US Open 2024: Preview and prediction for Taylor Fritz vs Jannik Sinner final

Jannik Sinner will play Taylor Fritz for the 2024 US Open men's final on Sunday.
BNP Paribas Open
BNP Paribas Open / Julian Finney/GettyImages
facebooktwitterreddit

American tennis fans have to be quite happy about how the 2024 US Open has gone. Sure, maybe no American will win the event, but having a finalist on both the men's and women's sides is a success. For the first time since 2006, an American man is in the final.

The issue is that while Taylor Fritz is playing great tennis and is an excellent player overall, he is facing the ATP No. 1 who seems driven to put any negative feelings about his two failed drug tests in March behind him. Plus, that ATP No. 1, Jannik Sinner, has already won a major this year so he knows how to win at a high level.

The two players have faced each other twice and, oddly, both were at Indian Wells. Fritz won the first meeting way back in 2021 in straight sets. Sinner got revenge at the 2023 event in three sets.

Preview and prediction for the 2024 US Open final between Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz

Both players move well and both are capable of holding their serve consistently. The difference in the match might come down to who is the better returner. Sinner is number eight on the ATP in terms of return points won (26.3) but Fritz is number 23 (22.1). The Italian also ranks 13 in break-point percentage won (41.8) but Fritz doesn't come in until number 33 (39.7).

This would imply that Sinner plays better in the bigger points and certainly takes more advantage of the chances he has. If he can continue that against Fritz, that might be all that is needed to determine the outcome of the match.

As far as serving, both are fantastic. Sinner is second on the ATP tour in terms of service games won (91.1) and Fritz is third (89.2). A couple of breaks of serve by one player will likely tell you who is going to win.

Both players are winners overall in the US Open, however. Sinner has increased his lead on the ATP tour and now leads No. 2 Alexander Zverev by well over 3,000 points. If the Italian wins the US Open, he will lead Zverev by more than 4,000 points.

Chris Evert apologizes over comments made about Karolina Muchova. Chris Evert apologizes over comments made about Karolina Muchova. dark. Next

Fritz will move up to No. 7 on the tour with his run in New York. His career-high ranking is No. 5 and he could certainly surpass that by year's end if he continues his excellent form.

The guess here is that Sinner wins in four tight sets. That will be his second career Grand Slam victory after taking the trophy for the 2024 Australian Open. Still, should Fritz win, one can only imagine the crowd reaction in New York.

The match is set to begin at 2:30 pm ET. It will be held on the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

More tennis news and analysis:

manual