Can Jannik Sinner join Novak Djokovic & Roger Federer as the only men to win both Australian Open and US Open in the same season in the 21st century?
Jannik Sinner has an opportunity to join the elite company of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the list of men to win the Australian Open and US Open in the same season in the 21st century. Sinner has already won the priced title at Melbourne Park in January this year, thus, he is one step away from history as he finds himself pitted against Taylor Fritz in the final of the 2024 US Open.
Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam champion, won the Australian Open six times and the US Open five times, notably prevailing in both tournaments in the 2004, 2006, and 2007 seasons.
In 2004, the Swiss downed Marat Safin and Lleyton Hewitt in the finals in Australia and the US, respectively. Two years later, he triumphed in both tournaments with wins against Marcos Baghdatis and Andy Roddick. And the former pro succeeded against Fernando Gonzalez and Novak Djokovic in the respective 2007 finals.
Like Federer, Djokovic has also won both the hard-court Grand Slams in the same season thrice in his career. The 10-time Australian Open champion achieved the feat in 2011, 2015, and most recently in 2023.
Djokovic outdid Andy Murray in Melbourne and Rafael Nadal in New York in the 2011 title clashes to get on board with the Swiss. He recreated the results in 2015 by defeating Murray and Federer in the two hard-court Major finals.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion completed the treble in 2023 when he thumped Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev in the concluding duels of the Australian Open and US Open.
Apart from Djokovic and Federer, Sweden's Mats Wilander is on the list with his exploits in 1988. That year, Wilander beat Pat Cash in Australia and Ivan Lendl in the United States to notably become the first man to win the coveted hard-court titles in the same season.
Interestingly, 1988 was the first year the Australian Open competition was played on the hard courts, having been played on grass in the years bygone.
Thus, Jannik Sinner stands at the door to become the fourth man overall and third in the 21st century to match the greats but will he be able to make it happen against Taylor Fritz on Sunday, September 8?
Jannik Sinner has the fresher legs
Jannik Sinner opened his New York campaign last week with a win against Mackenzie McDonald 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 and then overcame Alex Michelsen 6-4, 6-0, 6-2, and Christopher O’Connell 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 to enter the second week.
Jannik Sinner succeeded against the gritty 14th seed Tommy Paul 7-6(3), 7-6(5), 6-1 in the fourth round before downing fifth seed Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the quarterfinals and claiming a 7-5, 7-6(3), 6-2 win against seed No. 25 Jack Draper.
Taylor Fritz, on the other hand, had to toil on the court harder during the fortnight. He registered straight-set wins over Camillo Ugo Carabelli (7-5, 6-1, 6-2), Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 7-6(1), 6-1, and Francisco Comesana (6-3, 6-4, 6-2) in the first week.
Fritz dropped his first set for the tournament against (8) Casper Ruud in the fourth round, but managed to secure a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory. In the quarterfinals, he lost another set in an otherwise 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) success against (4) Alexander Zverev.
The semifinals brought the American his toughest task for the tournament as his compatriot (20) Frances Tiafoe claimed the first and third sets. However, the 12th seed persisted to prevail 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Hence, Jannik Sinner has fresher legs ahead of the all-important summit clash.
The finalists have only faced each other twice on the court with their head-to-head balanced at 1-1. They played their first match at the 2021 Indian Wells Open, where the American scored a 6-4, 6-3 win over a relatively less established Sinner.
A year later, the Italian leveled the tally by defeating Fritz 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on the same venue.
Moreover, Jannik Sinner is now the more experienced customer on the Grand Slam level with the 2024 Australian Open title, two runs to the semifinals, and five quarterfinalist finishes under his belt. Fritz's best performances at the Majors, apart from his ongoing campaign in Flushing Meadows, have been four quarterfinal appearances.
Therefore, Jannik Sinner is more likely to take the men's singles trophy home on Sunday and replicate Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer's efforts of winning both hard-court Majors in the same season.