Carlos Alcaraz, Matteo Berrettini, and several other tennis players were overjoyed as Jannik Sinner lifted the 2024 US Open trophy. The title was Sinner's second Grand Slam, following his Australian Open triumph earlier this year.
Sinner, the World No. 1, was one of the top favorites to clinch the New York Slam. He entered the tournament after his victory at the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati. Following the early exits of 2022 champion Carlos Alcaraz and defending champion Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner’s victory at the US Open seemed all the more imminent.
The 23-year-old kicked off his campaign by beating Americans Mackenzie McDonald and Alex Michelsen in the opening two rounds. He then got the better of Australia’s Christopher O’Connell before downing yet another American, Tommy Paul.
In the quarterfinals, Jannik Sinner saw off his rival and 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, following which he beat Brit Jack Draper 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-2 to punch his ticket to a maiden final in New York.
In the title clash on Sunday, September 8, Sinner faced No. 1 American, Taylor Fritz. Despite the crowd favoring his opponent, the World No. 1 remained unfazed, getting the job done in straight sets (6-3, 6-4, 7-5).
Jannik Sinner’s arch-rival Carlos Alcaraz, who won the remaining two Majors this year, was impressed by the Italian’s “deserved” win.
"Congratulations @janniksin! You deserve it! Enjoy the moment!" Alcaraz wrote on Instagram.
French tennis player Caroline Garcia, too, hailed the US Open champion. She highlighted his mental fortitude in light of the online abuse he dealt with despite being declared innocent in his positive doping tests controversy.
"Bravo, @janniksin. Winning a Grand Slam is always a unique accomplishment. To win it with all the added pressure and attention he got this last weeks is just unreal. Well done, Jannik," she wrote on Instagram.
Six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker penned a heartwarming message for the World No. 1.
"Forza Jannik! Your mental strength, courage and desire to be the best are the cornerstones of your success here at the US Open! You wrote history winning the tournament as the first Italian man! After a few difficult months where everything was at stake, your unwavering belief in the truth made the difference! BTW, I have a soft-spot for redheads… Celebrate with your loved ones and enjoy the journey!" he wrote.
Here are a few more reactions from the tennis fraternity:
"I love this sport and it means everything to me" – Jannik Sinner after US Open 2024 win
Jannik Sinner penned an emotional message after winning his maiden US Open title on Sunday. The 23-year-old acknowledged the immense support he received during the fortnight and called his win “incredibly special.”
"Thank you, New York!! Incredibly special to win my second slam title here after a great two weeks. Thank you for all the support, it means so much. I love this sport and it means everything to me," Jannik Sinner said.
"Time to enjoy this moment with my team and my family before we get back to work for the end of the year. The work never stops, we keep pushing."
Sinner made his World No. 1 debut following his semifinal run at the 2024 French Open. The Italian enters his 14th week at the top spot this Monday (September 9), enjoying a hefty 4105 points lead over No. 2 Alexander Zverev.
The 23-year-old has collected a staggering six titles so far this season, including his first two Grand Slams in Melbourne and New York. Besides his two Masters 1000 titles in Miami and Cincinnati, he has also won two 500-level events in Rotterdam and Halle.