Ivan Ljubicic explains how Jannik Sinner defeated Taylor Fritz


The 2024 US Open final was dominated by Jannik Sinner, who kept to his predictions against Taylor Fritz and won in three sets on the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium. The young Italian champion has won his second Grand Slam title, adding to a season that has made him the new reference point of the men’s tour together with Carlos Alcaraz.

The 23-year-old from San Candido did not play his best tennis in New York, but his mental strength emerges at decisive moments and allows him to make a difference on his opponents. After the premature eliminations of Carlos Alcaraz (second round) and Novak Djokovic (third round), fans and insiders knew it would be very difficult to stop Jannik on his favourite surface.

Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner© YouTube screenshot

 

The 2024 Australian Open champion – who has already won six titles this year – has more than 4000 points of advantage over Alexander Zverev and Alcaraz, having practically mortgaged the ‘title’ of world number 1 until the end of the year. Sinner will not be playing the Davis Cup this week, but he will still be travelling to Bologna to support his compatriots and friends. The next official event of the Italian ace will be the ATP 500 in Beijing, where he won last year beating Alcaraz in the semi-finals and Daniil Medvedev in the final.

Ljubicic praises Sinner

Jannik’s consistency in 2024 has shocked the whole world, as well as his ability to stay mentally strong despite the problems of recent months (injuries and doping case).

Ivan Ljubicic, former world number 3 and former coach of the Swiss Maestro Roger Federer among others, spoke for Sky Sport about the success of Jannik Sinner over Taylor Fritz in the US Open final and analyzed the moment of world tennis. It starts with the final won by the world number 1 for three sets to zero with impressive numbers as 88% of points won with the first serve.

“When you win three sets to zero the numbers are almost all on the side of the winner – analyzes Ljubicic – 88% is so much, a lot, almost nine out of ten. Jannik only struggled with the second one every now and then because Fritz was jumping on him and trying to hurt him. Perhaps the only difficulty that Jannik had was with his second serve but on the response he has always been superior. 68% with the first and 43% with the second for Fritz is very little, there was decided the game”.

Jannik Sinner, US Open 2024
Jannik Sinner, US Open 2024© Stream screenshot

 

This year two Slam won by Jannik (Australian Open and US Open) and two Slam won by Carlos Alcaraz (Roland Garros and Wimbledon).

What about 2025? “Let’s see if Novak Djokovic can still annoy these two champions – analyzes Ljubicic -. I don’t see who could get between Jannik and Carlos. We wait for Rune, see if Zverev can make another step. The Americans are knocking on the door but the door is still closed. The others are behind: Medvedev plays well but cannot win against Jannik and Alcaraz. We are heading for an era of Alcaraz-Sinner but we know that these situations change quickly. Djokovic was close to winning four last year and this year he didn’t win any. Tennis is changing fast.”

Jannik’s schedule

The 2-time Grand Slam champion will be back on court in the week of 26th September to 2nd October when he plays in the Beijing ATP 500 tournament. Event that last year had won. Sinner’s Asian tour which will then continue from 3rd to 13th October with the Masters 1000 in Shanghai. Sinner was eliminated in the last round by Ben Shelton.

On his way back from Asia, Jannik will stop in Riyadh. In Saudi Arabia will not play an event of the ATP tour but there is in its program the exhibition called “6 Kings Slam” that will see protagonists legends like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune. The event will take place on 16th-17th and 19th October.

Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner© @janniksin X account

 

To be evaluated then the programming of Jannik that would be enrolled also on 21th to 27th October at the ATP 500 tournament in Vienna that won last year. Then there is the final Masters 1000 in Paris Bercy from 28th October to 3rd November in which last year he retired before the round of 16 against de Minaur with the controversy attached for the games played at very late night. Finally, Sinner is already qualified for the ATP Finals in Turin scheduled from 10th to 17th November. If Italy qualifies for the Davis Cup Finals, the world number 1 team should be in Malaga from 19th to 24th November.



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