World No. 1 Jannik Sinner Shakes Off Positive Drug Test Controversy To Win 1st U.S. Open
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner entered the U.S. Open amid controversy after failing two drug tests in March. He was cleared last month but the story hung over Sinner and the Open as everyone from Novak Djokovic to Nick Kyrgios to Roger Federer weighed in.
Still, the 23-year-old Italian shook off the distractions to win his first U.S. Open and his second major title of 2024 with a decisive 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 victory over No. 12 Taylor Fritz in Sunday’s final. The jam-packed Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd included Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, Jon Bon Jovi, Matthew McConaughey and Noah Lyles.
It was Sinner’s 11th straight win, and he will take home a paycheck of $3.6 million for the victory. Fritz, appearing in his first Slam final, earned $1.8 million.
“This title for me means so much because the last period of my career was really not easy,” Sinner said on court. “I love tennis, I practice a lot for this kind of stages but I also realize that off the court there is a life.
“I would like to dedicate this title to my aunt because she is really not feeling well health-wise. It’s so nice that I can share big moments with her still. She was a big part of my life and she still is.”
Sinner won the Australian Open in January and he and Carlos Alcaraz split the four majors this year. It was the first time since 2002 that no member of the “Big 3” — Djokovic, Federer and Rafael Nadal — captured a major.
