Sinner tunes out the noise to win US Open

Newly-crowned US Open champion Jannik Sinner admitted Sunday that the controversy over his two failed drugs tests "is still on my mind".

The 23-year-old Italian defeated Taylor Fritz in straight sets 6-3, 6-4,7-5 to win his second Grand Slam title, adding to his first in Australia in January.

However, his path to victory was accompanied by questions over the doping affair, which saw him twice test positive for banned substance clostebol in March.

He escaped a lengthy ban when the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) found him not guilty of wrongdoing after he had been inadvertently contaminated by his physio.

The Italian sacked physio Giacomo Naldi and trainer Umberto Ferrara, citing a loss of confidence in them.

The decision to clear the Italian was met with skepticism by some, who suggested that the world No 1 had benefitted from preferential treatment due to his status in the sport.

Unsure if he would be welcomed by the Flushing Meadows crowds or jeered, Sinner said he leaned on family and his training team to help tune out the distractions.

"It was, and it is, still on my mind. It's not that it's gone, but when I'm on court, I try to focus on the game, I try to handle the situation in the best possible way, communication with the team, on the practice courts," he said.

"It was not easy, that's for sure, but I tried to stay focused, at which I guess I've done a great job."

Sinner admitted that the case had cast a cloud over him, but he believes that fans and most players have been supportive.

"What I can say is that the general reaction of the players was quite positive, even when things came out. Then there have been, of course, some different voices, but this is in everything," he said.

"That's why you have, as I said before, the people close to you. These are the people who know what was going on, and what I and my team went through.

"Obviously, it was very difficult for me to enjoy in certain moments," he added.

"Also, how I behaved or how I walked on the court in certain tournaments before, it was not the same as I used to be, so whoever knows me better, they know that something was wrong.

"But, during this tournament, slowly I restarted to feel a little bit more how I am as a person. It doesn't really matter how, or what, the result was. So, this tournament, for sure, helped me a little bit."

Despite the controversy, Sinner is enjoying a stellar season.

He has captured six titles, racking up 55 wins against just five losses.

His triumph on Sunday saw him to become the first man since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to win his first two Grand Slam titles in the same season.

Sinner believes that Sunday's win in New York has more impact for him than his Australian Open breakthrough.

"Melbourne was kind of a relief, because you never know if you can win one Grand Slam or not, but when you win one, you know that you can do it," he said.

"Here, it was difficult because the pre-tournament circumstances weren't easy. I feel like I have grown match by match, and that my confidence level got higher and higher at some point.

"It was different because I had more pressure this time than in Australia. I'm happy how I handled this one. Yeah, I'm just excited to have this trophy with me."

Tribute to sick aunt

A tearful Sinner dedicated his US Open title victory to his aunt, who he revealed is battling serious illness.

"I love tennis, I practice a lot for these stages, but I realize that there is also a life away from the tennis courts and I would like to dedicate this to my aunt who is not feeling well," said Sinner.

"I don't know how much longer I will have her in my life. It's nice that I can still share these moments with her. She is an important person in my life.

"If there was a wish I could make, I would wish good health on everyone, but, unfortunately, it's not possible."

Sinner's win shattered American hopes of a first homegrown male champion at the majors in 21 years.

Andy Roddick was the last US man to win a Grand Slam title in New York in 2003.

Fritz got off to a dreadful start when he handed Sinner the break with an unforced error in the first game, one of 34 unforced errors that cost him dearly across the match.

Despite surviving a 23-shot rally — the longest of the match — to save break point in the first set, it was only a matter of time before the Italian hit his stride.

Sinner easily won the first two sets, then rallied in the third after Fritz had taken a 5-3 lead and had the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium loudly cheering him.

He went to two championship points, when a disheartened Fritz ballooned a running forehand and sealed victory when the American netted.

Fritz, the first American man in a Slam final since Roddick's Wimbledon appearance in 2009, said he was determined to bounce back and claim a maiden major.

With US great Andre Agassi on court for the presentation ceremony, Fritz told the crowd: "It has been an amazing two weeks and, first off, congrats to Jannik, he played a great match.

"It's really impressive. He was too good.

"Being an American at the US Open is just incredible, feeling the love all week.

"I know we have been waiting for a champion for a long time, so I'm sorry I couldn't get it done this time, but I'm going to keep working, and, hopefully, I'll get it done next time, so thank you."

Later, at the post-match news conference he reiterated the sentiment.

"Right now I'm pretty just disappointed in ... just a lot of things on the court, how I played, how I hit certain shots. It sucks," the world No 12 said.

"American fans have been wanting a men's champion for a long time, and I just, I don't know, I'm pretty upset with how I played.

"I feel like I let a lot of people down."

Living the moment

He will get back into the top 10 as a result of his deep run at Flushing Meadows, and will rejoin his countrymen to compete in the Laver Cup, leaving New York with at least one dream realized.

"Hearing the crowd go crazy and just kind of, like, soaking in the moment," he said.

"Like, I'm walking out to play my match on Ashe in the US Open final (it) is what I dreamed about my whole life.

"It almost got me emotional, but I was just really happy and ready to enjoy the moment."

It ended a disappointing weekend for US tennis fans, after Jessica Pegula also lost, falling to Aryna Sabalenka in the women's final on Saturday.

Agencies