World No. 1 Jannik Sinner Shakes Off Positive Drug Test Controversy To Win 1st U.S. Open

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner entered the U.S. Open amid controversy after failing two drug tests in March. He was cleared last month but the story hung over Sinner and the Open as everyone from Novak Djokovic to Nick Kyrgios to Roger Federer weighed in.

Still, the 23-year-old Italian shook off the distractions to win his first U.S. Open and his second major title of 2024 with a decisive 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 victory over No. 12 Taylor Fritz in Sunday’s final. The jam-packed Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd included Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, Jon Bon Jovi, Matthew McConaughey and Noah Lyles.

It was Sinner’s 11th straight win, and he will take home a paycheck of $3.6 million for the victory. Fritz, appearing in his first Slam final, earned $1.8 million.

“This title for me means so much because the last period of my career was really not easy,” Sinner said on court. “I love tennis, I practice a lot for this kind of stages but I also realize that off the court there is a life.

“I would like to dedicate this title to my aunt because she is really not feeling well health-wise. It’s so nice that I can share big moments with her still. She was a big part of my life and she still is.”

Sinner won the Australian Open in January and he and Carlos Alcaraz split the four majors this year. It was the first time since 2002 that no member of the “Big 3” — Djokovic, Federer and Rafael Nadal — captured a major.

Fritz, the 26-year-old Californian who is the top-ranked American, was the first American man in a major final in 15 years, and the first at the Open since 2006. The American major title drought dates to 2003 when Andy Roddick won the Open.

“I know we’ve been waiting for a champion for a long time so I’m sorry I couldn’t get it done,” Fritz said on court. “I’ll keep working and hopefully I’ll get it next time.”

Despite the loss, he had an impressive run to the final, beating No. 8 Casper Ruud, No 4 Alexander Zverev and No. 20 Frances Tiafoe.

Fritz’s loss came 24 hours after American Jesssica Pegula, playing in her first Slam final, lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the women’s final.

Sinner tested positive in March for a banned substance but avoided punishment.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) cleared Sinner after he failed two drug tests, but he has always maintained his innocence, saying the amount of clostebol found in his system was less than a billionth of a gram.

The word “DOPING” is printed in capital letters inside a red circle with a slash through it on the box containing the over-the-counter spray sold in Italy that caused the positive test, per The Associated Press.

Sinner parted ways with his physio and fitness coach before the Open, and has maintained a tight circle in the wake of the doping allegations and those close to him say he has learned who his friends are — and who they aren’t.

“In my mind, I know that I haven’t done anything wrong,” Sinner said. “I always respect these rules — and I always will respect these rules — of anti-doping.”

In the first set, Sinner broke Fritz — who was coming off a taxing five-set win over Tiafoe in Friday’s all-American semifinal — three times.

Fritz tried to go toe-to-toe with Sinner from the baseline but couldn’t quite hang with his concussive power. Sinner won the first set on his third break when Fritz hit a backhand long.

“He‘s just not as good as Sinner” in and out of the corners, John McEnroe said on ESPN.

In the second set, Sinner again broke Fritz with a backhand winner down the line to takes a two-sets-to-love lead.

In the third set, Fritz held for 3-all after trailing 15-40. He crushed a forehand winner to win the game.

The American then broke Sinner for 4-3 when the Italian double-faulted on break point, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

“He’s allowing Fritz to take the court over, which wasn’t happening the first two sets,” McEnroe said.

Still, Fritz approached the net on break point and shanked a forehand volley, and it was tied at 5-all.

Sinner held for 6-5 and Fritz had to hold to stay in it.

He quickly fell behind 0-30. Fritz shanked a swinging forehand volley to send it to double match point and then send a forehand into the net. The two men embraced at the net.

“Incredible, so many big wins for me this year,” Sinner said. “The work never stops, I know that I still can improve. You have to be proud with what you have, but you have to work for it, so I can’t wait for my continued process.”