Jannik Sinner is the 2024 US Open men’s champion, having just defeated Taylor Fritz in the final in straight sets.
Entering the clash as the hot favourite, it always felt like the result rested on the racket of the world number one. However, with so much going on behind the scenes, some apprehension would have been justified.
So, when he came out firing to break the American instantly, a marker had been laid down. He did not really relent from that point on.
However, as Taylor Fritz started to creep back into the game, going a break up in the third set, the US Open crowd sparked into life at last.
But, one pundit has questioned their methods…
Marion Bartoli disagrees with what the US Open crowd did
Speaking live on Sky Sports earlier today, overseeing their courtside coverage of the US Open final, Marion Bartoli was full of useful insights that only she could get given her advantageous vantage point.
And, she used that to good effect to notice what the crowd were doing inside Arthur Ashe during Fritz’s resurgent spell in the third set, where it really looked like he might make a game of this final.
In the end, Jannik Sinner was just too good, but there was certainly something building as the American served for that third set.
However, in their efforts to help out their hometown man, Bartoli thinks that things might have gotten a little overzealous, so much so that even Fritz would have disagreed with their conduct.
She claimed: ‘The crowd was really into it, up until now they’re like five notches higher, they’re getting so loud, they’re even clapping when Jannik Sinner is missing his first serves, which I don’t think Taylor will agree to, but absolutely just pushing and willing the player and Fritz has been taking charge.’
Taylor Fritz came up short against Jannik Sinner
It was always going to take something momentous for Fritz to win the final, and unfortunately, it was just not there.
He did not quite raise his games to the very best levels needed, nor did Sinner drop his at all.
The best man won on the day, and the 26-year-old can have few arguments.
What he will feel aggrieved about is his disappointing serving, especially with how strong it has been for him all year.
He won just 68% of the points on his first serve, which he only got in 59% of the time anyway.
As such, the Italian superstar managed to bring about 12 break points, converting six of them, and was handed even more gifts with the four double faults Fritz served too.
When he combs back over his performance, there is no doubt that this area of his performance will haunt him more than most.
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