Jannik Sinner is proud of his "incredible year" but is still targeting improvements despite picking up his second grand slam win at the US Open.

The Italian edged a tight contest in straight sets, claiming his maiden title at Flushing Meadows with a 6-3 6-4 7-5 victory over home favourite Taylor Fritz on Sunday.

In the process, the world number one became just the third player to win the title at the US Open men's singles after dropping his opening set at the event in the past five decades, after John McEnroe (1981) and Patrick Rafter (1998).

Sinner fell behind in the final set and had to dig deep to overcome Fritz's late fight, and said that his self-belief ultimately carried him over the line.

"I just went day by day. Believing in yourself is the most important," Sinner said in his on-court interview.

"I understood, especially in this tournament, how important the mental part is in sport.

"It's been an incredible year. So many big wins, starting off in Australia which gave me confidence until now.

"The work never stops. I know I can still improve. I can't wait for my continued process.

"I love tennis. I practice a lot for this kind of stage. I know how much work Taylor puts in. He's doing an amazing job and congrats to you and the whole team.

"It's so nice to see you on big stages like this, and I'm quite sure there will be many more. I wish you the best of luck for the future."

Just before the start of the US Open, Sinner was cleared following an investigation, having twice tested positive for a banned substance in March.

The 23-year-old was inadvertently contaminated by a low level of a metabolite of clostebol – a steroid that can be used to build muscle mass – by his physiotherapist, who had used an over-the-counter spray for a cut on his own hand before treating the player.

With many worried about how that would affect Sinner's focus in New York, he credited his team for helping him get through the tough period.

"This title for me means so much because the last period of my career was really not easy," Sinner added.

"My team and the people who are close to me have supported me every day. I'm very happy and proud to share this moment with my team."

Jannik Sinner clinched the US Open title with a gripping straight-sets victory over Taylor Fritz on Sunday.

The momentum ebbed and flowed in a tight contest, with Sinner claiming his maiden title at Flushing Meadows 6-3 6-4 7-5 in two hours and 17 minutes.

Sinner quietened the home crowd early, breaking Fritz's serve in the opening game, but it only motivated the American, who edged in front shortly after by winning three on the trot.

The reigning Australian Open champion responded in kind though, going one better with a four-game winning streak to get the first set in the bag.

The second set was a cagey affair, with the players matching each other stride for stride, neither willing to blink first.

With the chance to level the score at 5-5, Fritz started to wobble, making a couple of unforced errors in the final game as he lost his serve, giving himself a mountain to climb.

It looked like Fritz had shaken that off in the third set though, as he took the first three points, but Sinner held out, not losing his serve.

Yet it was Fritz who earned the first break, taking a 5-3 lead.

But Fritz again lost his rhythm at the crucial moment – Sinner won the final four games, his triumph confirmed as his opponent hit it into the net.

The Italian Job is complete

It has already been a banner year for Sinner, who won his maiden grand slam final, beating Daniil Medvedev to claim the Australian Open.

And he has stood firm in New York, when other favourites, like Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, fell in the early rounds, adding to his superb record on the hard court.

Sinner is the second-youngest player to win the Australian Open and US Open men's singles title during the same season, after Jimmy Connors in 1974, during the Open Era.

Meanwhile, he is the third player to win the title at the US Open men's singles after dropping his opening set at the event in the past five decades after John McEnroe (1981) and Patrick Rafter (1998).

Following Aryna Sabalenka's victory on Saturday, two players have won the women's and men's singles titles at the Australian and US Open during the same season for the fifth time.

With two grand slam titles now in the bag, the world number one has proven just why he is worthy of that status.

Just out of reach

Fritz was not only playing in his first grand slam final, but he was the first American to reach the showpiece at the US Open since Andy Roddick in 2006.

Among players representing the United States, Fritz (26 years and 313 days) is the second oldest in the Open Era to reach a maiden men's singles final at a grand slam, after MaliVai Washington (27y 15d) at Wimbledon in 1996.

He was looking to emulate Roddick's success from 2003, ending a 21-year wait for a homegrown champion at Flushing Meadows.

Having already beaten high-ranking players like Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud en route to the final, Fritz had proven he was no pushover, but the world number one proved a different type of test.

Fritz was just lacking that cutting edge at the key moments, as a major title slipped out of his reach, but there is nothing to say that he cannot come back even stronger next year. 

John McEnroe says "you never want to count Novak Djokovic out" despite his failure to win a grand slam in 2024.

Djokovic's last major triumph came at Flushing Meadows last year as he won his third grand slam of 2023, levelling Margaret Court's record of 24 titles.

And it looked like he would overtake that record this year, but he has struggled with injuries and a lack of form, meaning he will end a calendar year without a major title for the first time since 2017.

While he ended his wait for a gold medal at the Paris Olympics last month, he only reached one grand slam final, losing in straight sets to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon.

He then suffered a shock early exit to Alexei Popyrin in the third round in New York, but McEnroe is convinced the Serb has what it takes to prove everybody wrong.

"You never want to count him out," McEnroe told Eurosport.

"This would certainly be the first time where you could say with some seriousness that you start to wonder if he's going to win again.

"How long can this guy keep motivated? Then he won the Olympic gold. I'm amazed that he's kept it [motivation] for this long.

"I'm sure to be surprised either way. If he doesn't win [a major], you would be like wow – he won three of the four last year. And now we're saying he'll never win it again. And then I would sort of be surprised in a way if he did, because of his age.

"That's what he's facing right now. It will be interesting to see if he's able to pull it off. But I do think he'll try to find that motivation to get number 25."

Jannik Sinner is confident the wrist issue that troubled him during Friday's US Open semi-final win over Jack Draper is "nothing to be concerned about" ahead of Sunday's final.

Sinner reached his first final at Flushing Meadows with an impressive 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 success over Draper, who had not dropped a single set en route to the final four.

While Draper vomited at the side of the court after struggling with anxiety, Sinner also called for medical attention after tweaking his left wrist in the second set.

The world number one stayed in a brutal rally despite falling awkwardly when playing a lob from deep on the court, then got up to slam a brilliant forehand winner past Draper.

He immediately received treatment on the affected wrist but showed few signs of discomfort from then on to become Italy's first-ever male finalist at the US Open.

"The physio loosened it up very fast on court, so after I felt okay in the beginning. Then after it went away by playing, which is good," Sinner told reporters after his win.

"Let's see how it is tomorrow when it's cold. It's going to be a different feeling. Hopefully it is nothing to be concerned about. 

"I'm quite relaxed, because if it's something bad, you feel it straightaway a bit more."

At the age of 23 years and 21 days, Sinner is the youngest man to reach the final at both the Australian Open and the US Open in a single year since the former event switched from grass surfaces in 1988, surpassing Roger Federer in 2004 (23 years, 34 days).

He will be up against a home favourite in Taylor Fritz on Sunday, and he accepts he will have to play the role of villain in the eyes of a raucous crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"It's normal. It's like when I play in Italy, so I'm going to accept that. I have my team and my people who are close to me," he said.

"In my mind, I know that there are many people watching from home from Italy, and I'll just take some support from them."

Fritz rallied to beat compatriot Frances Tiafoe in five sets having been both 1-0 and 2-1 down in Friday's second semi-final, and he said reaching the showpiece match represented the realisation of a lifelong dream in an emotional press conference. 

"It's just how I am. I'm more of an emotional person when I'm happy. When I'm really happy I cry at happy endings of movies and not at sad stuff. That's just how I am," Fritz said.

"It's just joy, the crowd cheering and that realisation, like, 'wow, I'm in the finals of the US Open. 

"It's such a lifelong dream come true. It's something I've worked my whole life for, to be in this situation. Realising that got me a little bit choked up."

Jack Draper believes it is "only a matter of time" before he goes all the way at a grand slam, having come up short in the US Open semi-finals versus Jannik Sinner.

Draper enjoyed a breakout campaign at Flushing Meadows, reaching the last four without dropping a set having never previously gone beyond the second round at any major.

However, he was beaten 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 by Sinner, later saying he had struggled with anxiety after being seen vomiting at the side of the court on several occasions.

"I'm a bit spent but that's the nature of sport, especially tennis, it's relentless, mentally, physically, emotionally," Draper told Sky Sports.

"You have to have everything as a tennis player. I'm obviously very proud of myself, and I can look back on it.

"Right now, I'm a bit emotional, a bit 'gone' that it had to end in that way but you have to respect that Jannik is the number one player in the world and he's incredible.

"I came a bit unstuck today but hopefully I will have many opportunities in the future."

The Brit does not expect this to be his final chance on the biggest stage, targeting regular appearances at the back end of grand slams in future.

"I've still got a lot to improve. At the end of the day, I need to keep on improving my physicality, my mentality, the way I play," Draper added.

"But there's no reason why I don't belong at the top of the game with these guys. I proved that to myself on a few occasions this year. 

"My goal now is to try and do it more consistently and put myself in front of these guys on a regular basis at the back end of tournaments.

"I think that is something I'm capable of. But it's just a matter of time."

Taylor Fritz will face Jannik Sinner in the US Open final after overcoming fellow American Frances Tiafoe in a five-set classic at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Both men were looking to take a huge step towards ending the United States' 21-year wait for a male champion at Flushing Meadows, and it was Tiafoe who took the opener despite giving up an early break, hitting back with two of his own in the fifth and seventh games.

Fritz rallied to take the second set, but Tiafoe came on strong again in the third, harnessing the support of the crowd and using his power to dominate rallies.

An early break proved enough for Tiafoe to go 2-1 up, and he found himself two games from victory at 4-4 in the fourth set.

However, a missed forehand at deuce gave Fritz set point, and Tiafoe then failed with an attempted drop shot to let his opponent force a decider.

The momentum switched from then on, with Fritz never looking back. He hit a massive backhand winner in his first return game of the decider to break, and though he later let a double-break advantage slip with a double fault, that was a momentary blip as he ran away with the fifth set.

After the win, Fritz hailed his coach Michael Russell for the calming effect he was able to exert after a tough start to the encounter.

"I felt I wasn't doing anything wrong, I was just getting overwhelmed," Fritz said. "I was freaking out a little bit and he told me to keep doing what I was doing, accept it was okay and keep making him do it. That helped to calm me down and let me know I was doing the right thing."

Data Debrief: Fritz the late bloomer

Among male players representing the United States, Fritz – at the age of 26 years and 313 days – is the second-oldest in the Open Era to reach a maiden grand slam final, after MaliVai Washington (27 years, 15 days) at Wimbledon in 1996.

It took Fritz 33 main-draw campaigns to reach his first major final, with only David Ferrer (42), Stanislas Wawrinka (36) and Kevin Anderson (34) requiring more in the Open Era.

He could become the first home winner of the US Open since Andy Roddick in 2003 on Sunday, when he faces Sinner in the showpiece match.

Jannik Sinner booked his place in the US Open final after overcoming a valiant effort from an unwell Jack Draper in straight sets at Flushing Meadows.

Sinner needed just over three hours to confirm the triumph, ending the Briton's impressive run in New York with a 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 triumph. 

The world number one impressed on serve, producing 11 aces to Draper's eight, with the Briton also serving 10 double faults, six of which came in the first set. 

In a contest decided by fine margins, an opening set that saw back-to-back break points was settled by Sinner with a love game to take the early advantage. 

But in testing conditions, Draper struggled and was seen vomiting, and was then unable to inflict enough damage on the Italian's service game as the second set went in the way of Sinner.

The Italian also recieved treatment to his left wrist after falling during a point he managed to win, going on to seal the win with an emphatic final set to end Draper's hopes of following in Andy Murray's footsteps at Flushing Meadows.

"First of all, me and Jack know each other very well, we are good friends off the court," Sinner started.

"It was a very physical match as we see. I just try to stay there mentally and he is so tough to beat.

"It is a very special occasion, thanks everyone for coming out. The support has been amazing. Just happy to be in the final here."

Sinner will look to secure his second major title of the year against either Taylor Fritz or Frances Tiafoe in an all-American semi-final taking place late on Friday.

Data Debrief: The Italian job close to completion

Sinner is the first Italian player to reach multiple men’s singles grand slam finals in the Open Era, and the second in tennis history after Nicola Pietrangeli.

Moving to a win-loss record of 60-18, only three players since 2000 have recorded 60 men’s singles wins in fewer grand slam matches than Sinner (78) – Carlos Alcaraz (70), Rafael Nadal (72) and Novak Djokovic (77).

Only Jimmy Connors (1974 and 1975) and Roger Federer (2004) have made the men’s singles finals at the Australian and US Open the same year, younger than the Italian (23 years and 21 days).

Jack Draper feels he belongs at the highest level ahead of his US Open semi-final clash with Jannik Sinner, pointing to June's Stuttgart Open success as a turning point in his career.

Draper will face Sinner for a place in the final of 2024's final grand slam on Friday, having crushed Alex de Minaur in straight sets in the last eight on Wednesday.

He could become the first British player to reach the men's singles final at Flushing Meadows since 2012, when Andy Murray beat Novak Djokovic. 

It has been a breakthrough tournament for the 22-year-old, who had never previously gone beyond the second round of a major, and he feels his maiden ATP success, which saw him beat Matteo Berrettini in the final in Germany, provided a major confidence boost.

"Winning Stuttgart was a huge moment for me," Draper told Tim Henman in an interview for Sky Sports. "I played two finals before that and both times I came up short.

"It was like I was a good enough player to do it but I just wasn't getting over the line and I think whatever level you're playing at, winning five matches and winning a tournament is an incredible achievement.

"When I won that one, it felt strange. There was a massive sigh of relief and it actually made me believe in myself a lot more. 

"It made me a lot more confident in my own skin and really made me believe that by beating the players that I beat, especially to win the tournament, I felt like I belonged a lot more at the really highest level."

Draper has only dropped 36 games at the US Open thus far. In the last 40 years (since 1985), only Djokovic (27 in 2016, 32 in 2012 and 33 in 2013) and Ivan Lendl (34 in 1987) have ever reached the men's semi-finals at the US Open while losing fewer games.

"A lot of the players know my talent and know my tennis capabilities and probably see me as a dangerous player," Draper added.

"It's been important for me to show my face on the tour most weeks and show that I'm physically robust. That mentally, I'm all in, and I'm doing all the right things, and that also gains respect from the other players."

Jack Draper labelled his US Open triumph over Alex de Minaur as a "dream come true", but insists he still has another level to come at Flushing Meadows. 

Draper, who is yet to drop a set at the tournament, advanced to his maiden grand slam semi-final in straight sets against the world number 10 in New York. 

In the last 40 years (since 1985), only Novak Djokovic and Ivan Lendl have reached the men's singles semi-finals at the US Open with fewer games dropped than the Briton this year (36).

Draper is also the lowest-ranked player left in the tournament, and is the first British men’s player to reach the semi-finals at the US Open since Andy Murray in 2012.

"It's amazing, honestly. To be out here in my first match on the biggest court in the world, honestly it's a dream come true for me," Draper said.

"Thank you for all the support, it means the world. I think I played a solid match and I feel the best fitness-wise that I've been in a long time.

"I think that's where Alex has got me in the past. I also think he was maybe struggling a little bit today with something and that may have helped me a little bit.

But standing in his way of reaching the final is world number one Jannik Sinner, who beat Daniil Medvedev in four sets at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. 

The Italian is the only player remaining in the tournament to win a grand slam title, having done so earlier this year at the Australian Open. 

And while the challenge looks an imposing one, Draper insisted he still has more in the tank as he aims to achieve what would be the biggest win of his career. 

"This is not an overnight thing for me," Draper added. "I felt like my level today was solid, there were some glimpse of really good stuff.

"I still have some levels to go if I get pushed."

Jannik Sinner was pleased with how he "stayed in every moment" in a "tough" US Open quarter-final against Daniil Medvedev.

The world number one is the only grand slam winner left in the draw after overcoming Medvedev, the 2021 champion at Flushing Meadows, in four sets.

Sinner has reached the semi-final at the US Open for the first time in his career, becoming the fourth active player to reach that stage at all four grand slams.

His triumph means he will play Jack Draper for a place in the final, with the Brit yet to drop a set in an impressive display in New York.

And Sinner acknowledged how hard he had to work to get there after going toe-to-toe with Medvedev for the third time in grand slams this year.

"Tough match, obviously," Sinner said. "Starting a break up in the first and third helps with the confidence, it helped me mentally to stay there in every moment.

"We played in Australia this year and then London. We knew it was going to be very physical. It was strange the first two sets because whoever made the first break then started to roll.

"I'm happy how I handled the situation, it's very tough against him. I think it was a great match from both sides. The fourth set was very tough."

Meanwhile, Medvedev was unable to capitalise on a strong second set, as the only former US Open champion left in the men's draw crashed out.

The Russian made six double faults and 57 unforced errors as he struggled to match Sinner's aggressive play in the latter stages.

"Sometimes you feel like you're doing all good, and then you miss, and then you have question marks, et cetera," Medvedev said.

"Maybe today I was going for a little bit more risky shots, I was missing just a bit more. As I said, one moment I kind of got lost in my misses."

Jannik Sinner is into the semi-finals of the US Open for the first time in his career after beating former champion Daniil Medvedev.

The world number one became the fourth active player to reach a semi-final at all four grand slams and will face Jack Draper for a place in the final.

Sinner claimed a statement 6-2 1-6 6-1 6-4 win over Medvedev, in a rematch of this year's Australian Open final, which the 23-year-old also won.

The momentum shifted throughout - after cruising through the first set, Sinner was then put on the back foot as Medvedev took the second, with the Italian finally gaining the upper hand in the third.

Though the final set was tight, Sinner found the edge with his fifth break of the match to set up what he expects to be a tough semi-final against high-flying Draper.

"We know each other very well, we are good friends off the court," Sinner said of Draper.

"It's going to be very tough - I'm just happy to be in the semis."

Data Debrief: Sinner becomes the outright favourite

Sinner is the lone major champion remaining in the draw as he chases a second grand slam title and his first at Flushing Meadows.

In the past 20 years, 11 grand slams have seen one former major winner reach the men's singles semis. That player has gone on to win the event nine times, with Rafael Nadal (French Open, 2005) and Andy Murray (US Open, 2012) the exceptions.

Since 1990, Sinner (23 years, 19 days) is the second-youngest player to reach the semis at the Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami and the US Open in a calendar year, after Nadal (22y 93d) in 2008.

Jack Draper swatted Alex de Minaur aside in straight sets to reach his maiden grand slam semi-final at the US Open on Wednesday.

World number 25 Draper has enjoyed a breakout tournament at Flushing Meadows, not dropping a set en route to becoming Britain's first US Open quarter-finalist since Andy Murray in 2016, and he carried that form into the last four.

The opening set featured three straight breaks of serve early on but it was Draper who edged that battle, dictating the tempo from deep and winning 84% of points behind his first serve as he took the opener 6-4.

De Minaur struggled to handle the 22-year-old's heavy groundstrokes as he gave up another early break in the second set, only to hit back to level things up at 4-4.

Draper, though, held his nerve after going 5-4 down, holding to love then immediately breaking to surge into a two-set lead.

He only improved from there and dominated the third set, producing one highlight-reel winner from his left hand after being forced to improvise with a series of lobs from deep.

Breaks in games five and seven brought up a chance to serve for the match, and Draper produced four outstanding points in succession to clinch his place in the last four, where he will face Jannik Sinner or Daniil Medvedev.

Data Debrief: Draper dominates again

For a player who had never previously gone beyond round two at any grand slam, the manner of Draper's progression at Flushing Meadows has been astonishing.

He has only dropped 36 games at the tournament thus far. In the last 40 years (since 1985), only Novak Djokovic (27 in 2016, 32 in 2012 and 33 in 2013) and Ivan Lendl (34 in 1987) have ever reached the men's semi-finals at the US Open while losing fewer games. 

Alexander Zverev had "no answers" as he lamented a dismal display in his US Open loss to Taylor Fritz.

Fritz downed Zverev 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-3) in the last eight on Wednesday.

In the process, Fritz reached his maiden grand slam semi-final, and will face fellow American Frances Tiafoe for a place in the showpiece match at Flushing Meadows.

World number four Zverev, meanwhile, had to lick his wounds after what he labelled a "terrible" performance.

“I played terrible," said Zverev.

"I just have no answers right now. He played quite a good match. I did nothing to deserve to win."

Matters could have not been more different for 12th seed Fritz, however.

"I feel amazing," he said. "I've had a lot of looks at quarter-finals in the past couple of years, and today just felt different.

"I really feel that it was my time to take a step further and it;s only fitting I'm doing it here on this court at the [US] Open in front of this crowd.

"Today just felt different. I really felt like it was my time to go a step further. It's only fitting I'm doing it here on this court, at the Open, in front of this crowd."

With Tiafoe also progressing to the last four, it will be the first time two Americans have played each other in the US Open semi-finals since 2005.

The last time an American man reached the final at Flushing Meadows was in 2006, when Andy Roddick lost to Roger Federer in 2006.

Frances Tiafoe will face Taylor Fritz in the semi-final of the US Open, where there will be an American in the men's final for the first time in 18 years.

After Fritz overcame Alexander Zverev, Tiafoe faced Grigor Dimitrov in a bid to tee-up an all-American semi-final in New York.

And Tiafoe was 2-1 up in sets and 4-1 up in the fourth when Dimitrov was forced to retire due to injury.

That means there is guaranteed to be an American in the final at Flushing Meadows for the first time since Andy Roddick faced Roger Federer in 2006.

"I didn't want to end it like that, for me or the crowd. But Friday is going to be one hell of a day," said Tiafoe.

"It's the biggest match of mine and Taylor's life.

"Obviously, it's not the way I wanted to get through but being in another semi-final here is incredible."

Data Debrief: Fortunate sons

This is the first time two Americans have reached, and will face each other, in the last four of a grand slam since Andre Agassi went up against Robby Ginepri in 2005, at Flushing Meadows.

Indeed, the United States has not had a men's singles major champion since Roddick triumphed at the US Open in 2003.

Home hopeful Taylor Fritz reached his first ever grand slam semi-final at the US Open, beating world number four Alexander Zverev in four sets at Flushing Meadows. 

Fritz, who had lost his previous four grand slam quarter-finals, came through tie-breaks in the first and fourth set to emerge a 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-3) victor.

Both players traded blows in the opening set, with Fritz squandering the opportunity to take the opener in the 12th game after missing three set points, only to go on and win the tie-break. 

Zverev continued to match his American opponent stride for stride, but struck the decisive blow in the second set with a break point in the eighth game to level the encounter.

But backed by a raucous crowd inside Flushing Meadows, Fritz raced into a 3-0 lead in the third and despite Zverev finding a break of his own, he was unable to stop the world number 12 going within touching distance of victory. 

With the atmosphere intensifying, a second tie-break of the game would decide whether the encounter went the distance, with Zverev pulling the final ball wide to claim a famous win for Fritz at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Fritz could play fellow American Frances Tiafoe for a place in a first grand slam final, with Tiafoe squaring off against Grigor Dimitrov in Tuesday's night session.

Data Debrief: Fritz hits the heights

Defeating Zverev at the age of 26y 310d, Fritz has become the oldest American in the Open Era to reach their maiden men's singles SF at the US Open.

It was the 12th-seeded Fritz's fourth win over an ATP top-10 player in a major this season, the most by an American man in one year since Andre Agassi had five in 1999.