September 2024
The final Grand Slam of the year, the US Open, concluded in September, with two hard hitters claiming their second Grand Slam titles of 2024.
Sinner claims first title in New York
The men’s side of the US Open saw two dramatic early upsets. Carlos Alcaraz, winner of the last two Grand Slams, was beaten in straight sets in the Second Round after a stunning performance from Botic van de Zandschulp. In the Third Round, Novak Djokovic was taken out by Montreal Masters champion Alexei Popyrin, making this the first season since 2017 that Djokovic hasn’t won a Grand Slam. This presented chances for some other names to have deep runs in Flushing Meadows, which Taylor Fritz capitalised on. He beat Casper Ruud then Alex Zverev to reach a first Grand Slam Semi Final. He would face fellow American Frances Tiafoe after he beat Grigor Dimitrov in the Quarter Finals. After a five set epic, Fritz came out on top to become the first male American Finalist here since Andy Roddick in 2006.
In the other half, Jannik Sinner met Daniil Medvedev in a heavyweight Quarter Final, which Sinner won in four sets. Jack Draper won his first 5 matches of the event all in straight sets to make a first Grand Slam Semi Final, beating Alex de Minaur to do so. Sinner came out on top against Draper to set up a showdown vs Fritz, and the Italian triumphed in straight sets to win the title and extend his lead at the top of the world rankings.
Sabalenka too strong at the US Open
With American men having success at the event this year, the women too had some great results. Emma Navarro came out on top of a Fourth Round matchup against compatriot and defending champion Coco Gauff, and then beat Paula Badosa to make a first Grand Slam Semi Final. She would face second seed Aryna Sabalenka, who had beaten Olympic Gold medallist Qinwen Zheng in convincing fashion in the Quarter Finals. Sabalenka beat Pegula to make a second hard court Grand Slam Final of the year.
Jessica Pegula was looking to do even better than Navarro, particularly after beating Iga Swiatek in straight sets in the Quarter Finals. She faced Karolina Muchova in the Semi Finals, who has missed the majority of the season with a wrist injury, but had played some superb tennis to beat the likes of Naomi Osaka and Jasmine Paolini. After Muchova dominated the first set, Pegula turned it around to come back and advance to the Final. Sabalenka beat Pegula 7-5 7-5 to take home her first US Open title.
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