It has been a tough end to the tournament, but the bulk of the US Open went well enough to mean another Grand Slam with a winning record.
Overall it has been a tough year right from the off for the Tennis Picks after a miserable run at the Australian Open, but there are still a couple more tournaments to come at the end of the season before looking for a much stronger 2025.
Aryna Sabalenka was deservedly the US Open Champion and holds two of the four Grand Slams so many will feel she is the player to beat when it comes to all but the clay courts moving into the new season. She missed Wimbledon this year, else Sabalenka would likely be much closer to Iga Swiatek in the World Rankings with 2000 points separating them.
However, the WTA Race is much closer and there is every chance Aryna Sabalenka can close the year as the official World Number 1 if she can maintain her focus on the rest of the calendar year.
A first time US Open Men's Champion will also be crowned at the end of the tournament and the World Number 1 is looking to match Sabalenka by adding the title in New York City to the one won in Melbourne to kick off 2024.
Jannik Sinner has overcome controversy and continued shady comments from his peers, but this is a big opportunity for Taylor Fritz to take the next step in his career and the hope is that we see a competitive Final on Sunday afternoon.
Jannik Sinner-Taylor Fritz over 38.5 games: American fans have been used to home players performing well at the US Open when it comes to the women's tournament, but it has been a long time since the fans arrived at the last day of this Grand Slam with a home player to support.
The last time any American men's player reached the Final of the US Open was all the way back in 2006 when Andy Roddick made it that far, while the search for a home winner of this tournament has now surpassed twenty years. It is Roddick again who holds that last American US Open Winner tag as far as the men go, but that may all change this weekend when Taylor Fritz enters the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
He deservedly got the better of compatriot Frances Tiafoe in the Semi Final on Friday and the five sets played should not have sapped too much energy. The match was played into a fourth hour, but it was not a taxing one and Taylor Fritz is serving well enough to believe he can win the US Open this year.
Standing in his way is the World Number 1 Jannik Sinner who has overcome some off court controversy to work his way into the Final.
A solid win over Jack Draper in the Semi Final will have given Sinner a boost, although the one concern has to be the wrist issue that needed some attention during the match. He cannot afford to be struggling against an opponent who is playing as well as Taylor Fritz is and especially not with the lion's share of the crowd support also likely to be against the Italian.
This is something that will bother Jannik Sinner a lot less than his wrist and the World Number 1 has also found his serving form, which is a key part of any success a player is going to have on the faster surfaces. Without a doubt Sinner will feel he is the more effective return player of the two on the hard courts, which gives the favourite a real edge, but the feeling is that Taylor Fritz will make this very competitive.
Jannik Sinner's Semi Final win was competitive through the first two sets, but Fritz can certainly play the big points a little better than Jack Draper and that may see him at least earn a split of those sets. The British player had his chances in the Semi Final, and Taylor Fritz is a bit more experienced to just knuckle down when those big moments arrive.
Ultimately you have to believe Jannik Sinner will edge the contest, but Taylor Fritz is perhaps being a touch under-rated with the prices and the spread on offer. The American is going to be able to use the crowd support to just propel his tennis and the serving has been strong enough throughout this fortnight to believe Taylor Fritz can win at least a set even in a losing effort.
The total games line looks just appealing enough to be the better play than backing the underdog with a start and the two players can help combine for a memorable US Open Final as the Grand Slam season comes to a close in 2024.
MY PICK: Jannik Sinner-Taylor Fritz Over 38.5 Games @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)
US Open Update: 26-20, + 4.24 Units (92 Units Staked, + 4.61% Yield)
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