Bill Simons
New York
Gas was $1.67 a gallon. George Bush was the president. Only the nerdiest of fans had heard of a Spanish kid named Rafa. And Andy Roddick, in 2003, did what Sampras, Agassi, Courier, McEnroe and Connors had done before him. He became America’s US Open champion. No biggie.
Who knew that a devastating drought would descend for many painful years? The American men’s landscape was long arid. Roddick made some impressive runs, James Blake’s forehand was ferocious, and Isner and Querrey were fine, big men. But the imprint of American men’s tennis was small.
Now we’re seeing a new era. A strength-in-numbers cadre of appealing stars – Tiafoe, Shelton, Paul and Korda have inspired, but Taylor Fritz has been the leader of the pack.
In New York, the big Californian downed Matteo Berrettini, Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev to reach the first Slam semifinal of his career, where he came from behind to beat Frances Tiafoe.
But today, he’d be facing both history and the fleet, powerful No. 1 player in the world, Jannik Sinner. Okay, critics claimed the redhead had been caught red handed. He tested positive for the banned substance Clostebol back in March. But most were confident the widely-respected good guy didn’t knowingly cheat.
More than anything, the Italian has been red hot. On a ten-match winning streak, the best hard court player of the year edged Fritz in March at Indian Wells and now was seeking to be the youngest man to win the Aussie and US Opens in the same year.
More to the point, Taylor had a weight on his shoulders: the weight of a nation. Throughout America, fans couldn’t wait to see if Fritz could, at last, after 21 painful years, lift a trophy for the red, white and blue.
He’d assured us he’d be calm in the final. But he was broken at the outset. Then he broke back. But in the crucial seventh game, he made three errors and double faulted to hand the advantage back to Sinner. Jannik broke again to take the opening set 6-3.
The first Italian ever into the US Open final speaks softly. And he soon quieted much of Ashe Stadium and quickly took advantage of Fritz’s subpar serving. He moved Taylor about from the Bronx, then to Brooklyn. He pounded his forehand and blasted backhands down the line. He patiently picked his spots with a Djokovic-like precision. Taylor Swift looked on, but Taylor Fritz wasn’t swift enough.
The top five champs of our era – Sinner, Alcaraz, Federer, Nadal and Djokovic – have all had fabulous wheels. Once Jannik was a junior skiing champion. Today it was often downhill for the sinewy 23-year-old.
Sure, the crowd tried to back their Golden State boy – “Let’s go Taylor, let’s go!” “USA! USA!” And Fritz had brief opportunities. But he couldn’t convert three break points early in the third set. His coach Mike Russell shouted, “Keep the energy up.” Fritz did.
As Sinner’s serve wavered, Fritz blasted huge forehands. He finally began to dictate, and an inventive drop shot-lob-overhead sequence brought roars that were heard in Connecticut. He soon scored his second break of the match and led 5-3. But, just like his fellow American Jessica Pegula, he failed to sustain his, “You can’t take me down that easy!” surge to win a set.
The man who had a miniscule amount of a banned substance in his blood in March had set his mind and heart on a massive win in September. As Taylor muffed a volley, Sinner stormed back, and on the twentieth shot of a rally, he prevailed – and gained, just as Aryna Sabalenka had yesterday, his second hardcourt Slam of the season, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.
Yes, Fritz’s girlfriend is Morgan Riddle, but ultimately her boyfriend had no answers.
Instead questions still swirled. When will American men at last break this wretched drought, and who will do it? Is Taylor’s lack of speed a fatal flaw, or can he soon power his way to Slam glory? His praiseworthy career is all about incremental progress. Taylor became emotional when reflecting on how he’d disappointed so many today.
On another front, some wondered whether Andy Roddick was happy that his record was still intact. Or not. Will the drug allegations against Jannik fade away, or linger long? For the first time in 22 years no member of the Big 3 won a Slam. Will Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who split the four majors this year, soon be viewed as tennis’ Big Two, replacing the iconic Big Three?
And, one last thing: it was said that Jannik Sinner’s only weakness is that he’s too nice. And after what tennis saw today that may be oh-so-true.
Also reporting Vinay Venkatesh and Lucia Hoffman
