Jannik Sinner caps golden year by beating Taylor Fritz to ATP Finals glory

Jannik Sinner added another major title to his stellar year by beating US Open runner-up Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 for the ATP Finals trophy in front of his home fans in Turin – and before a final verdict has been reached in his doping case.

Sinner won his first two Grand Slam titles this year at the Australian Open and the US Open and was already ranked No. 1 at the end of the year. He also tested positive in two separate drug tests in March and challenged the decision to clear him of wrongdoing was appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency in September. A final decision from the sport’s arbitral tribunal is expected early next year.

Sinner said the banned performance enhancer inadvertently entered his system through a massage from his physiotherapist, who had used a spray of the steroid to treat his own cut finger.

Sinner maintained his recent mastery over Fritz, having also defeated the American in the US Open final in September and in the group stage this week at the elite event for the year’s top eight players. By winning all five of his matches on his way to the trophy, Sinner earned $4.8 million (£3.8 million) – the biggest winners’ prize on the men’s tour.

He became the first Italian to win this tournament and went a step further than last year when he lost the championship match to Novak Djokovic, who withdrew this time. He did this without dropping a set – which was last accomplished by Ivan Lendl in 1986.

Among the crowd at the Inalpi Arena were several groups of fans wearing orange – a tribute to Sinner’s red and orange hair and how he once ate carrots during a match. There were orange carrot costumes, orange wigs, orange hats, jackets and many more orange items. Some fans had carrots in their mouths.

The crowd erupted in the customary chant of “Olé, olé, olé; Sin-ner, Sin-ner” as he produced a drop-shot winner to break for a 4-3 lead in the first set. He faced a break point while serving for the first set, but saved it with a big serve wide that Fritz could not return. He then served an ace – his tenth of the set – to end the set.

Another break from Sinner early in the second set and the match was all but over. He extended his winning streak to 11 games. He has won 26 of his past 27 matches and ends the ATP season with eight titles and an overall record of 70–6.

Fritz was trying to become the event’s first American champion since Pete Sampras defeated Andre Agassi in the title match 25 years ago.

Still, Fritz will rise to fourth in his career on Monday after beating No. 2 Alexander Zverev in a third-set semifinal tiebreak on Saturday. That makes him the highest-ranked American man since Andy Roddick was No. 4 in August 2007.

It is the latest in a string of achievements for Fritz, whose run in New York made him the first American man to reach a grand slam final since Roddick lost to Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2009.

Early in the week, Fritz told the Associated Press that his “career has always had very steady progress and improves a little bit every year.”

Sinner and Fritz end their seasons as defending champions Italy and the United States, respectively, in the Davis Cup final, which starts Tuesday in Málaga, Spain.

German duo Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz defeated Marcelo Arévalo and Mate Pavic 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6) to win the doubles title.