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SPORTS Tuesday 10 sepTember 2024
U.S. Open champ Jannik Sinner is a young man in a hurry.

He is 23, is No. 1 and has 2 Slam titles

By HOWARD FENDRICH managed to “bully me a
AP Tennis Writer little bit too much.”
NEW YORK (AP) — New U.S. And it’s not as though Sin-
Open champion Jannik Sin- ner is only capable of these
ner is making big strides in a things on hard courts like
short amount of time. those used at Melbourne
And that, he figures, bodes Park and Flushing Meadows.
well for what’s to come. He’s been a semifinalist on
Just 23, Sinner already the French Open’s clay and
reached No. 1 in the ATP Wimbledon’s grass.
rankings a few months ago The self-belief he got at the
and, on Sunday, collected Australian Open beating
the second Grand Slam 10-time champion Novak
trophy of his career and of Djokovic in the semifinals,
the year by defeating Taylor then defeating 2021 U.S.
Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 in the final Open champion Daniil Med-
at Flushing Meadows. vedev for the championship
Add that to his Australian after being two sets down
Open championship in also was important.
January, and Sinner is the He called that title “kind of a
first man since Guillermo Vi- relief” because “you never
las all the way back in 1977 know if you can win one
to pick up major titles No. 1 Grand Slam or not, but when
and No. 2 within the same Jannik Sinner, of Italy, kisses the championship trophy after defeating Taylor Fritz, of the United you win one, you know that
season. States, in the men’s singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in you can.”
“I’ve gone through a lot New York. Associated Press The U.S. Open was different,
things quickly,” said Sinner, Sinner said, both because of
Italy’s second U.S. Open sin- Absolutely.” in the first set alone and a winning in 2021 and losing elevated pressure and what
gles title winner, joining 2015 That aspect of his game is half-dozen times overall. in 2023. Fritz said Sinner’s he termed “pre-tournament
women’s champ Flavia Pen- considered a relative weak- “Credit to Jannik. He re- greatest areas of improve- circumstances.”
netta. “I’m still young. That ness, but check out this stat: turned well at some of ment are his movement and He considered it “pretty
gives me confidence I still Sinner won 88% of points the big moments and got serve. surprising” to wind up with
can get better, because at when his first serve went in. some serves back that a “In my mind, I know that I’m a pair of majors in 2024,
23, you haven’t perfected What the 6-foot-4 (1.93-me- lot of guys don’t get back,” not perfect, and I will never which is a fair assessment,
everything. So my team and ter) Sinner did best Sunday said Michael Russell, Fritz’s be perfect, but we always especially given that 24-time
I know we have to improve.” is what he does as well as coach. “He creates a lot of try to evolve,” Sinner said. Slam champion Djokovic,
In what ways? He pointed to any other man in tennis right unique challenges, because “Then after my career, I 37, is still around, and Car-
the match against Fritz. now: control the baseline, he’s so dangerous off both can say, ‘OK, I’ve done ev- los Alcaraz, 21, is showing
“Today, I played well from using his instincts and con- sides, the forehand and the erything possible to be at himself to be elite.
the back court. I felt good siderable wingspan to get to backhand, and he moves 100%.’” This season could be seen
there,” said Sinner, who was nearly every ball and whip it really well, too.” When Fritz tried to go to as a transfer of power from
exonerated in a doping with serious force. He’s also Fritz, the first American man what he called “Plan B” on the generation of Djokovic,
case the week before the an elite returner: Fritz had in a major singles final in 15 Sunday, opting to keep balls Roger Federer and Rafael
tournament began in New lost just nine of 107 service years, had played Sinner in play more, rather than Nadal — a trio with 66 Slam
York. “But could I do more? games across 22 sets before twice before, both times going for winners early in trophies — to the Big Two of
Yes. Could I serve better? Sinner broke him three times at Indian Wells, California, exchanges, he said, Sinner Alcaraz and Sinner.q

Ohtani chases historic 50-50 club in

home runs and stolen bases

Shohei Ohtani is the sixth player in major league history and the fastest ever to reach 40
home runs and 40 stolen bases, needing just 126 games.
He’s the only player to hit the 40-40 mark in the same game. He did it in style, too, on a
game-winning grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning on Aug. 23.
“He’s very goal-oriented,” Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He likes
to take down records.”
On the horizon for Ohtani is potentially becoming the first member of the 50-50 club.
He slugged his 46th homer on Sunday and has 46 steals with three weeks remaining in
the regular season.
The two-way Japanese superstar hasn’t pitched this season his first with the Dodgers
after six years with the Los Angeles Angels as he rehabilitates after surgery for an injured
elbow ligament that he had a year ago.
That has allowed Ohtani to focus on his hitting.
Ohtani signed a $700 million, 10-year deal with the Dodgers last December. Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, second from left, hits a solo
Los Angeles leads the National League West and will be headed to the postseason in home run as Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee,
October, which will be another first for Ohtani. left, watches along with catcher Bo Naylor, right, and home
He didn’t reach the postseason with the Angels, and they never had a winning record plate umpire Dan Bellino during the fifth inning of a baseball
game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Los Angeles.
during his tenure in Anaheim.q Associated Press