopes the issue won’t harm his chances in the final.

“The physio loosened it up very fast on court, so after I felt okay in the beginning. Then after it went away by playing, which is good,” Sinner said in his post-match press conference on Friday. “Let's see how it is [Saturday] when it's cold. It's going to be a different feeling. Hopefully is nothing to concern about. I'm quite relaxed, because if it's something bad, you feel it straightaway a bit more.”

Chasing history, American Taylor Fritz will face No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings Jannik Sinner in the US Open final in New York at 2 p.m. EDT/ 8 p.m. CET. on Sunday on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Fritz is aiming to become the first American man to win a major since Andy Roddick triumphed at Flushing Meadows in 2003, while he is the first American man to compete in a Slam final since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009.

On the other side of the net, Sinner will try to clinch his second major, having lifted the Australian Open trophy in January. The pair enter the final locked at 1-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

For more information on how to watch the final, click here.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

Frances Tiafoe was not quick to shy away from his feelings on Friday following his devastating five-set defeat to countryman Taylor Fritz at the US Open.

The American, who was competing in his second major semi-final, led 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, but ultimately fell short. Tiafoe struggled with cramping in the deciding set and was unable to drag himself across the finish line.

“It's really, really tough. Really, really tough to swallow. This one is going to hurt really, really bad,” Tiafoe said in his post-match press conference. “I thought I was the better player for sure. In the fourth, I don't know, I just had some in-and-out cramps. I just felt my body kind of shut down on me.

“It probably had a lot to do with nerves. I wasn't tired at all. Just, to get into the final, probably the closest I was obviously when I played [Carlos] Alcaraz I was hanging for dear life to go five. Here I was really in a position to win. I was almost able to be in that position.

“I have been feeling unbelievable physically. But also it could be a testament to how many matches I've played in the short time and I haven't played that many matches all year like that. Ultimately, I think nerves got the better of me tonight.”

Delight, pride, relief. All emotions which were evident on Taylor Fritz’s face Friday night at the US Open after he reached his first major final. Following his epic five-set win against countryman Frances Tiafoe, the American opened up on the joy he was feeling following the biggest victory of his career.

“It hit me when he [Eubanks] said the thing about how I'm in the finals and the crowd was cheering,” Fritz said in his post-match press conference. “It's just kind of like how I am. I'm more of an emotional person when I'm happy. When I'm really happy I cry at happy endings of movies and not at sad stuff. That's kind of just how I am.

“It's just joy, the crowd cheering and kind of that realisation, like ‘Wow, I'm in the finals of the US Open. It's such a lifelong dream come true. Something I've worked my whole life for to be in this situation. I think just kind of like realising that got me a little bit choked up.”

Fritz is now just one win away from ending the United States’ 21-year wait for a male major singles champion. The last man to do so was Andy Roddick at Flushing Meadows in 2003.

Fritz is excited about the current state of American tennis, with Friday’s opponent Tiafoe as well as Tommy Paul, Sebastian Korda, Ben Shelton all inside the Top 17 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.

Taylor Fritz is one win away from ending the United States’ 21-year-wait for a male Grand Slam singles champion.

The 12th seed rallied past longtime friend and fellow American Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Friday evening to reach his first major final at the US Open. Andy Roddick triumphed at Flushing Meadows in 2003. Now Fritz will have a chance to earn his own Grand Slam glory on Sunday when he takes on top seed Jannik Sinner for the trophy.

“It’s the reason I do what I do, the reason why I work so hard. I’m in the finals of the US Open,” Fritz said as he teared up. “It’s a dream come true and I’m going to give it everything I possibly have. I know that for a fact.”

Through to the biggest final of his career ?@Taylor_Fritz97 knocks out Tiafoe 4-6 7-5 4-6 6-4 6-1.@usopen | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/CyQGm1CbWq

The 26-year-old arrived in New York with one win across ATP Masters 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati. But that has not proven a problem for Fritz, who is the first American male to make a major singles final since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009.

Jack Draper lost a hard-fought battle to Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals of the US Open on Friday. But he was happy with his run in New York and had positive takeaways from his first semi-final at a Grand Slam tournament, despite the 7-5, 7-6(3), 6-2.

“When I came here last year I was 120 in the world, barely played the whole season. I think I'll be leaving here this week Top 20,” he said. “I'm breaking new barriers down the whole time of what I think is possible.”

The 22-year-old Brit had not dropped a set before the semi-finals. He became the first man since Daniil Medvedev in 2020 to do so. Despite battling the pressure and New York’s muggy conditions, he left everything on the court, even as he struggled physically against the World No. 1.

“I think it was obviously a very physical match. Obviously, that's why Jannik is the No. 1 player in the world because when you play the top players, the intensity is different… it's a step up,” he shared.

“I think obviously it's a big occasion for me. I definitely felt more excited today, a few more nerves around.”

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner may be in for a restless sleep tonight after advancing Friday to the US Open final.

But it won’t be the nerves of contending for his second Grand Slam title of the season that are likely to put him into a cold sweat. Wondering how his wrist will feel in the morning after a mid-match fall during his straight-sets win over Jack Draper will be his major concern.

At 4-all in the second set Sinner extended his left arm to cushion his fall to the court. He looked in discomfort after the tumble and received treatment from the physio at the change of ends.

In his post-match press conference, Sinner said that he was not in too much distress as he continued the match, but would reserve judgment on whether he had escaped serious damage until he woke up Saturday morning.

“The physio loosened it up very fast on court, so after I felt okay in the beginning. Then after it went away by playing, which is good,” Sinner said.

Jannik Sinner reached the US Open final for the first time on Friday when he ended Jack Draper’s run in a hard-fought display on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Italian dug deep in a physical battle to earn a a 7-5, 7-6(3), 6-2 triumph.

In a gruelling clash, Sinner played with relentless intensity to grind down Draper, who struggled physically from the closing stages of the second set. The top seed fired 42 winners and survived a scare of his own in the second set when he tweaked his left wrist after using it to cushion his fall when he stumbled behind the baseline.

However, the 23-year-old showed little sign of discomfort following the scare and marched to victory to become the first Italian man to reach the final in New York. Sinner will aim to improve his perfect 5-0 record in tour-level title matches in 2024 when he meets Taylor Fritz or Frances Tiafoe on Sunday.

"Me and Jack know each other very well. We are friends off the court. It was a very physical match as we see and I just tried to stay there mentally," Sinner said. "He is so tough to beat and it is a very special occasion. I am happy to be in the final here."

SINNER IS THROUGH TO THE US OPEN FINAL! ?@janniksin battles past Draper in straight sets 7-5 7-6(3) 6-2. Up next: either Tiafoe or Fritz for the title! @usopen | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/UOE4kbP82a

The Italian city of Genoa endured a horrific tragedy in 2018, when the iconic Ponte Morandi partially collapsed following a torrential rainstorm. As vehicles fell into the Polcevera River, 43 people lost their lives.

While sports may seem insignificant in the face of such devastation, they can serve as an important outlet for those to combat grief. Such is the case with the ATP Challenger Tour event held in the heart of Genoa.

Three weeks after the 2018 tragedy, the Genoa Challenger provided a moment of inspiration as the city continued to mourn and rebuild. It was a memorable moment in the face of adversity. Home hero Lorenzo Sonego was crowned champion that week in front of a full crowd.

The Ponte Morandi bridge collapsed in August 2018. Credit: Andrea Leoni/AFP via Getty Images

Sonego, then 23, triumphed on the red clay to make his Top 100 debut in the PIF ATP Rankings. The Turin native returned to Genoa the following year and successfully defended his title.

It was 6:41 p.m. on Wednesday evening when Jack Draper sat in the media garden at the US Open for an interview with Sky Sports. The sun was setting in the background above the tournament’s main row of practice courts. But the star that is Draper was rising and continues to soar higher than ever in New York.

Tim Henman, the former British No. 1 and a six-time major semi-finalist, sat next to the 22-year-old, who had just earned his first trip to the last four of a Grand Slam tournament. Henman handed Draper a bucket hat covered with the British flag. It was not the passing of the torch — that went from Henman to former World No. 1 Andy Murray — but it was a fitting moment between two of the best British tennis players in recent memory.

When Draper finished the interview, he stood up and was greeted by another legend, John McEnroe, who was excited to see his fellow lefty. The two posed for a picture. When Draper made it back to the players’ lounge, he snapped a photo with another all-time great, Andre Agassi. Draper was wearing sneakers made famous by the American.

One year ago, Draper broke through in New York and reached the fourth round at a major for the first time. At the time, he was World No. 123 after struggling with injury.

Now the Briton is through to the semi-finals of a Slam without losing a set and is up to No. 20 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. Based on the love he is receiving from many in the tennis world and the efforts he has been producing on court, this seems to be just the beginning.

The ATP is proud to announce the launch of the Next Gen Expense Support Programme, aimed at financially supporting the future stars of tennis as they compete on the ATP Challenger Tour. The initiative is set to play an important role in the development of young talent on the pathway to the ATP Tour.

The Programme will provide valuable financial assistance to eligible players aged 20 and under. Players ranked between 101 and 500 in the PIF ATP Rankings, or those who are part of the Next Gen Accelerator, will receive $1,000 for each ATP Challenger Tour main-draw singles or qualifying event they participate in, with a maximum of $12,000 available per player over 12 events. Payments will be disbursed quarterly, ensuring consistent support throughout the season.

“We’re proud of our efforts to support younger players through the Next Gen Expense Support program,” said Ross Hutchins, Chief Tour Officer of the ATP Tour. “This initiative underscores our commitment to nurturing the next generation and ensuring the future of tennis remains bright.”

This programme is the latest element in ATP’s broader strategy to elevate the Next Gen brand, which has been spearheaded by the partnership with PIF. As the title sponsor of the Next Gen ATP Finals, PIF is playing a pivotal role in advancing the careers of these young athletes. Their contributions extend beyond financial support, encompassing marketing initiatives and tech investments aimed at amplifying the reach and impact of Next Gen players on the global stage.

The Next Gen Expense Support Programme has been in effect since 1 July 2024 and will run until the end of the 2024 ATP season. Plans for 2025 and beyond will be announced in due course.

Taylor Fritz broke new ground on Tuesday when he defeated Alexander Zverev for the second consecutive major to reach the semi-finals of the US Open. The American had made four previous Grand Slam quarter-finals, but never advanced to the last four. That changed with a splendid performance against the two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion.

But according to Wolfgang Oswald, Fritz’s longtime physiotherapist, the 26-year-old is not satisfied just to move one step further.

“Before, maybe there was a sense of relief. ‘I made the second week, I made a quarter-final’,” Oswald said. “He actually said it in a car the other day. He was like, ‘I'm not celebrating, because it's not over. I'm not happy’.”

Fritz is fully focused on continuing his biggest run yet and trying to become the first American man to win a major singles title since Andy Roddick 21 years ago at Flushing Meadows.

ATPTour.com spoke to Oswald, who knows Fritz as well as anyone, to gain insight into the 2022 Nitto ATP Finals competitor’s growth and mindset. The Australian first noticed Fritz when he played Tommy Paul in the 2015 Roland Garros boys’ singles final, won by Paul. He then continued to follow the American as he progressed to the ATP Challenger Tour, including a final-set tie-break Fritz played against Dustin Brown.