Sinner, Fritz to to meet US Open final

WASHINGTON: Top seed Jannik Sinner became the first Italian player to reach the US Open final here on Friday, while Taylor Fritz secured the other final spot after a grueling five-set match.

Sinner defeated British rising star Jack Draper in straight sets, 7-5, 7-6(3), 6-2.

"It was a very physical match. I just try to stay there mentally, as he is so tough to beat," said the Italian after the match.

If Sinner wins the final, he will become the fourth male player in history to win both the Australian Open and the US Open in the same season.

In the other semifinal, 12th-seeded Fritz battled for three hours and 18 minutes to overcome fellow American Frances Tiafoe in a thrilling 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 comeback victory, coming out the first local player to make it to the US Open men's final since 2006.

"It's the reason I do what I do, the reason why I work so hard," said Fritz with tears. "I'm in the finals of the US Open. It's a dream come true, and I'm going to give it everything I possibly have."

In the women's doubles final, China's veteran Zhang Shuai and her French partner Kristina Mladenovic lost to seventh-seeded Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko 6-4, 6-3 to finish as runners-up.

"Without Kiki, for sure I can't stand today in the central court. I want to congratulate both girls, your performance deserves this trophy. For me, the biggest motivation is that I want to put our names on the trophy, and we'll fight on the next time," Zhang noted