Jannik Sinner is confident the wrist issue that troubled him during Friday's US Open semi-final win over Jack Draper is "nothing to be concerned about" ahead of Sunday's final. (Full Coverage | More Tennis News)
Sinner reached his first final at Flushing Meadows with an impressive 7-5 7🍬-6 (7-3) 6-2 success over Draper, who had not dropped a single set en route to the final four.
While Draper vomited at the side of the court after struggling with anxiety, Sinner also called for me🌳dical attentღion after tweaking his left wrist in the second set.
The world number one stayed in a brutal rally despite falling awkwardly when playing𒀰 a lob from deep on the court, then got up to slam a brilliant forehand winner pas🌼t Draper.
He immediately received treatment on the affected wrist but showed few signs o𝕴f discomfort from then on to become Italy's first-ever male finalist at the US Open.
"The physio loosened it up very fast on court, so after I felt okay in the beginning. Then after it went away by playing, w💫hich is good," Sinner told ﷽reporters after his win.
"Let's see how it is tomorrow w🍃hen it's c𝓰old. It's going to be a different feeling. Hopefully it is nothing to be concerned about.
"I'm quite relaxed, because if ꧅it's something bad, you feel it straightaway a bit moreᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ."
At the age of 23 years and 21 days, Sinner is the youngest man to reach the final aไt both the Australian Open and the US Open in a single year since the former event switched from grass surfaces in 1988, surpassing Roger Fed𝓰erer in 2004 (23 years, 34 days).
He will be up against a home favourite in Taylor Fritz on Sunday, and he accepts he will have to play the role of villain in the eyes 🔴of a raucous crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"It's normal. It's like when I play in Italy, so I'⭕m going to accept that. I have my team and my people who are 💎close to me," he said.
"In my mind, I know that there are many 🐲people watching from home from Italy, andℱ I'll just take some support from them."
Fritz rallied to beat compatriot Frances Tiafoe in five sets havin𝄹g been both 1-0 and 2-1 down in Friday's second semi-final, and he said reaching the showpiece match represented the realisation of a lifelong dream in an emotional press conference.
"It's just ho𒆙w I am. I'm more of an em𝄹otional person when I'm happy. When I'm really happy I cry at happy endings of movies and not at sad stuff. That's just how I am," Fritz said.
"It's just joy, the crowd cheering and♐ that realisation, like, 'w💜ow, I'm in the finals of the US Open.
"It's such a lifelong dream come true. It's something I've worked my whole life for, to be in this situation. Realising that got me a little🅷 bit choked up."
